HULU SELANGOR, Oct 16 — The Hulu Selangor Municipal Council (MPHS) has issued operating licences to seven campsites, while another 12 are awaiting approval under its regularisation exercise.
Its president, Julaihah Jamaludin, said the exercise was introduced following the 2022 Batang Kali landslide tragedy, which claimed 31 lives, including 13 children.
"Regularisation is not merely about ensuring operators have licences or run their businesses legally. More importantly, it is about ensuring that visitors' safety and health are properly safeguarded," she told Media Selangor.
She said 63 campsites had been identified since the regularisation exercise began two years ago and urged operators who had yet to obtain licences to cooperate with MPHS.
Under the guidelines, campsites must be located at least 20 metres from the water's edge to reduce risks associated with rising river levels or sudden surges of water.
"Among our main concerns are the risks of sudden river surges and landslides, particularly as some visitors prefer to pitch their tents too close to rivers," she said.
Julaihah said MPHS was prioritising visitor safety in its regularisation exercise amid a rise in ecotourism activities, including camping, in the district.
She said Hulu Selangor's location amid the Titiwangsa Range, with forests covering more than 60 per cent of the district, made it well-suited for ecotourism activities.
Its clean rivers, orchards and natural surroundings have encouraged landowners to convert parts of their orchards into campsites, particularly following the pandemic.
"We certainly encourage such activities because they provide orchard owners with opportunities to earn additional income while bringing people, especially those from urban areas, closer to nature.
"However, when people come camping, operators are responsible for more than just providing a campsite and a place to sleep. They must also ensure visitors' safety and proper hygiene," she said.
Julaihah reiterated that the 2022 Batang Kali landslide, which claimed dozens of lives, was among the factors prompting MPHS to intensify efforts to ensure campsites complied with safety requirements.
She said cleanliness and sanitation, including proper rubbish disposal, toilet facilities and sewage tank maintenance, were also among the conditions campsite owners must meet to prevent river pollution.
"If a sewage tank overflows, wastewater can flow into the river. In our area, pollution in one river does not affect just one campsite, as there may be other campsites further downstream.
"Operators must therefore understand that maintaining their campsites is just as important as providing facilities for visitors," she said.
