Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia is tightening hiking regulations and banning some high-risk ‘compressed hikes’ after authorities recorded a sharp increase in hikers becoming lost or stranded, with officials warning that social media trends are encouraging people to take greater risks in remote areas.
The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department recorded 52 cases of lost hikers during the first five months of 2026, nearly 30 per cent more than during the same period in 2025.
Officials have linked some of the increase to the popularity of hiking content on social media, where participants attempt demanding routes within shorter periods to document their achievements online. The trend includes so-called ‘compressed hikes’, in which routes normally completed over several days are attempted within a single day or over a significantly shorter timeframe.
The government has introduced new measures that include making certified guides mandatory at 189 high-risk locations, strengthening screening requirements before climbs and prohibiting compressed hikes in several mountainous areas.
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh told Malaysia’s upper house of parliament that compressed hikes had been banned at many high-risk mountain locations across the country.
Authorities said hikers who underestimate preparation requirements or are influenced by online trends can increase the likelihood of accidents and search-and-rescue operations. Some hikers have also been criticised for carrying minimal equipment in an effort to resemble professional trail runners in social media content.
Malaysia is also strengthening pre-climb checks, including requirements for health declarations, medical history information and insurance coverage. Enforcement measures vary between states, with some authorities refusing applications for compressed hiking activities and others imposing minimum climbing periods of several days on selected routes.
Malaysia already requires hikers to obtain permits for many state parks and forests. Officials said the measures are intended to reduce the number of people becoming lost, prevent accidents and limit the financial and manpower demands placed on search-and-rescue teams.
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