Jungle not part of eco-forest park

Minister: Organisers had no permit to enter area

PETALING JAYA: The jungle where a tree fell and crushed two university students to death near a waterfall in Lata Charok, Janda Baik, during a survival course has not been gazetted as an eco-forest park.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said both Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and the organisers of the course had not applied for a permit to enter the area located within a permanent forest reserve.

“A police report has been lodged and we will cooperate with the authorities in carrying out an investigation into the incident,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

The incident, he said, had taken place near the Ulu Tampik Waterfall in Compartment 51 of the Lentang Permanent Forest Reserve.

Noorain Mohtar, 23, and Muhamad Kamil Md Sukri, 22, died on the spot while six others were injured.

Muhammad Haziq Radzuan, 21, who sustained serious injuries to the head, is warded at Hospital Kuala Lumpur, while five others – Abdul Muaz Abdul Razak, 22, Mohd Ammar Affandi Ahmad Subki, 20, Nur Farrah Izzatul Md Fauzi, 20, Farah Hanisah Hamdan Fadel, 22, and Ainin Sofea Abd Shukor, 21 – received outpatient treatment at Hospital Bentong.

They were among 144 UiTM students and lecturers from the Puncak Alam campus in Shah Alam on a three-day exercise in Janda Baik.

It is learnt that the group had hiked up to the waterfall at 11.30pm on Friday and was to descend at 5am yesterday when the tree fell.

Extending his condolences to the families of the two students, Dr Wan Junaidi reminded those wanting to carry out recreational or sports activities in the jungle to get a permit as well as inform the Forestry Department.

He said everyone should learn from the tragic incident and abide by all the regulations.

“What’s important is that all safety regulations remain a priority in any activity,” he added.