KANGAR: The state government has explained that the photography and video fees imposed on visitors at the Wang Kelian View Point are imposed only for commercial shootings.
State Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Wan Badariah Wan Saad said the initiative was implemented to improve the facilities of tourism hotspots in Perlis.
"The fees imposed by the state Forestry Department are only for commercial shootings involving the use of DSLR (digital single-lens reflex camera) cameras and equivalent equipment.
"If it is only meant for personal use, hobby, or to be uploaded on social media, no charge is imposed," she said on her Facebook page today.
She added that the fees were already stipulated in the Perlis Forestry Regulations (Amendment) 2019 and have been enforced since 2020 under the previous Barisan Nasional administration.
"The charges were imposed beginning December last year, comprising Perlis Herbs Park, Bukit Ayer Forest Eco Park, Gua Kelam Ecotourism Complex, Perlis State Park and Wang Kelian View Point.
"Therefore, the public should not be worried, as fees collected from the charges are being channelled for the purpose of developing and maintaining ecotourism sites under the purview of the state Forestry Department," she said.
Wan Badariah said the state government would continuously improve facilities at the ecotourism sites in Perlis.
"Those who wish to carry out commercial shooting at the sites, please be honest and duly inform the staff on duty in advance," she said.
She hoped the explanation would clear up the air on the matter.
Wan Badariah was responding to a notice on the photography and filming fees imposed on Wang Kelian Viewpoint that had gone viral.
The charges for commercial shootings are RM15 for Malaysian citizens and RM20 for non-citizens.
As for movie or documentary filming, the charge is imposed at RM500 daily for citizens and RM1,000 for non-citizens, while for commercial photography, the charge is RM200 and RM400 for non-citizens per day.