PUTRAJAYA, Oct 17 — The Camping Site Planning Guidelines (GPP) prepared by the Local Government Development Ministry (KPKT) is ready and will be distributed to local authorities nationwide soon.
Its minister Nga Kor Ming said the comprehensive guidelines will be a reference for campsite operators concerning licence applications to ensure recreation areas are safe for visitors.
“The safety of the site by determining the appropriate distance from restricted areas, the topographical conditions and so forth, are among the important aspects included in the guidelines.
“Despite the recommended guidelines, natural disasters will occur unexpectedly. So, no matter how detailed our guidelines, if a natural disaster like an earthquake were to occur, we cannot run away,” he said to the press after officiating at the Bring Your Own Programme today.
The GPP was made following the landslide incident in Batang Kali in December last year, considering the views and feedback from various relevant agencies, including local authorities and campsite operators.
92 victims were involved in the incident on December 16, with 61 survivors and 31 deaths.
At the same time, Nga called on parents to pay attention to safety aspects when planning a vacation with the family at the end of the year, as the weather can be unpredictable.
On today’s programme organised by the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp), he said it was a follow-up to the #Don’tUseCampaign which was implemented in October 2018 in conjunction with the National Recycling Day to raise public awareness on plastic waste and avoid the use of single-use plastic bags.
The programme was implemented in collaboration with stakeholders at the state level, including local authorities, residents’ associations, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
“With continued efforts, I am confident we can raise awareness to reduce the use of single-use plastics and also contribute to achieving the target of a 40 per cent recycling rate by 2025,” Nga said.
— Bernama
