Stricter rules for park visitors
The 500m stretch of beach in Pantai Kerachut, where three youths drowned last Saturday, has always been off-limits to swimmers, says Penang National Park committee member Datuk Shah Haedan Ayoob Hussain Shah.
He said the rules and regulations for visitors to the park, which is under the purview of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), will be tightened up.
Shah Headan also said that the seabed at the stretch has a sudden slope and coupled with strong undercurrents were not safe for recreational purposes.
"We still have more safety measures in the pipeline to prevent further mishaps.
"We are planning to gazette a law which will give national park rangers the power to issue summonses to visitors who violate the department's rules and regulations," said Shah Headan.
He said there will be a special meeting for local tourist guides to remind them of the rules and regulations when visiting Pantai Kerachut although most of them were already familiar with the terrain and well versed in the public safety of the park, adding that there were 80 tourist guides who operate near the park.
Shah Headan said the park would coordinate with other agencies such as the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, the Fire and Rescue Department, Marine Police, and Civil Defence Department to beef up safety measures.
Shah Headan, who is also Teluk Bahang assemblyman, said Penang National Park would put up more signboards informing visitors on the do's and don'ts of the park.
"Currently, we have two flag poles to warn the public about the danger of swimming in the sea.
"We will increase the number of signboards and will also include the statistics on drowning cases in the area," he said.
Previously known as the Pantai Acheh forest reserve, the park is frequented by scientists, researchers, and nature lovers who are lured by its numerous species of flora and fauna.
The forest reserve was declared a national park in April 2003.
Marine police mounting a search operation off Pantai Kerachut where three youths drowned last Saturday.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
The 500m stretch of beach in Pantai Kerachut, where three youths drowned last Saturday, has always been off-limits to swimmers, says Penang National Park committee member Datuk Shah Haedan Ayoob Hussain Shah.
He said the rules and regulations for visitors to the park, which is under the purview of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), will be tightened up.
Shah Headan also said that the seabed at the stretch has a sudden slope and coupled with strong undercurrents were not safe for recreational purposes.
"We still have more safety measures in the pipeline to prevent further mishaps.
"We are planning to gazette a law which will give national park rangers the power to issue summonses to visitors who violate the department's rules and regulations," said Shah Headan.
He said there will be a special meeting for local tourist guides to remind them of the rules and regulations when visiting Pantai Kerachut although most of them were already familiar with the terrain and well versed in the public safety of the park, adding that there were 80 tourist guides who operate near the park.
Shah Headan said the park would coordinate with other agencies such as the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, the Fire and Rescue Department, Marine Police, and Civil Defence Department to beef up safety measures.
Shah Headan, who is also Teluk Bahang assemblyman, said Penang National Park would put up more signboards informing visitors on the do's and don'ts of the park.
"Currently, we have two flag poles to warn the public about the danger of swimming in the sea.
"We will increase the number of signboards and will also include the statistics on drowning cases in the area," he said.
Previously known as the Pantai Acheh forest reserve, the park is frequented by scientists, researchers, and nature lovers who are lured by its numerous species of flora and fauna.
The forest reserve was declared a national park in April 2003.
Marine police mounting a search operation off Pantai Kerachut where three youths drowned last Saturday.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
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