Campfire Rules in Malaysia: Where Fires Are Allowed and Who Decides

Malaysia has no single national law that tells a campsite where campfires are allowed. The answer depends on whose land you pitch on. Forest reserves, public land and private campsites each follow different rules, and the penalties differ just as much.

The rules below come from the official government and agency pages listed as sources at the end.

The national guideline that says nothing about fires

The national campsite planning guideline, the Garis Panduan Perancangan Tapak Perkhemahan, took effect on 10 June 2024 under Pekeliling KSU KPKT Bil. 1 Tahun 2024. It guides how campsites are planned and run, but it holds no campfire rule. It also does not cover private camping in forests, military camps, school or NGO camps, or emergency shelters. So a campsite fire is not governed by this guideline at all.

Forest reserves: the strictest rules

In a forest reserve, kindling, keeping, carrying or leaving a fire burning without permission is an offence under Section 82(2) of the National Forestry Act 1984. The penalty runs to a RM50,000 fine or up to five years in jail, or both. Damaging trees with fire carries the same maximum under Section 81(2)(b).

Even entering a permanent forest reserve without a permit is an offence under Section 47. That carries a fine of up to RM10,000, up to three years' jail, or both.

Perak shows how this works on the ground. Camping in the state's recreation forests needs prior permission from the District Forest Office. Any use of fire there must be supervised so the forest is not harmed. In practice, ask the forest office before you light anything.

Open burning law reaches every open fire

The Environmental Quality Act's definition of open burning is wide enough to reach a campfire. Section 29A(3) defines open burning as any fire, combustion or smouldering in the open air that is not directed through a chimney or stack. That definition can cover a campfire.

Since the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024 took effect on 7 July 2024, a conviction under Section 29A carries a fine of RM25,000 to RM1,000,000. Jail can run to five years. A further RM5,000 applies for each day the fire continues after a notice to stop.

The earlier cap, still shown on a 2022 DOE page, was RM500,000. The new law raised it sharply.

Some burning is declared not to be open burning under the Open Burning Order 2003, in force since 1 January 2004. The list covers diseased plants, infected animal carcasses, fire research and fire-officer training, and burning for shifting cultivation or crop replanting. Campfires are not on it.

Selangor goes further. The whole state is a declared open-burning prohibition area under Section 29AA(2), except for cremation, religious burning, grills and barbecues, and flaring of flammable gas. A campfire in Selangor sits outside that exception. A proper BBQ grill does not.

Local councils add their own teeth. In Subang Jaya, open burning on unlicensed premises draws a RM1,000 compound under By-law 16 of the Refuse Collection, Removal and Disposal By-laws 2007. The DOE provision adds a RM2,000 compound for each heap of burning material.

Setting fire to material that annoys, inconveniences or endangers the public on or near a public road is also an offence under the Minor Offences Act 1955. That Act applies in West Malaysia only.

Haze season changes the mood, not the law

No gazetted fire-ban order tied to haze alerts exists. What changes in hot, dry weather is enforcement. As of 21 July 2025, DOE had run 4,121 ground patrols and 640 drone patrols nationwide. It issued 58 directive notices and 27 court actions over open burning.

Where the written rules run out

Some parks simply do not publish a fire rule. Taman Negara Pulau Pinang's prohibited-acts list covers littering and pollution, with a fine of up to RM1,000 or six months in jail, but names no fire offence. No official fire rule was found on Sabah Parks or Sarawak park pages either. For these places, the permit or the park office is the only safe answer.

Before you light a fire

Work through this list before any campfire.

• Ask the land manager first. On forest reserve land, get written permission from the forest office.
• In Selangor, use the designated grill or BBQ area instead of an open fire.
• Keep any permitted fire supervised until it is fully out, as Perak's rules require.
• Expect stricter checks during hot, dry weather, when DOE runs extra patrols.
• Report open burning to DOE on 1-800-88-2727, by email to aduan_k@doe.gov.my, or through eaduan.doe.gov.my.

Frequently asked questions

Is a campfire allowed at a campsite in Malaysia?

No single national rule answers this. The KPKT planning guideline that took effect on 10 June 2024 does not regulate campfires. What governs is the law of the land you camp on: forest reserves, open-burning law, and local council rules.

Do I need permission for a fire in a forest reserve?

Yes. Kindling, keeping, carrying or leaving a fire burning in a forest reserve without permission is an offence under Section 82(2) of the National Forestry Act 1984, punishable by a fine of up to RM50,000, up to five years in jail, or both. Camping in Perak's recreation forests also needs prior permission from the District Forest Office.

Is open burning banned in Selangor?

The whole of Selangor is a declared open-burning prohibition area under Section 29AA(2) of the Environmental Quality Act. The exceptions are cremation, religious burning, grills and barbecues, and flaring. A campfire falls outside those exceptions.

What is the penalty for open burning?

Since 7 July 2024, a Section 29A conviction carries a fine of RM25,000 to RM1,000,000, up to five years in jail, or both, plus up to RM5,000 for each day the offence continues after a notice to stop.

How do I report someone burning waste?

Call DOE's 24-hour toll-free line 1-800-88-2727, email aduan_k@doe.gov.my, or file through the e-complaint portal at eaduan.doe.gov.my.