RANAU: Sabah is set to emerge as a national and Southeast Asian leader in high-altitude training, said state Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew.
She said the launch of the Mount Kinabalu High Altitude Training Centre here is the first of its kind in the country.
"Today, Sabah Parks has fulfilled its responsibility to the state government by successfully establishing and operating this centre, including developing training modules, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and an online booking system," he said during the launch at Kinabalu Hall here.
Peter added that the establishment and operation of the Mount Kinabalu High Altitude Training Centre presents new challenges and responsibilities for Sabah Parks management and other related agencies, particularly concerning climber safety.
Last year, the total number of Mount Kinabalu climbers reached 47,212, generating RM9.5 million in revenue.
He added that with the opening of this High-Altitude Training Centre, which involves climbs to four peaks above 3,900 metres, it is expected to generate additional climbing revenue of approximately RM5.0 million annually.
Mountain guides and porters will receive about 20 per cent of this additional income as service fees.
There were 88 climber accident cases recorded last year, of which 26 involved full-scale rescues requiring stretcher evacuations, nine involved climbers being assisted down, and 53 received initial treatment.
So far this year, two climbers have lost their lives due to hypothermia.
"Therefore, Sabah Parks has developed the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for High-Altitude Climbing Training at Mount Kinabalu, effective today.
"This includes mandatory health checks for all high-altitude climbers, defining the roles of the High Altitude Search & Rescue Team in collaboration with the Fire and Rescue Department's Mountain Search and Rescue Team (MoSAR), as well as training and sending park rangers and mountain rescuers abroad for high-altitude training, including climbing Mount Everest in the future."
He also congratulated Sabah Parks deputy director Maipol Spait, Panalaban supervisor Julaimin Kamin, and search and rescue officer Mohd Fazlie Musitin for conquering the world's highest free-standing mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
The trio had flown the Sabah Parks and Mount Kinabalu High Altitude Training Centre flags at the summit at 5,895 metres on Oct 9.
Earlier, the ceremony also flagged off the first batch of high-altitude trainees, launched the Kinabalu Earthquake Gallery, and unveiled the 27-year-old Kinabalu Time Capsule.
Present at the event was Sabah Parks director Dr Maklarin Lakim.