Sabah quake: Don't belittle our rescuers' efforts, says Masidi

KUNDASANG: The efforts of Sabah's search and rescue personnel should not be criticised, said Datuk Masidi Manjun (pic).

"Please don't belittle our efforts,'' said the Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister to critics of the search and rescue operations following the earthquake that struck Mount Kinabalu Friday.

"It is easy to complain but we need to understand the situation and what has been going on the past few days,'' he said.

Masidi said there was a need to hear both sides of the story.

"Our rescue personnel are doing their best under trying circumstances,'' he said.

Assuring those critical of operations in the aftermath of Friday's earthquake, he said measures would be taken to improve any apparent weaknesses.

"We will look into all complaints. We will be carrying out a post-mortem to improve our response in the future,'' he said.

Several foreign and local climbers who were stranded on the mountain after the earthquake were critical of rescue operations but local mountain guides received praise for their selfless efforts.

In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, climber Vee Jin Dumlao claimed that they were left stranded and had to make the perilous journey down the mountain themselves.

"I cannot find evidence for me to respect the government who have all the conspicuous demonstration of responsibility but none of the true act of it.

"It was quite appalling when the rescue services got credit for something they did not do at all," she said.