IPOH: Eco-parks under the Perak Forestry Department have been temporarily closed due to unpredictable weather.

       Department director, Datuk Mohamed Zin Yusop, said 13 parks have been closed as a precaution against the risk of a water surge, which could occur with a downpour.

       All recreational activities such as jungle trekking, four-wheel drive expeditions and extreme cycling in permanent forest reserves have been temporarily halted due to uncertain weather conditions, he said.

       He said the department would assess the weather before reopening the parks.

       “Once the weather is stable, we will decide whether it is safe to open the parks,” he said when contacted.

       The eco-parks that are currently closed are Kledang Saiong, Kuala Woh, Lata Iskandar, Lata Kekabu, Ulu Licin, Papan, Pasir Panjang, Ulu Kenas, Sungai Salu, Pulau Tali Kail, Kaki Bukit Larut, Ulu Kinta and the Matang mangrove forest.

       On May 15, a sudden surge of water and soil swept away two people at Gunung Suku in Simpang Pulai.

       Mohamed Zin suspected the surge was due to heavy rain earlier.

       Two women, identified as See Su Yen, 32, and Ng Yee Chew, 46, from Cheras and Klang respectively, were swept away while hiking up a trail at the hill.

       They were part of a group of 29 hikers. The others had made it back down safely.

       Mohamed Zin said the hikers had obtained permits from the department to go into the area, adding that the incident occurred at Compartment 115 which is located under the Bukit Kinta Forest Reserve.

       On May 23, police confirmed the body parts found at Gunung Suku were the remains of the two hikers.

       Sahabat Alam Malaysia field officer Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman said it was not necessary for the department to close all the eco-parks because not all the topographies and surrounding environment of the parks were the same.

       He said there were some eco-parks that did not have any rivers and were not on hilltops.

       “For example, the Pasir Panjang eco-park is located by the beach and has a flat, sandy terrain.

       “It’s now the south-west monsoon season where there is less rainfall,” he added.