Mount Kinabalu Guides Continue to Practice Safety Measures and Caution

RANAU (Sabah), June 5 (Bernama) -- To ensure that the mission of Mount Kinabalu climbers to reach its peak runs smoothly, the 'malim gunung’ or mountain guides continue to emphasise on safety aspects and heighten caution. Among the security measures carried out include providing briefing and reminding the climbers to adhere to the regulations and instructions of the mountain guides. According to Rasinah Rasin, 40, one of the 12 female guides of Mount Kinabalu, she and her friends always took precautionary measures and were prepared to stop the ascent to the summit of the highest mountain in Southeast Asia if conditions did not permit it. "For instance, if it rains, the climb would be discontinued. Thus, the climbers need to accept the decision and listen to the instructions of the 'malim gunung’ for their own safety,” she told Bernama at Taman Kinabalu, in Kundasang, near here Monday. Rasinah also pointed out the importance for climbers to equip themselves with essentials such as jackets, food and medication as early preparation in the occurrence of an emergency midway of the ascent. She added, the Mountain Search and Rescue (MoSAR) was always ready to provide emergency assistance to climbers as well as helping them to climb down until Timpohon Gate. MOSAR was formed by the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department following the occurrence of an earthquake in Ranau measuring 5.9 on the Richter Scale, on June 5, 2015 that had taken 18 lives, including four mountain guides who were on Mount Kinabalu during the incident. Monday, marks the second anniversary of the tragedy. Meanwhile, according to another guide, Randi Hasanuddin, although memories of the disaster still haunted him even after two years, he said business was as usual now and there were more climbers at the mountain ever since the opening of its new trek to the public. "For this year alone, from January until now, I have led more than 100 climbers to Mount Kinabalu,” he said, adding that the new trek was more challenging and scenic. -- BERNAMA