‘Year-end closure of Mossy Forest nothing new’
THE Pahang Forestry Department has come under criticism for closing Cameron Highlands’s Mossy Forest, which is famed for its Lord of the Ringslike scenery.
Tour guide Sathur Mugan Mohan, 26, complained that the public was only given a day’s notice prior to the closure of the forest early last month.
“The income of tour operators in Cameron Highlands has fallen by at least 30 to 40 per cent as the Mossy Forest is a major attraction.
“Furthermore, the closure period is too long — three months until the end of January next year,” he said.
Another tour guide, S. K. Rajoo, said many overseas tourists were seeing red as they had booked their tours months in advance, including flight tickets and accommodation.
He said tour guides had no choice but to refund their bookings.
Furthermore, it gives a bad name to the country and they might not want to visit Cameron Highlands again, he said.
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Pahang Forestry Department officer Nurul Hidayah Hadzuha said the closure was announced months in advance during monthly local council meetings with representatives from local communities.
Furthermore, the Mossy Forest, located near Gunung Brinchang, was also closed during the same months in previous years .
“There is no way local tour operators would not know about the closure. It is not the first time we are closing it.
“Furthermore, the closure is necessary as the weather can be uncertain during the yearend monsoon period.
“We understand that the tour guides are making a good living from Mossy Forest tours, but we do not want to take chances when it comes to safety,” she said.
Nurul Hidayah added that the closure was necessary for repairs and maintenance to be carried out on the boardwalk at the Mossy Forest.