This Year's Mt Kinabalu Climbathon Called Off

KUNDASANG (Sabah, Malaysia), June 25 (Bernama) -- The 2015 Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon scheduled for Oct 17 and 18 has been cancelled. Climbing routes damaged by an earthquake have rendered it impossible to hold the annual event, said Sabah Minister for Tourism, Culture and Environment Masidi Manjun. He said the decision to cancel the climbathon was made after consultation with the Sabah Parks management and the Sabah Tourism Board. "We are most concerned about the safety of the participants," he told reporters here. People who have registered for the event could seek a refund of their registration fee from the organiser, he said. The 28th series of the event last year drew 741 participants from 31 countries. An earthquake, measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale, struck Ranau in East Malaysian state of Sabah on June 5 and killed 18 people comprising mountain climbers and guides. -- BERNAMA