PM Najib hands over Jalur Gemilang to six women on mission to scale Mt Elbrus

The mission to scale the highest mountain in Europe at 5, 642 metres above sea level, are being participated by six women, Nurul Huda Shamsuddin, 31, Nir Azmin Adnan, 34, Fairul Asmaini Mohd Pilus, 35, Ummu Farah Haidar Zulkifli, 30, Fazilah Abd Manan, 41 and Ren'ee Aziz Ahmad, 56, who is also a former breast cancer patient.

Also present was Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who is also Puteri UMNO chief.

Mas Ermieyati said the expedition organised by the Persatuan Kembara Negara with the cooperation of Puteri UMNO, was the highlight of the Kembara Srikandi Prihatin campaign being held to promote a healthy lifestyle through outdoor and rugged activities among Malaysians.

"The campaign, implemented under the #Negaraku project also stressed on the role of women in the country besides being a source of inspiration to Malaysians that challenges such as illnesses (cancer) or life crisis are not an obstacle for a person to contribute anything to the nation,” she told a media conference after the event at the Putra World Trade Centre here.

She said the participants would start the climb from the Terskol Village, Russia and it would take seven days, six nights for a round journey.

Mas Ermieyati said the expedition also aimed to fly the Jalur Gemilang at the summit of Mount Elbrus in conjunction with National Day on August 31.

She said the programme was also to raise funds to help several parties, including the Darul Wardah Rehabilitation and Protection Home, the Breast Cancer Welfare Association and the National Cancer Council (MAKNA).