KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Christina Liew wants Mount Kinabalu, which is 4,095m above sea level, to be promoted to the world as the best place for a high-altitude training centre.
The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister shared Mount Kinabalu’s potential following the launch of a high-altitude training programme at Kinabalu Park, Kundasang on Friday (Feb 24).
Some 68 participants from Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Korea and Iran were attending the Global Expedition Club (GEC) 12th Malaysia-Asean Kinabalu Climb 2023 high-altitude training programme, which runs until Monday (Feb 27).
"High-altitude training is the practice of training at high elevations, where there is less oxygen in the air.
“The training forces your body to adapt to this.
"Overnight in Kinabalu Park, which is the mountain entrance (1,500m above sea level) prior to climbing, allows you to acclimatise to altitude changes and reduce acute mountain sickness while climbing to the summit.
"So, this mountain is the best place for high-altitude training as it challenges the climbers to adapt and survive at different elevations," Liew said in a statement here.
Such expeditions also promote a strong mind, self-discipline and physical strength, she added.
Liew said besides the Mount Kinabalu climb, which is one of the best activities Sabah can offer, most climbers from across the world also always end up exploring something else in this state.
“Sabah is no doubt an exotic tourist spot and amazing enough to make holidays memorable,” she said, highlighting the state’s lush beauty as well as wildlife.
