Johor closes forest ecoparks, hiking, 4WD tracks until further notice

• State forestry director Datuk Salim Aman: Seven districts in Johor have also been hit by floods, so we do not want to encourage any hiking activities, extreme activities and so on, especially in areas where there is a source of water and there is a risk of flooding.

JOHOR BAHRU (Jan 26): All forest ecoparks, as well as hiking and four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle tracks in the permanent forest reserve Johor remain closed to the public from Wednesday (Jan 25) until further notice, said state forestry director Datuk Salim Aman.

He said the closure notice was issued as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident, following the prolonged rainy season.

He also advised the public not to enter these areas illegally, considering the current rainy weather in Johor, thus making the areas risky.

“Seven districts in Johor have also been hit by floods, so we do not want to encourage any hiking activities, extreme activities and so on, especially in areas where there is a source of water and there is a risk of flooding.

“This is causing concern, so that’s why we issued a temporary closure notice,” he said when contacted by Bernama here on Thursday (Jan 26).

Salim said that among areas involved in the closure are hiking tracks at Gunung Berlumut, Kluang; Gunung Bekok, Labis and Gunung Panti, Kota Tinggi.

Also affected are the forest ecopark Sungai Batang in Bekok, Labis; Gunung Pulai in Kulai and Taka Melor, Segamat.

He added that periodic monitoring will also be carried out by the department’s staff to ensure there is no violation of the notice by any individual.

Any violation of the notice could be acted upon under the Johor State Forestry (Utilisation) Enactment 1985, he said.

Earlier, the closure notice was posted on the Johor Forestry Department’s Facebook page.

Meanwhile, the Johor National Parks Corporation in a separate notice announced that five of its parks are closed to the public from Thursday, until further notice.

According to the notice, the closure is a precautionary measure to avoid the occurrence of water surge incidents and floods due to the monsoon season, which could pose risks to visitors.

The five national parks are the Johor National Parks of Endau-Rompin (Peta) in Mersing; Endau-Rompin (Selai) in Segamat; Gunung Ledang (waterfall) and Gunung Ledang (Lagenda) — both in Tangkak, and Pulau Kukup in Pontian.

However, Johor National Park Tanjung Piai, Pontian, remains open to the public, it said.

For more information, the public can visit the Johor National Parks Corporation website at www.johornationalparks.gov.my or contact 013-744 0961.