Foreigners among first group of climbers to Mount Kinabalu since earthquake

Foreign tourists were among 88 people in the first group of climbers to scale up to Laban Rata on Mount Kinabalu today after climbing activities on the mountain was halted due to an earthquake about two months ago.

Michael Lewis, 39, from California in the United States of America, said it was an opportunity that gave him an amazing experience which he would share with others.

"This climb will help me to give a clear picture of the situation, that it is now safe to climb Mount Kinabalu when In return to the United States," he said when met by Bernama here today.

Lewis was among members of a welfare club, with membership in about 20 countries, who took part in the climb.

An Australian, Andrew Britto, 51, said he was fortunate to be among those who were able to go up the mountain this time, despite having climbed it several times before.

Britto said he did not see a lot of changes during the climb to Laban Rata, except traces of damage caused by falling rocks.

"Although I have climbed the mountain before, climbing it again after an earthquake gives a different experience as there is a new path," he added.

The climbers were flagged-off by state culture, tourism and environment minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun yesterday.

The 5.9 magnitude earthquake which rocked Kundansang last June 5 claimed 18 lives, including Singaporean (10), Malaysian (six), a Japanese national and a Chinese national.

In a related development, the halting of climbing activities at the mountain since two months ago has not only affected income of the mountain guides, but also their stamina.

Eddy Minel, 25, from Kampung Poring, Ranau, who was involved in yesterday's climb, said he lacked stamina and felt tired.

Having been a mountain guide since the aged of 17, said he got his stamina by climbing up the mountain, which he did three times a week before it was closed due to the earthquake.

Julius Dani, 36, from Kampung Tomis, Tamparuli, the mountain guide for the media during the climb, said he was happy to be able to be able to climb the mountain again.

"We may not reach the peak, but it feels good to be back on this mountain again," he added.