KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Parks has been urged to introduce stamina enhancement training as a standard operating procedure (SOP) for climbers before ascending Mount Kinabalu to help prevent fatalities at high altitudes.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said such a requirement is crucial, particularly for older climbers.
ALSO READ: British climber dies after collapsing on Mount Kinabalu
“This is one of the options we are considering for the future, but an SOP has already been officially established, especially for those of a certain age.
"They are required to undergo training before attempting high-altitude climbs,” she said here on Monday (March 3).
Liew was responding to media queries about stricter climbing regulations following the recent death of a British climber at KM8.2 after the Sayat-Sayat checkpoint while descending from the summit of Mount Kinabalu.
ALSO READ: 65-year-old local man dies while climbing Mount Kinabalu
She said her ministry had met the victim's family and requested that Sabah Parks investigate the incident further.
The British cllimber, in his 70s, was found unconscious just a few metres from the summit on Feb 25.
On Feb 9, it was reported that a 65-year-old local man collapsed and died at KM5.5 while scaling the mountain.
