Malaysia Bans Compressed Hikes to Reduce Rescue Operations

The Malaysian government is implementing nationwide hiking restrictions to curb a rise in rescue operations fueled by social media trends. The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia reported 52 cases of lost hikers in the first five months of 2026, marking a nearly 30% increase over the previous year.

Authorities attribute the trend to the "hike-tok" community and the popularity of "compressed hikes," which are shortened versions of demanding routes. Officials say these practices lead hikers to neglect safety gear and preparation to create social media content.

New measures include mandatory guides for 189 high-risk locations and a ban on compressed hikes in various mountainous areas. Additionally, authorities are introducing stricter pre-climb screenings that require medical history, health declarations, and insurance.

Syed Ibrahim Syed Noy, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, stated that these steps aim to reduce accidents and minimize the financial and manpower costs associated with search and rescue operations.