SHAH ALAM, Oct 21 — The Pahang Forestry Department (JPNP) will conduct a thorough investigation with various relevant agencies to determine the exact cause of the death of hiker Mustaqqeem Mansor, 34, at Mount Liang, Perak, on Thursday (October 16).
Sinar Harian reported its deputy director of development Mohd Yussainy Md Yusop as saying that an initial meeting has been held, and a comprehensive report will be presented to the Director-General of Forestry Malaysia for further action.
All parties involved, including the hikers, organisers, and mountain guides who accompanied the group, would be called to give statements before any decision is made.
“Two of the mountain guides involved have been suspended temporarily to allow full cooperation with all investigating agencies, including the police, the Fire and Rescue Department, and the Forestry Department,” he said.
Yussainy added that this measure is necessary to ensure that every party has the opportunity to explain their side of the story and to prevent prejudice against the individuals involved.
Meanwhile, Yussainy, who also chairs the Malaysian Forestry Mountain Guides Association, said current statistics show that more than 200 hiking emergencies are reported nationwide each year, with an average of 10 to 11 fatalities, though only one or two cases involve active mountain guides.
He noted that most incidents stem from unauthorised hikes without valid permits, inadequate physical preparation, and the growing trend of extreme hiking, including night-time mountain running and climbing.
“We cannot eliminate risk entirely, as the mountain environment is inherently dangerous. However, many incidents occur because hikers do not follow procedures, fail to apply for valid permits, or attempt to alter their original hiking schedules,” Yussainy said.
Once the investigation is complete, the Forestry Department will review the entire safety procedure, including the potential use of tracking technology or location chips to strengthen the monitoring system along high-risk mountain routes.
“We will assess from the perspective of risk management, possible weaknesses, procedural lapses, and any violations of regulations that may have occurred,” he said.
