SHAH ALAM, Nov 28 — Hiking activities, trekking and waterfall visits are gaining traction in Selangor, especially among young people seeking weekend gateways from the urban hustle.
Yet, the Selangor Forestry Department (JPNS) reported that many visitors continue to enter forest reserves without permits, raising concerns about safety and conservation.
Its director Azhar Ahmad said over 150 arrests were made from 2024 to 2025, with the majority involving climbers and visitors who entered forest areas without permits.
“Most cases involved individuals entering for recreation without permits. The permit is not to trouble them, but to ensure safety and ease of monitoring,” he said as a guest on Media Selangor’s ‘Bicara Semasa’ talk show.
To simplify the permit application process for the public, Azhar said JPNS introduced the SEFOREST online e-permit system, which costs only RM5 per person.
He added that, to climb above 600 metres above sea level, mountain guides are required for safety.
This came after several emergency incidents, including the death of a climber who died while attempting to rescue his female friend at Lata Medang, Hulu Selangor.
“Climbing over 600 metres requires expertise. Our goal is for them to go and return safely,” Azhar said.
Eyes in the sky expose encroachment
He noted that JPNS launched a “war room” with monitoring tools, including high-resolution satellite imagery, to boost enforcement against illegal activities.
The control centre enables the department to monitor land clearing, unauthorised routes, and encroachment activities in real time, enabling timely enforcement measures.
“Satellite images allow us to detect new land openings early, and the information is sent straight to officers for immediate action,” Azhar said.
The initiative has made monitoring more effective and helped prevent illegal exploration carried out discreetly.
Shared responsibility
The director said protecting forests requires collaboration between JPNS, visitors, local communities, and the authorities.
“Forest reserves are a trust for future generations. If we do not take care of them today, our grandchildren will not be able to enjoy what we enjoy now,” he said.
Selangor’s permanent forest reserves, spanning over 250,000 hectares, safeguard Selangor’s biodiversity and help mitigate climate change.
Therefore, Azhar urged the people to comply with the regulations, use valid permits and respect forest areas as state treasures.
“We are not preventing people from entering the forest, but we want it to be done safely, responsibly, and legally.
“Forests belong to everyone, and protecting them is a collective duty,” he said.
