Mount Kinabalu reopens to sole first-time climber

 By Olivia Miwil - December 7, 2020 @ 12:47pm

Mount Kinabalu saw a sole climber from Sandakan as Sabah Parks opens its sites to public starting today with a limit capacity of 100 pax at one time. - Photo courtesy of Sabah Parks.

RANAU: A man from Sandakan was the sole climber at Mount Kinabalu today as Sabah Parks reopened the popular attraction to the public.

Kinabalu Park assistant director, Yassin Miki, said the 36-year-old man arrived at about 7.30am and is a first-time climber at the mountain.

He said based on records in the Sabah Parks registration system, there were initially three people who made bookings for mountain climbing today.

"Usually, we will wait until 10.30am for registered climbers to start their journey. But the other two did not turn up.

"It means that there will be only one climber and another guide on the mountain," he told the New Straits Times.

Yassin said under such circumstances, the guide will continue with his work, although he is just bringing one person along with him.

Meanwhile, Sabah Parks director, Dr Marklarin Lakim, said all its offices as well as nine terrestrial and marine parks would be reopening starting today.

Among these are the Sabah Parks headquarters and Taman Tunku Abdul Rahman in Kota Kinabalu; Kinabalu Park in Ranau; Pulau Tiga in Kuala Penyu; Crocker Range in Keningau; Tawau Hills Park in Tawau; Turtles island in Sandakan; Tun Sakaran marine park; and Sipadan island in Semporna; as well as the Tun Mustapha Park in Kudat.

"The limit is 100 visitors per day for every destination (substation or island).

"However, activities that are allowed at the park will be subject to the standard operating procedures from the Health Ministry, National Security Council, Sabah Parks and regulations on prevention of Covid-19," he said.