No refunds for cancelled hikes up Mt Kinabalu as Parks chief says climbers already enjoyed views
Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments
Sabah Parks closed the Mount Kinabalu summit on July 13 and 15 due to strong wind and heavy rain during the wee hours.
PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER
KOTA KINABALU - Climbers should not feel that they did not get their money’s worth if they fail to reach the summit of Mount Kinabalu due to bad weather.
Sabah Parks director Maklarin Lakim said this is because, apart from ensuring their safety, climbers had actually enjoyed the view and experience when they started their journey from Timpohon Gate.
“You paid for the view, the adventure and the climb and you were accompanied by trained mountain guides. You reached Laban Rata (the rest stop closest to the summit) and enjoyed the whole experience,” he said when contacted on July 17.
“Climbers also evaded disaster or accidents when they were told that the summit was closed due to bad weather,” he added.
Hence, Mr Maklarin said, climbers should not feel that they have lost money or that it was a waste of money just because they could not continue to the summit.
He said nothing beats safety and everyone should always put their lives and health first when carrying out any activities.
He was responding to demands and suggestions from some people who asked that the Sabah Parks refund some money to climbers who had to forgo their hike to the summit of Mount Kinabalu due to bad weather.
An update on the cancellation was posted on the Mount Kinabalu Facebook page, resulting in a string of mixed reactions.
Some internet users said that they had paid thousands of ringgit and should be allowed to continue to the top of the mountain, regardless of weather conditions.
Some also accused mountain guides of being unprofessional when they were told that the climb to the summit had been cancelled because of terrible weather conditions.
On July 13 and 15, Sabah Parks closed the summit due to strong wind and heavy rain during the wee hours, not long before climbers were supposed to start their hike to the top.
It left quite a number of climbers disappointed and questioning if they had got their money’s worth.
Stricter rules were put in place – from allowing a certain number of climbers to scale the mountain at any one time, to stopping the hike based on weather conditions – following an earthquake on June 5, 2015.
A total of 18 people died, even as local mountain guides acted as first responders to rescue and assist stranded climbers before the authorities came in. THE STAR/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
