First Malaysian Everest conquerors re-route silver jubilee plans amid pandemic

Malaysian climbers Magendran (second from right) and Mohanadas (second from left) during their historical Everest climb on May 23, 1997. — Handout

Who would have thought that the Covid-19 pandemic can make its way even to the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest?

The news of the virus reaching the Himalayas via overseas climbers is a blow for Datuk M. Magendran and Datuk N. Mohanadas, the first Malaysians to reach the summit of Mount Everest in Nepal in 1997. Their plans to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their feat in 2022 is now uncertain.