PONTIAN: Following a deadly disaster which forced its closure for 15 long years, Gunung Pulai Recreational Forest has finally been reopened to the public.
Part of the Gunung Pulai forest reserve, the recreational park was once the top tourist attraction in Pontian – until it was closed in December 2001 following a huge landslide which killed several people and damaged multiple vehicles.
Johor Education, Information, Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Executive Committee chairman Datuk Md Jais Sarday said the state government lifted the closure after getting the thumbs up from the Johor Forestry Department.
"The park, which used to be a popular outdoor attraction in Johor, is now reopened to visitors with several new added features to ensure their safety," said Jais at the inaugural state-level International Forestry Day at the park's visitors' centre.
Jais said that an early warning system had been put in place at strategic locations near the river’s banks and the 30m-high waterfall as an added precaution in the event of an unforeseen mud or landslide.