Sabah’s second highest mountain to get some love

To new heights: Liew (fifth from left) with Lian Awa (fifth from right) and other officials displaying promotional shirts for the climbathon at her office in Kota Kinabalu.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is turning its focus to promoting Malaysia’s second highest mountain: Mount Trusmadi, which straddles the Crocker Range in interior Tambunan district.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the state would support events for the tourism promotion of the 2,642m mountain, which is rich in biodiversity.

Liew said this in pledging full support for the inaugural Mount Trusmadi International Climbathon 2024 organised by the Velocity Running Club together with the state Forestry Department and Tambunan district council to be held on May 25.

“It is high time to promote Mount Trusmadi, the second highest mountain in Malaysia, and the area’s natural beauty, both locally and internationally.

“I commend the organisers for taking the initiative to hold this international event, which has the potential to develop into a new ecotourism product,” she said.

The climbathon, Liew said, would raise awareness of the mountain which is less known than Mount Kinabalu.

Mount Trusmadi is known for its unique flora and fauna.

Sabah deputy chief conservator of Forests (Operation) Musa Salleh and Velocity Running Club president Andrew Lian Awa, who is the race director, briefed Liew about the event during a courtesy call.

The climbathon, which will start at the Kupu-Kupu Gate in the Nuluhon Forest Reserve of Mount Trusmadi, has two categories: a 30km route for international climbers and 21km route for locals.