Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department (JPSM) director-general, Datuk Mohd Ridza Awang, said it is an alternative weekend destination since inter-state travel is currently restricted.

However, the movement control order (MCO) standard operating procedure (SOP) – like wearing a face mask and physical distancing – must still be obeyed, he said.

“Only hiking and bird watching will be allowed. Camping and gathering together are not allowed,” he told Bernama after launching a computerised permit payment system developed by the Federal Territory Forestry Department (JPWP) and the information technology unit at JPSM headquarters.

The green lung – which has seven trails, a Canopy Walk and Bamboo Walk – started collecting admission fees on Jan 1 last year and since then it saw an average 15,000 admissions per month and made RM900,000.

The fees for an adult is RM10, while for a senior citizen or child it is RM1. For a non-Malaysian it is RM40 per adult, RM40 per senior citizen and RM5 per child.

Mohd Ridza said that, under the computerised permit payment system, visitors merely have to show their identification card to receive a wristband to enter from tomorrow.

He said that it will indirectly boost ticket sales and stop revenue loss via the maximum monitoring of transactions.