By Aida Aziz
IPOH: A comprehensive review of the existing standard operating procedures (SOP) for water adventure activities is necessary to prevent a repeat of the tragedy in Gopeng.
This call was made by the Chief of Perak’s Amanah Youth, Khairol Najib Hashim, who also claimed that such rafting incidents have occurred frequently in the past.
He further stated that the state government, in collaboration with the National Security Council (MKN) and the Malaysian Meteorological Department, must immediately issue a ban and strict guidelines regarding water activities across all rivers in Perak throughout the monsoon season.
“We express our deepest condolences to the families of the three victims who lost their lives in the water rafting incident at Sungai Kampar, Gopeng.
“This incident, which claimed the lives of three participants from the Public Works Department’s (JKR) team-building program, is deeply saddening and should serve as a wake-up call about the dangers of water activities during the monsoon season.
“This is not the first such tragedy. Similar incidents have occurred before, yet it seems that no lessons have been learned by the parties involved,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
He added that the Malaysian Meteorological Department had issued an early warning that the Northeast Monsoon would begin on November 5 and is expected to last until March 2025.
“All parties, especially program organizers and recreational activity operators, need to be more alert and wise in choosing activities based on the current conditions.
“Safety and the lives of participants must always be prioritized over any other considerations.
“The safety and lives of the people should come first. Water recreational activity operators must take responsibility by immediately halting all dangerous activities until weather conditions return to normal,” he added.
On Friday, the media reported that three people drowned while participating in a white water rafting activity at Sungai Kampar, Gopeng.
