Selangor to introduce regulations for camping, after Batang Kali landslide

 

The Selangor government intends to introduce official guidelines for camping activities following the Batang Kali landslide in Hulu Selangor last week which has claimed 26 lives thus far.

Selangor exco Ng Sze Han (above, right) said the state government will expedite a census on all existing campsites and related activities in the state before coming up with the regulations.

He said the state government has nothing against camping as it is a healthy activity but the Batang Kali landslide involving a campsite in the area made them realise the need for specific regulations.

“All this time, every business is being monitored carefully through the business licences, planning orders and building plans as well as enforcement.

“However, local governments do not have specific regulations for campsite activities because the activities are sub-activities run by the hotel or resort owners.

“As such, the state government is now in the midst of expediting the census on the types, and the total number of camping activities and so on, which have not been classified clearly under the business category,” Ng said in a press conference at the Selangor state secretariat today.

The census will also identify the locations to review whether those are ecologically sensitive areas or are risky for recreational activities, he added.

After the census is done, he said they will then hold a workshop with all relevant stakeholders in order to draft the guidelines.

“Only operators who comply with the guidelines will be recognised by the local governments and Tourism Selangor to run those activities,” he said.

No business licence

Ng further affirmed that Father’s Organic Farm had applied for a planning order to run an organic farm on agricultural land, which is in line with existing regulations.

However, he noted that the organic farm did not have a business licence.

“Once you charge a fee (in exchange for goods and services), then you need a business licence,” Ng said.

Despite that, he said anything related to the criminal investigations of the incident will have to be deferred to the police.

At about 2.42am on Dec 16, a landslide nearly 300m long and 70m high hit the campsite at Jalan Genting-Batang Kali.

Twenty-six people were killed while seven victims are still missing. A total of 61 victims have been rescued.

The campsite operator and the staff were summoned for a police investigation on Dec 18. - Mkini