Mountain guides may seek other income
Hundreds of mountain guides who are na ves of villages surrounding Mount Kinabalu, have depended on the mountain for years, some decades, to make a living.
KOTA KINABALU: Hundreds of mountain guides who are natives of villages surrounding Mount Kinabalu, have depended on the mountain for years, some decades, to make a living.
Other than their genuine passion and love for the mountain, the 5.9 magnitude quake that hit and scarred the mountain on June 5 means their source of income is on the line.
Now with the mountain closed to any climbing activities until September, these guides will have to resort to finding other income sources.
“We will now have to depend on other skills that we possibly still have within us – most of which might be rusty by now. Like myself, I know how to repair cars, specifically in computering. Others may know carpentry.
“But we come from a place known for agriculture, especially vegetables. So I guess, we can go back to ‘tanam sayur’ (planting vegetables). The younger ones might go out to the city to look for jobs,” said Christopher Peter Ebi, 49, head of the Kinabalu Mountain Guides Association’s safety bureau.
Christopher was one of the 312 Kinabalu mountain guides affected by the temporary closure of the mountain.
He was also one of those who was on duty when the quake struck, and involved in the operation to bring the surviving climbers down to safety.
Christopher shared his experience of the earthqauke at a dinner at the Puteri Hang Li Po restaurant in Karamunsing Capital here on Wednesday.
The restaurant had invited eight mountain guides for dinner organised to show appreciation for the mountain guides’ dedication and bravery.
When asked what did they feel about their sudden fame after the mountain guides’ heroic acts during the quake were highlighted in social media, most of them haf no idea what to make of it.
Maurice Dominic Ubin, 49, admitted that while they appreciate the appreciation shown by the masses, they are starting to feel the pressure.
“The pressure will be greater and our responsibilities as mountain guides might be heavier because more will be expected of us. Agencies had come forward offering courses on safety, mountain guiding, etc.
“So honestly, from mere mountain guides and now to this, we are worried as expectations will be higher,” said Maurice, who had been a Kinabalu mountain guide since 1983.
“I don’t know what to feel really. It was a devastating tragedy nobody asked for nor knew that it would happen,” said 43-year-old Lawrence Gopog, head of the association’s customary bureau.
There has yet to be certainty as to when can these mountain guides resume their duties again.
Although the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, had said that Mount Kinabalu might be re-open to climbers by September, the guides are not that sure.
“Just yesterday, those who were up there (mountain) to observe repair works, were instructed to come down as there was a 4.9 magnitude aftershock earlier. And this morning, the (Sabah) Parks decided not to allow any more climbs for whatever reason. So, we don’t know for sure,” said Maurice.
Meanwhile, Maurice also clarified that the word ‘dukun’ (shaman) used in news to refer those who conducted the ritual at Timpohon Gate, Mount Kinabalu on June 21, was not accurate.
“It was in the news reporting the ritual, calling those who conducted the ritual as ‘dukun’. This is incorrect. It is the mountain guides, who know the mountain the most. One of those who were among those who conducted the ritual is here, Lawrence,” Maurice clarified.
Lawrence then went on to explain the ritual, called ‘poposogit’, a ritual conducted when there is a violation of the customs, where a buffalo purchased using the money of those who were issued the sogit (atonement), was sacrificed.
“Other than that, once the trail up the mountain is safe and open to climbers again, another ritual, the ‘monolob’ will be conducted. This has been done when the mountain was first opened to climbing, and every year since, for permission and protection from the spirits guarding the mountain,” said Lawrence.
On spiritualistic notions saying that the aftershocks had been the result of not enough buffalos being ‘sacrificed’, Lawrence thought otherwise.
“It’s irrelevant. Because that has been the ration set since the days of our ancestors. We are not authorised to change – be it cut off or add on the customs,” he added.
According to Maurice, there are currently 250 fully registered Kinabalu mountain guides under Sabah Parks, and another 62 trainees, who were supposed to be fully absorbed into the association this coming July.
Plans for that have been postponed due to the temporary closure.