Malaysia is introducing stricter hiking regulations after a surge in search and rescue operations linked to risky social media hiking trends.
Mari Mari Cultural Village, Malaysia [image used for illustrative purposes]/You Le/Unsplash
According to The Guardian, the country recorded 52 cases of hikers becoming lost during the first five months of 2026 – an increase of almost 30% compared with the same period last year, citing figures from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department.
Authorities say the rise has been driven in part by the growing popularity of hiking content on social media, where some creators attempt demanding trails with minimal equipment or complete so-called “compressed hikes” in a single day to produce eye-catching content.
Norimah Abd Karim, a member of Malaysia’s association of certified forestry mountain guides, told local media that some hikers prioritise social media over safety by carrying little gear to resemble experienced trail runners, increasing the risk of accidents.
The trend has also fuelled challenges such as “bagging peaks”, where hikers aim to summit as many mountains as possible in a short period, sometimes overlooking proper preparation and trail conditions.
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In response, Malaysia’s government is introducing several new safety measures. Guides will become mandatory at 189 high-risk hiking locations, while pre-hike screening will be strengthened through health declarations, medical history checks and insurance requirements.
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Syed Ibrahim Syed Noy also announced that compressed hikes have been banned at many of the country’s high-risk mountain areas. Some states will no longer approve applications for these shortened hikes, while others have introduced minimum climbing periods for specific routes.
Malaysia already requires permits for hikes in many state parks and forest reserves.
“The government’s priority is to reduce the risk of hikers getting lost and prevent accidents, thereby minimising the need for search and rescue operations, which require substantial financial resources and manpower,” Syed Ibrahim said.
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