KHAIRY, CLIMBERS TAKE SEA GAMES TORCH TO MT KINABALU
Torch run marks countdown to 29th Sea Games
AGROUP of 24 enthusiastic climbers, led by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, began their ascent to the summit of Mount Kinabalu this morning, taking with them the Sea Games torch.
As part of the Kuala Lumpur 2017 Torch Run, the climb begins at 2am from the Laban Rata rest house.
The torch run marks the countdown to the 29th Sea Games and the 9th Asean Para Sport, in which Malaysia plays host to both events.
Yesterday, Khairy and the climbers went from the Timpohon Gate to Laban Rata rest point, where they spent the night.
“I am happy to note that everyone is thrilled and I am excited as this will be my first time climbing Mount Kinabalu.
“The climb will be challenging as we intend to perform and complete our fast throughout the journey,” Khairy said prior to their initial ascent yesterday.
He said the climb would be significant as it was carried out on the second anniversary of the Sabah earthquake, which killed 18 climbers, including Singaporean schoolchildren, on June 5 two years ago.
“I was made to understand that some of the victims’ families will be scaling the mountain, too.
“I hope to meet them and at the same time, commemorate those who died (in the earthquake),” he added.
After the climb, the group will tour the state and will hand over the torch to Sarawak, once the Sabah phase is completed on Thursday.
Sabah becomes the fifth destination for the torch run which kicked-off in Johor on May 14.
The torch has passed through Melaka, Negri Sembilan and Labuan. It will end in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 12.
The climb will definitely be challenging as we intend to perform and complete our fast throughout the journey.
KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN
Youth and sports minister