GERIK, Sept 8 — The Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) recommends that the authorities review the standard operating procedure (SOP) regarding the age limit for children participating in extreme activities and hiking expeditions along challenging routes in mountainous areas.
Perak JPBM director Datuk Sayani Saidon said the measure should be given attention to reduce risks when conducting such high-risk activities.
"This recommendation is because the risk of physical injury for children who go through challenging tracks is higher than adult climbers.
"If there is no standard (SOP), I feel it is time for the relevant department to look at this matter more carefully and transparently so that we can limit the involvement of climbers, especially underage ones," she said when met at the Trojan Jetty, Tasik Banding here today.
Previously, six climbers who participated in the Trans Gerah Expedition in Gunung Gerah, Kelantan went missing while climbing the mountain on August 29.
They were scheduled to leave the forest on September 3. Family members filed a police report on Sunday.
The hikers were found safe yesterday and safely released from Pos Kemar at 10.20am today.
The six victims involved were Wan Ahmad Aslam Wan Zairudin, 39, and his wife Siti Zulaiha Norizan, 39, their children Diya Raisha, 13, and Ahmad Raef, 9, as well as two mountain guides Shafiee Sidek, 49, and Hazman Mamat, 43.
Meanwhile, Sayani said the closure and obstruction of hiking trails that have not been used for a long time were the main reasons why the six hikers took a longer time to make their way before they were found safe last night.
“When they reached Gunung Beratoh and Gunung Sepat, they found that the trails to both these hills were closed as they had not been used by hikers for a long time.
“Due to the difficulties faced, such as fallen trees, it resulted in them taking a longer time (to make their way out).”
She said the hiking area’s lack of communication coverage also contributed to the loss of contact, thereby sparking concerns among the victims’ families before a police report was lodged.
The victims, she said, managed to reach Bukit Bongok and obtained a mobile phone signal to contact their families, enabling their exact location to be determined and for them to be safely rescued.
