Former heart patient climbs Mount Santubong

KUCHING: Three years ago, nine- year- old Siti Nur Intan Hidayah Azhar underwent corrective surgery to treat her congenital heart defect condition and, two months ago, she proved to others that former heart patients are capable of doing outdoor activities.

The Year 3 pupil of Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Gau, Temerloh, Pahang was one of the proud climbers of Mount Santubong near here.

The youngest of five siblings scaled the 810-metre-high peak with her parents, Azhar Ahmad, 49, and Siti Hawa Abdul Latiff, 45, showing her commitment and grit in overcoming the challenge.

“My parents brought me along the climbing mission after the doctor who treated me at the National Heart Institute ( IJN) confirmed that I was capable of doing outdoor activities. This is my first time climbing Mount Santubong,” she told Bernama here.

Siti Nur Intan Hidayah was the youngest climber among 28 participants of the ‘ Komuniti Sihat Perkasa Negara’ ( Kospen) programme and Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital , in Temerloh, Pahang who recently joined in the mission to climb the legendary mountain.

She said the hardships faced when scaling the mountain was unforgettable and she nearly gave up due to exhaustion.

“I never expected that I would be able to reach the top of Mount Santubong.

“I was able to do this with the support of other participants and, if given the opportunity, I would like to join other climbing missions in the future,” she added.

Mount Santubong, located 35 kilometres from here, is a popular climbing destination filled with numerous challenging obstacles that test the physical fitness of climbers while providing a scenic view.