Forestry Dept recognises mountain guide as profession

KUALA LUMPUR: The Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (FDPM) has recognised the expertise of mountain guides as a profession.

FDPM forest eco-park and state forest park director Mohd Yussainy Md Yusop said that the department, in collaboration with the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia and the Department of Skills Development, would provide training and courses to those qualified, to ensure that the career has its own value.

“We want to recognise mountain guide as a profession, in line with the government’s efforts to produce 500 mountain guides a year involving youths and the Orang Asli community, as announced in Budget 2021.

“To date, FDPM has received about 3,000 applications for the course and this number exceeds the required target,” he said in a live chat session posted via the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry’s Facebook page, yesterday.

He said that all new applications for training could be submitted in writing to the state forestry director of the area concerned.

Meanwhile, on the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for recreational activities in the permanent forest reserve area, Mohd Yussainy said that FDPM always ensures that the SOPs are in accordance with activity in the area.

“We always work closely with the National Security Council (MKN) to get advice from time to time, to ensure that the activities allowed do not affect the government’s efforts to break the Covid-19 transmission chain,” he added.

Among other the initiatives of FDPM is the 100 Million TreePlanting Campaign 2021-2025 which was launched by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Jan 5.

The types of trees that will be planted during the campaign include merbau, meranti tembaga, merawat siput jantan and other rare species.