Sabah Mulls Age Restriction For Mount Kinabalu Climbers

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Sabah may impose an age limit or require medical clearance for climbers. - NSTP FILE PICKOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is looking at implementing several new measures to enhance the safety of those climbing Mount Kinabalu.
This could include placing an age restriction on climbers, following the recent death of a British man in his 70s, who died while descending Malaysia's highest peak.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew expressed her regret over the incident.
"It is something we never want to see happen. We extend our sympathies to the family, and we have asked Sabah Parks to follow up on the case.
"I understand he was quite elderly, but I do not have further details. I will be meeting with Sabah Parks soon," she told reporters after attending an 'iftar' session at Sutera Harbour here today.
Also present was Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
Asked if the authorities would be imposing an age limit or require medical clearance for climbers, Liew said it was one of the options being considered.
Regarding insurance coverage for climbing, she said it should be the responsibility of climbers.
In 2024, Mount Kinabalu recorded 48,342 climbers, averaging 132 climbers per day.
However, it has claimed the lives of at least four climbers since last year.
On Feb 25, a British man in his 70s died after being found unconscious while descending Mount Kinabalu. The man was discovered in an unresponsive state at the 8.2km mark, beyond the Sayat-Sayat Checkpoint, several metres from the summit.
Some two weeks earlier, a 65-year-old Malaysian man, who was climbing the mountain with his wife, died en route.
He was reported to have lost consciousness at Km5.5 of the mountain.
On June 13 last year, a 53-year-old man fell and lost consciousness while climbing the mountain with his wife and nine others. A guide administered CPR but was unable to revive him.
Two months later, a 54-year-old Malaysian woman reportedly suffered from hypothermia while descending the mountain and collapsed. She was brought to the Panabalan sick bay for medical treatment and later, the Timpohon Gate but died.
Last year, the ministry launched the Mount Kinabalu High Altitude Training Centre, the first of its kind in the country. Unlike the usual summit climb, this programme involves ascending four peaks above 3,900 meters.
For this module, health checks are mandatory for all high-altitude climbers. - NST

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