PETALING JAYA: Former Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, who recently went up Mount Kinabalu, said that while the mountain provides a beautiful view from the peak there are not enough safety measures for climbers.
“There might be a few deaths if we are only provided with a rope to help us in the final climb.
“Recently, a German tourist fell but even though he survived, he lost his nose,” said Abdul Kadir at a press conference at Wisma Bernama here yesterday.
“I just climbed the mountain with a group of Rotarians for an international charity drive to eradicate polio and we reached the highest peak on Jan 16,” he said, adding that it was his first attempt.
Regretting that he did not climb the mountain when he was in the ministry, Abdul Kadir said: “If I had known the place was so beautiful, I would have done the necessary to develop and improve the areas around Mount Kinabalu.
“I have been to some of Europe’s finest mountains, which include the Swiss and Austrian Alps, but they are nothing compared to Mount Kinabalu.
“It is the most beautiful mountain with its valleys and the cool climate,” added Abdul Kadir, who is also a former Information Minister.
He called on the Government to provide an urgent allocation of at least RM20mil to develop the areas around the mountain and the Kinabalu National Park.
These areas have the potential to be a world class eco-tourism zone, he said.
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