THE Ipoh City Council has instructed all tourism operators in areas at risk of landslides and the water surge phenomenon to temporarily cease operations. 

Ipoh Mayor Rumaizi Baharin said a notice will be sent to all operators concerned on Monday to ensure the instruction is followed. 

“For your information, we have closed two locations, namely, Kledang Saiong Forest Eco Park, Meru, and Bukit Bangkong, Chemor, since early November. 

“We took this action after getting the advice from the Minerals and Geoscience Department, who informed us that the soil in the areas is quite soft due to the relatively high rainfall and can pose a risk to visitors,” he told reporters after attending the Battle of the Buskers finale in Ipoh today. 

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi advised that all campsites near hill slopes and rivers be temporarily vacated amid uncertain weather conditions. 

This comes after the landslide at the Father’s Organic Farm campsite in Batang Kali, Selangor, early yesterday morning claimed 21 lives, so far. 

In another development, Rumaizi said the city council will apply to Unesco to get Ipoh listed as a Creative City of Music. 

He said the council is preparing the documentation required by Unesco, adding that the application must be submitted before June 30. – Bernama, December 17, 2022.