IPOH: The Perak Forestry Department has been told to re-evaluate its plan to impose a fee on hikers entering Bukit Kledang.

       Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said department director Datuk Mohamed Zin Yusop would need to come up with a revised proposal on the matter, following an outcry from the public.

       "The matter will be deferred for now so the department can do another study.

       "They will come back with another proposal to see where the permit is needed, while also fulfilling the requirement of the National Forestry Act," he told a press conference after a signing ceremony between Perak State Development Corporation and Kangsar Hidro Sdn Bhd for a hydroelectric project at the state secretariat building here on Wednesday (June 8).

       "Some areas may not need the permit, so the department will need to relook into this," he said.

       The department had, over the weekend, announced that hikers at the popular site would need to get an annual pass to carry out recreational activities starting July.

       Malaysians will be charged between RM10 and RM200 while the permit fees for foreigners are from RM400 to RM800, with a processing fee of RM20.

       Following an outcry from the public, Saarani said on Monday (June 6) that the enforcement of the permit had been postponed until further notice.

       Saarani said the decision to impose the permit was decided in a meeting between state forestry department directors.

       "It was decided then to make Bukit Kledang a pilot project (to impose the permit requirement).

       "And according to the (Forestry) Act, there are two types of forest reserves. One being the open type where people can enter freely while the other is the closed type, into which Bukit Kledang falls, that require a permit to enter," he said.

       "He (Mohamed Zin) was just trying to follow the Act.

       "It's not about the money," he added.