Mosar Necessary For Ecotourism

By Mohd Fakri Awang Lah

KUALA KRAI (Bernama) -- Proper training in Mountain Search and Rescue (Mosar) is an item that needs to be included in the country’s ecotourism policy.

The Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Director Nazili Mahmood said that such training was crucial particularly for providing first aid response to mountaineers who became injured while climbing.

The department is therefore planning to provide Mosar training to over 80 tourist guides and mountain guides who have been actively bringing tourists on climbs in Kelantan.

He told this to reporters during an ecotourism course in the state at the Gunung Stong State Park, some 84km from here, recently.

The three-day course jointly organised by the Kelantan Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Kelantan Darul Naim Media Club and the Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department was to introduce via ferrata and rock climbing activities in the state. A via ferrata is a protected mountain pathway consisting of a series of rungs, rails, cables and bridges embracing the rock face.

The course was attended by 45 participants comprising media practitioners, tourism industry players, Volunteer Fire and Rescue Force personnel, and the Malaysian Association of Youth Club (MAYC) members, all of whom were based in Kelantan.

MAIN FOCUS

The training, however, was still in the discussion stage.

Nazili said that in Mosar training, the first thing that would be taught to participants was how to relay important information to JBPM during emergencies. They would also be taught how to deliver first aid to victims.

“The meeting to form Mosar Kelantan has been held several times and was attended by representatives from the JBPM, the Kelantan Mountain Guide Association, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and the Kelantan Forestry Department.

“The establishment of Mosar Kelantan would be announced upon the agreement of all parties,” he said.

He added that the Kelantan JBPM has identified over 20 mountains in the state, particularly in Dabong, that were favourites among climbers.

“JBPM is therefore building a fire station to focus on Mosar work, aside from its main task of putting out fires and assisting accident victims.

“This is a positive development that will benefit mountain climbers in this area because they can now rest assured that rescue assistance is nearby, should anything untoward happen,” he said.

Construction work on the fire station, located in Dabong, started earlier this year and is expected to be finished by next year.

STORM

Aside from Mosar, JBPM also has a Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM) Unit, which personnel are highly trained in search and rescue efforts.

“They had to undergo a month of training in cliff rescue, jungle and sea survival, first aid and several intensive physical courses for a month before being accepted into the team.

“Aside from that, STORM officers and personnel must possess the mental and physical resilience to not only ensure the victims’ safety and wellbeing but theirs as well, as (rescue efforts for) disasters can sometimes become prolonged,” said Nazili.

He added that STORM personnel would also have to go for regular training at JBPM.

There are currently five STORM personnel at the Kelantan JBPM but Nazili is hoping to increase the figure to at least 30 in the near future.

He felt that the increase in personnel was necessary to prepare for any eventuality, given the number of climbing destinations in the state.

CAMP BAHA

The MAYC Chairman Meor Shamshir Meor Zulkefli Auni, who attended the ecotourism course, said that the experience climbing to Camp Baha in Gunung Stong would be forever etched in his mind.

“I never thought I would be able to climb as high as 450m above sea level because I was the heaviest participant at 115kg. I thought it was an impossible feat.

“I am grateful, even though it took me three hours and I was the last to reach Camp Baha,” he said, attributing his feat to the assistance of fire and rescue personnel as well as the mountain guide who supported him morally as well as provided him with medical assistance.

Another participant, Tengku Norizan Che Ku Ali, said the climb to Camp Baha was particularly challenging because the trail was slippery and ridden with mossy rocks.

“This is my first experience up Camp Baha. I was initially scared when I first arrived at the camp because of how high it was, but when I saw the beauty that surrounded me and the view of Dabong from above, I felt that it was worth it,” said the 30-year-old, who is a volunteer firefighter from Pengkalan Chepa,

Translated by Sakina Mohamed

-- BERNAMA