By Media Selangor Team
SHAH ALAM, Oct 22 — The Gunung Liang hiking area in southern Perak has been closed to the public with immediate effect until further notice.
The Perak Forestry Department said the closure order was issued by its director, Datuk Mohd Basri Abdul Manaf, although it does not apply to departmental programmes such as the scheduled Hiking Trails within Permanent Forest Reserves Conservation Programme.
“Under Section 47 of the National Forestry Act (Application) Enactment 1985, non-compliance with this directive may result in a fine of up to RM10,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both, upon conviction,” it said in a statement.
The temporary closure comes just days after hiker Mustaqqeem Mansor, 34, was found dead at 3.30 pm on October 16 at the peak of Gunung Liang Barat, near Tanjong Malim.
He and 10 friends had begun their hike on October 10 from Bukit Fraser, Pahang. Mustaqqeem was last seen on October 14.
The body was airlifted from the 1,933-metre-high summit by the Fire and Rescue Department’s Special Air Unit using an AW189 helicopter at 2.45 pm on October 17.
A post-mortem confirmed that the cause of death was hypothermia.
As of October 19, eight individuals, including the victim’s fellow hikers and team members, have been called in to assist in the investigation into the incident.
