KAMPAR: The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry will form a special forest and mountain guide brigade.
Its minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the initiative is to strengthen the activities carried out by mountain guides.
"If the National Unity Department has a Rukun Tetangga scheme throughout the country, while the national water sector has a water engineering territory, then we (Energy and Natural Resources Ministry) want to make a squad or a brigade of forest and mountain guides," he told reporters after the closing ceremony of the Mountain Guide Forestry Course, here today.
Also present were his deputy, Datuk Ali Biju, and Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department deputy director-general Datuk Zahari Ibrahim.
Takiyuddin said the special brigade would also be the eyes and ears of the Forestry Department to combat forest encroachment and illegal hunting activities.
"Right now, we are seeing the extinction of animals that have become national icons such as the Malayan tiger and elephants. So, we will make them (special brigade of mountain and forest guides) the eyes and ears of the government to overcome this problem."
Takiyuddin added that a one-off incentive of RM600 would also be given to mountain guides who complete 60 hours of courses this year.
"They need to attend various courses to become more efficient. Up to today, we have 590 mountain guides. We are targeting to have 1,000 mountain guides to complete a 60-hour course this year," he said.
