Razif orders Belukar Bukit picnic site closed

The Terengganu Government has temporarily closed down the Belukar Bukit picnic site following the tragedy where five in a family drowned while on holiday there.

Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said he had ordered the Hulu Terengganu District Office to temporarily close the site and prohibit the public from entering it.

"I have also ordered the Forestry Department to identify the recreation areas which are risky especially during the current monsoon season and to prohibit any water activities in these places.

"We are also asking the Drainage and Irrigation Department to submit proposals on an emergency warning system which must be installed in the picnic areas so that visitors are informed early in the event of a sudden surge of water," he said.

He disclosed this after visiting Mohd Hasif Abdul Halim, 9, who was saved in the tragedy.

READ: Family in Belukar Bukit waterfall tragedy buried in single grave

His father, Abdul Halim Samian, 44, mother Nurul Adila @ Salwati Awang, 39, and sisters Nurul Arifah, 16, Nurul Aina, 11, and Nurul Izah, 10, drowned at the Belukar Bukit picnic area in Hulu Terengganu yesterday morning.

Ahmad Razif said the government also planned to install warning posts at the recreational areas which were popular with the public similar to the ones at the Sekayu picnic area in Hulu Terengganu.

"In Sekayu, the Forestry Office has installed five emergency sirens to inform the public early if an emergency had occurred," he said.

Commenting on Mohd Hasif, Ahmad Razif said the government had agreed to adopt him under the Terengganu Foundation (YT).

He said the government would ensure Mohd Hasif completed his studies while his welfare would be looked after by the YT.

"However, it all depends on his family, whether Mohd Hasif is taken by his family in Selangor, we cannot do anything, we want to ensure that he gets the best education and become successful," he said.