GOVT MULLS CLASSIFYING RECREATIONAL SPOTS
Minister says it will enable authorities to monitor safety of visitors, tourists
THE Housing and Local Government Ministry is planning to carry out a study on a classification system based on categories and risk exposures at recreational spots, including caves.
Its, minister, Zuraida Kamaruddin, said if approved, the study would be conducted as part of safety measures that would include information on risk levels of recreational locations, especially forests and mountains, as well as places offering water-based activity.
“Maybe we could provide a guide to visitors before entering certain places that (among others) need approval from the municipal councils and police to allow the authorities to monitor and ensure their safety.”
She said Perak was among the states with the highest number of caves and tourist spots offering water-based activity.
“These sites need attention, especially on the safety aspect. For example, several teachers who went to Pengkalan Hulu (for activities) had adopted the guidelines issued by the Fire and Rescue Department so that assistance could be rendered in the event of an untoward incident,” she said, commenting on the case of a Thai football team who was stuck in a flooded cave in northern Thailand.
On a separate matter, she said women were encouraged to join the Fire and Rescue Department and play their role in handling disaster victims.
She said there were about 600 women firefighters, who made up five per cent of the 14,000 firemen nationwide.
“We hope to achieve the 30 per cent quota of women participation in the workforce.
“During emergencies, we need women firefighters to approach victims. We view this matter seriously and there is a need for an exposure on the firefighters’ job scope and career counselling at the school level,” she said after visiting the Seri Manjung fire station here yesterday.
Present were Fire and Rescue Department director-general Mohammad Hamdan Wahid and state director Datuk Yahaya Madis.