KOTA KINABALU: A Croatian mountaineer rescued from the slopes of Mount Kinabalu says he did not intend to disrespect local customs or culture by attempting to scale the mountain via an unauthorised route.
In a Facebook post shared on Wednesday (Sept 16), Mauro Persic acknowledged that he failed to give sufficient thought and consideration before embarking on the climb from Mesilou River and apologised to those offended by his actions.
"I would like to apologise to the people of Sabah who feel that I have disrespected them. I never meant any disrespect to the people, culture, nor the mountain," he said.
Persic, who lives in London, added that Sabahans had always treated him warmly and that he had nothing but praise for the people of the state.
He also denied deliberately trespassing or attempting to avoid paying entry fees, saying his decision was spontaneous after seeing the mountain's beauty.
"All I wanted to do was explore the captivating beauty of Kinabalu the moment I saw it. I did it on the spur of the moment and did not put enough thought and consideration into it," he said.
Persic said he had tried to respect the environment during the climb by leaving no trace and avoiding prominent peaks due to the mountain's sacred significance to the Kadazandusun community.
He also disagreed with descriptions that he had "conquered" Mount Kinabalu, saying the term was misguided.
"We might spend a fleeting moment on a peak, but the mountain will remain there long after we're gone. Besides, why would one need to conquer anything anyway?" he wrote.
Persic, 46, had posted photographs of his climb through the Mesilou River on the eastern plateau of Mount Kinabalu, showing scenery that some described as rarely seen.
In another post the following day, he referred to the mountain by its local native reference of "Aki Nabalu", describing it as sacred and a resting place for the spirits of the dead.
“Gorgeous granite formations, stunted trees, unnamed misty mountain peaks, tropical jungle vegetation and very few animals actually. All this to be found in a small area of 10k radius. Often I felt like an intruder in this harmonious, unspoiled world,” he said.
On Sept 1, prior to his climb, Persic posted: “Mountain is calling! How can I say no to that?” and “Mount Kinabalu is the Mountain of the mind. At sunset it looks like a cut-out cardboard with its ridge of peaks completely towering over the surrounding jungle.”
The Croatian was first known to be in the mountain area on Sept 6 after he sent out an SOS.
He was discovered to have suffered injuries to his right leg and right rib and was stranded on a ledge along a steep slope.
Rescuers brought him to safety during a four-day operation before he was piggybacked down the mountain on Sept 10.
The operation was also hampered by rain, poor visibility and steep slopes with limited footholds, which made it difficult for rescuers to locate him.
Sabah Parks has said it will impose a hefty fine on Persic for entering the mountain park illegally.
