Kota Kinabalu: Sabah lost one of its greatest unsung heroes with the passing of Abbie Intang, widely known as “Badang Kinabalu”, who died Saturday at age 68.
He was not a celebrity.
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Yet few are as deeply woven into the living history of Mount Kinabalu as the man whose sweat sustained it for decades.
A native of Kampung Pinausok, Kundasang, Abbie was among the longest-serving porters on the mountain, forming the unseen backbone of high-altitude logistics.
While climbers measured success in metres and minutes, Abbie measured his in the weight carried, trips completed and responsibilities fulfilled without applause, without complaint.
His quiet life briefly entered the public spotlight in 2005, when an image of him went viral. The photograph showed Abbie, then 48, ascending from Timpohon Gate to Laban Rata, a six-kilometre trail that takes nearly six hours to complete.
Strapped to his back was a load so heavy it defied belief — a snapshot of strength forged by necessity, not spectacle.
That image barely captured the reality of his routine. Abbie regularly hauled water containers weighing about 33kg to Laban Rata.
After descending, he would climb again the same day, carrying two gas cylinders weighing a combined 64kg.
His most astonishing feat was transporting an 80kg car battery – a task unthinkable on mountain terrain.
Such endurance earned him the name Badang Kinabalu, a symbol of raw power and resilience. Among fellow porters and climbers, he was revered not only for his strength, but for his humility.
Some called him “M. Nasir Kinabalu” due to his resemblance to the Malaysian musician, a nickname he accepted with quiet amusement.
Yet Abbie never defined himself by praise. He worked so that others could succeed, so climbers could drink water, eat warm meals and rest safely at altitude.
Thousands benefited from his labour without knowing his name and Abbie was content with that anonymity.
His passing was mourned by family, colleagues and the wider mountaineering community. Many describe him as the embodiment of the Sabahan spirit – steadfast, disciplined and selfless, carrying burdens without hesitation.
Abbie has completed his final descent. But on Gunung Kinabalu, his legacy remains in every stocked lodge, every safe climb, and every unseen effort that makes the mountain accessible.
He did not just stand at the summit.
He carried it.
