Sabah quake: Candlelight vigil held at mural painted to honour victims

PETALING JAYA: A corner in the heart of Kota Kinabalu has been turned into a place to pay tribute to the victims of the Mount Kinabalu earthquake.

On Sunday morning, a group of street artists began painting a mural to honour the victims of Friday's earthquake.

The three artists, who go by the names Crako, Andy and Hegan, took two hours to complete the mural, finishing it by noon.

Later in the evening, passers-by began gathering there and placed flowers, left notes and lit candles in a touching show of compassion.

From 7pm to 11pm, about 300 came to the location to pay their respects. The crowd also sang the Sabah state anthem, Sabah Tanah Airku during the impromptu candlelight vigil.

"In solidarity with everyone on Mount Kinabalu," read the mural, which featured a picture of a mountain guide carrying down an injured climber.

"We planned to put up some candles tonight just between us friends but it went viral. Everybody came," said Crako.

Among those who stopped to pay their respects was Stephen Yong, a 49-year-old businessman.

"It was quite an emotional night," he said.

"It is our responsibility to make sure (visitors) are safe and enjoy the climb. The national disaster happened and we could not do anything to help. (This) was the least we can do. I think everyone who went there tonight felt like they needed to do good," he added.

"Robbi's action touched all of us. It was beyond self! He was hurt when he went back. What else makes you a man?" Yong said about Robbi Sapinggi, the "hero mountain guide" who lost his life protecting those under his care during the earthquake.

The 5.9 magnitude quake hit near Ranau district at a depth of 10km, with its epicentre located 19km from the town of Ranau, and 54km from Kota Kinabalu.

Eighteen people died on Mount Kinabalu due to the quake.

Apart from the state capital, the tremors were felt in the northern Kudat and Kota Marudu districts, and as far away Beaufort in the south.