Continue holding the Climbathon

Mt Kinabalu

The 30th Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon held on Oct 15, 2017 will be the last, it seems as it has since been officially scrapped by the relevant authorities. If it had continued, the climbathon would be held again this year. The previous event saw 116 participants from 18 countries including locals pitting their strength and stamina against one another to emerge the best. At that time Sabahan Safrey Sumping finished first. Sadly he will not be able to repeat his feat.

Albert Shim

The residents of Kundasang are not happy about the cancellation, which to them is a major event. This is the time when domestic and international participants, their family and friends and those who are avid spectators throng to this area. This is a time when residents can sell their wares be it food and beverages or souvenir items to their guests, this is a time when transportation, restaurants, homestays, resorts and hotels and all matters of accommodation are fully utilised. In short the event bring a festive atmosphere to this mountain town, even if only once in a year.

Albert Shim, the managing director of Kinabalu Pines Resort agreed that the event should be continued as it means a lot to the people in the area, and Ranau as a whole. This is the time when tourism spots around in Kundasang gets lot of traffic which is good for business.

"I hope the authority reconsider their decision as the community here look forward to the event as this is the time when everyone gets a piece of the action," he said adding that the climbathon is an international event and helps to promote the area tremendously to the world.  

Japiril Suhaimin

He believed that no matter how famous the mountain and the Kinabalu Parks around it are, it is still necessary to keep on promoting it as a destination not only for climbers and mountaineers but to leisure tourists as well. 

Japiril Suhaiman politician and proprietor of Kundasang Guesthouse, agreed with Shim's opinion saying that the climbathon should be continued to ensure that the people in Kundasang especially food and beverage vendors, accommodation and tourism spots enterprise and similar entrepreneurs have something to look forward to annually.

He said most people in Kundasang and Ranau as a whole wait for that event to be held so that they can enjoy the tourism traffic as well as the exciting, festive and merry atmosphere in the park and Kundasang township. 

"It is a pity that the event is no longer going to be held. Although we have other events like the Cabbage Festival, but that is so different. The climbathon was still the much awaited event," he opined.

Azizul Julirin

Azizul Julirin, Chairman of the Mesilou Atamis Homestay Association believed that scrapping the climbathon is not a good idea and the relevant authorities should consider returning it to the annual calendar of events for Kundasang. He said people in Kundasang such as mountain guides and porters always look forward to the event because they will have more jobs which means they earn more.

He said some mountain guides  are participants too and thus when the event is scrapped it deprived them of an event where they can pit their strength and stamina against more seasoned international participants.

"We have our own Borneo Highland Marathon which has been carried out from 2014 to 2018. Participation have been very encouraging. There may still be sports event here like the marathon but I believe the Climbathon is still very relevant as this event attracts international communities," he stated adding that the Borneo Marathon's participation is mostly local. 

Kohadie Watiman, the Kundasang's Walai Tokou Homestay coordinator and also the Vice President of Malaysia Homestay Association said scrapping the climbathon impacts the tourism industry in Kundasang tremendously.

"We have always looked forward to this event as this is a time when visitors from all over the world congregate in Kundasang. For a whole month at least, participants and their family would be here and they would frequent our eateries, utilise our vehicles, visit our tourism spots and of course stay in our resorts, homestays and hotels."

He expressed his hope that the relevant authorities will rethink their decisions to scrap the event, as it does not only impact Kundasang but Ranau as a whole and of course there is one less sports tourism in the State.

Melidin Giking who works with Sabah Tea Garden in Nalapak Ranau said he personally feels that the climbathon should be carried on. According to him, participants and their family and friends usually visit tourism spots around Ranau too such as the Poring Hot Spring. 

"They should definitely hold the climbathon again," he said.-PW/MSN

Melidin Giking