KOTA KINABALU: Corporate figure Tan Sri Azman Hashim proved that age is just a number when he managed to conquer the peak of Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in Southeast Asia, on Tuesday (Oct 31) at the age of 84.
The former AmBank Group chairman said he started the climb on Monday (Oct 30) at 8.45am and arrived at Laban Rata, the halfway house, at 7.15pm, while the summit climb started at 5am the next day, reaching the summit early in the morning.
"I'm gratified of this achievement at 84. For me, age is not a barrier, and I believe with determination and high spirit, everything can be achieved," he told Bernama through email here Friday (Nov 2).
This marks Azman's second climb to reach the summit of Mount Kinabalu, which stands at 4,095m above sea level, with his first climb to the top achieved at 71 in 2010.
Mount Kinabalu derives its name from the Kadazan word "Aki Nabalu", meaning "the revered place of the dead", and is also the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea.
Asked about his advice, especially to the younger generation, Azman said this achievement further exemplifies one's commitment to pushing boundaries and achieving new heights in every endeavour.
"This achievement will also undoubtedly serve as an inspiration to all, across all generations, that nothing is impossible to achieve and within our grasp," said the banker.
Azman is one of Malaysia's doyens in the banking fraternity, having started in the sector in the 1960s and with his strong entrepreneurial spirit, he has been the key driver of AmBank Group's growth since 1982.
From its origins as the Arab-Malaysian Development Bank with an initial staff of 200, Azman built it up to now a financial conglomerate - the AmBank Group - with over 9,000 staff.
Meanwhile, according to the Mount Kinabalu Information Centre spokesperson, the oldest Malaysian who had scaled and reached the mountain peak was Buatin Blandong, 90, who managed the feat on Sept 5 last year.
It was the eighth time the government retiree from Papar, Sabah had managed to climb the peak of Mount Kinabalu, with the first being during his youth. - Bernama
