Malaysia bans 'compressed hikes' and day climbs on high-risk routes after 63 deaths in five years

Malaysia is rolling out a multi-layered crackdown on high-risk hiking after a surge in accidents, lost hikers, and costly search-and-rescue operations — driven by poor preparation, social-media-fueled summit attempts, unauthorised trails, and the dangerous trend of "compressed hikes."

The scale of the crisis

• In the first five months of 2026, the Fire and Rescue Department recorded 52 cases of lost hikers involving 114 people — a nearly 30% increase over the same period in 2025, which had 40 cases involving 88 victims .
• Nationwide, 1,059 hiking accidents were recorded between 2021 and 2025, resulting in 63 deaths and 87 injuries, according to data tabled in Parliament on June 23, 2026 .
• Recent high-profile incidents — including the disappearance of Jaslinda Saludin, 49, on Gunung Batu Putih and the death of 19-year-old Nur Izzati Humaira Azizul on Bukit Changkat Asa — have intensified public and political pressure .

New restrictions being introduced

1. Ban on compressed hikes and day hikes on high-risk routes

• The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) announced on July 29, 2026, that "day hikes" and "compressed hikes" will be restricted or banned in high-risk mountainous areas nationwide .
• Perak was the first mover: on June 5, 2026, the state forestry department imposed an immediate ban on day hikes and compressed hikes on seven high-risk mountain routes, including the Mount Korga trail (via Korbu-Gayong) which now requires a minimum climbing period of three days .
• Selangor followed on June 12, temporarily suspending all applications for "trans hiking" and "hiking compress" activities in all Permanent Forest Reserves, effective July 1, 2026, with violators facing fines up to RM30,000, imprisonment up to five years, or both under the National Forestry Act .

2. Mandatory health screening and fitness certification for graded trails

• Hikers on designated trails must now undergo early health screening and obtain a medical fitness certificate before being allowed to proceed .
• The government is also strengthening pre-climb screening procedures by requiring health declarations, medical history checks, and proof of insurance coverage .
• Authorities have made it mandatory to engage certified Forestry Mountain Guides (MGP) in 189 high-risk hiking areas to support hiker safety, emergency response, and compliance .

3. Screening for altitude illness on Mount Kinabalu and Mount Tahan

• NRES is specifically proposing screening for symptoms of High Altitude Illness (HAI) and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) for climbers attempting Mount Kinabalu in Sabah and Mount Tahan in Pahang . This is driven by the risks of climbers with undetected conditions attempting high-altitude summits, sometimes in compressed timeframes.

What's driving the crackdown

• Poor preparation and inexperience: Officials say many lost hikers were unprepared, lacked basic navigation skills, and underestimated the terrain .
• Social media trends: The pressure to post summit photos and complete "challenge" routes has drawn inexperienced hikers into dangerous situations without proper planning .
• Unauthorised trails: Hikers venturing off marked paths have become a major SAR burden .
• "Compressed hikes": Attempting long or technically demanding routes in a single day (instead of the recommended multi-day pace) increases exhaustion, disorientation, and altitude-related emergencies .
• Cost of SAR operations: Expensive multi-agency rescue missions — including air searches — have strained state and federal resources, adding a financial urgency to the reforms .

Which states and routes are affected

• Perak: Seven high-risk routes face immediate bans on day and compressed hikes, including the Korbu-Gayong traverse (minimum 3 days) and the Trans Spencer Chapman route . The state has also initiated accident and disaster risk studies for hiking areas, and is exploring real-time monitoring systems for high-risk sites .
• Selangor: All "trans hiking" and "compressed hiking" applications in Permanent Forest Reserves are suspended until further notice .
• National level: The NRES ministry is coordinating the rollout of restricted-access areas, certified guides, and mandatory health declarations .