THE Local Government Development Ministry (KPKT) has given campsite operators at least two years to comply with the Campsite Planning Guidelines (GPP) issued today. 

Minister Nga Kor Ming said the guidelines, which come into effect this month, are intended to regulate management and operation of campsites for the authorities, entrepreneurs, and campsite operators as well as the public. 

“We made these guidelines not to punish anyone, but to help existing and new campsite operators as we encountered feedback from those who do not know how to comply with the guidelines. 

“The preparation of this GPP is due to the landslide tragedy at a campsite in Batang Kali, Selangor, on December 16 last year which claimed 31 lives,” he said at a press conference after launching the GPP at Taman D.R. Seenivasagam today. 

Nga said the six guiding principles of camp site planning cover safety, comfort, sustainability, social continuity, economic prosperity, and legal compliance. 

Nga said all six principles of the guidelines must be followed so that visitors to licenced camping sites would feel safe, such as camping sites need to be at least 10m apart from waterfall areas.  

He said the Town and Country Planning Department took four months to complete the GPP through a series of engagements and expert input-sharing sessions with agencies including the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry, Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, Works Ministry, local authorities, and 150 campsite operators from all over the country. 

According to him, there are several things about GPP that need to be streamlined by KPKT, among them the need for assessment before a campsite is set up for operation, as well as an environmental impact assessment. 

“There must also be strict regulation and management of campsites, with a scope of inspection and maintenance and grading requirements for tourist accommodation which includes glamping campsites,” he said.  

On December 16 last year, the landslide that occurred at 2.30am at the Father’s Organic Farm campsite in Batang Kali killed 31 people and left 61 survivors.  

Security personnel had spent nine days in a search and rescue operation to find buried victims. 

The tragedy was the second deadliest incident after the collapse of the Highland Towers Condominium in 199, which claimed 48 lives. – Bernama, December 2, 2023.