IPOH, Dec 17 ― The Ipoh City Council (MBI) has instructed all tourism operators in areas at risk of landslides and water surge phenomenon to cease their operations temporarily.

Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said a notice would also be sent to all the operators concerned on December 19 (Monday) to ensure that the instruction is adhered to.

"For your information, we have closed two locations, namely Kledang Saiong Forest Eco Park, Meru and Bukit Bangkong, Chemor, since early November.

"We took this action after getting the advice from the Department of Minerals and Geoscience, who informed us that the soil in the areas is quite soft due to the relatively high rainfall and can pose a risk to visitors,” he told reporters after attending the Battle of the Buskers finale here today.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi advised that all campsites near hill slopes and rivers be temporarily vacated following the current uncertain weather conditions.

This followed the landslide tragedy at the Father’s Organic Farm camping site in Batang Kali, Selangor, early yesterday morning, which has claimed 21 lives so far.

In another development, Rumaizi said MBI would submit an application to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to get Ipoh listed as one of the Creative Cities of Music.

He said the council was in the midst of preparing the documentation required by Unesco, adding that the application must be submitted before June 30 next year. ― Bernama