Malaysia’s first high altitude SAR team
Published on: Wednesday, June 07, 2023
By: Clarence Dol
_shows_thumbs_up_to_the_newly_launched_SAR-HAT.jpg "Malaysia’s first high altitude SAR team")
Liew (centre) shows thumbs-up to the newly launched SAR-HAT, the first such in Malaysia.
RANAU: A special rescue team known as the Mount Kinabalu Search and Rescue High Altitude Team (SAR-HAT) was officially launched here, Tuesday, the first such in Malaysia.
SAR-HAT, which has 30 members, was launched by State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew and involves Sabah Parks Rescue Team (20 people), the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department or Mosar (six) and Malim Gunung (four).
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These three teams are the “first responders” when there is an accident on the mountain and would be assisted by the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), Air Force (PGU) and the Ministry of Health (KKM).
Liew at the Memorial Day programme during the flower-laying ceremony
According to Liew, the creation of the High Altitude Training Centre (HAT) is one of the directions under the Sabah Maju Jaya concept.
“As people of Sabah, we are fortunate to have Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Malaysia and Southeast Asia (4,095m), making it a place for acclimatisation and training for climbers before they ascend Mount Everest.
“I believe and am confident that the phased opening of the High Altitude Training Centre in Mount Kinabalu will be well received and provide an alternative and satisfying experience for mountain climbers worldwide.
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“We are proud to launch this Training Centre which is the first iconic product in Malaysia,” she said.
Liew said the safety of climbers is the priority of the Sabah Parks management.
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Therefore, she congratulated and commended the management of Sabah Parks for taking the step forward in establishing and establishing SAR-HAT.
The establishment of this team, she said, was not only to strengthen climbing rescue but as a preparatory step for the opening of the high-level climbing of Mount Kinabalu, including the High-Level Rescue Simulation Training held on Tuesday.
“I was also informed that the Mountaineering Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be improved after this, including ensuring that climbers have sufficient preparations before climbing.
“For the record, the number of accident cases on Mount Kinabalu in the first four months this year is 73 compared to 77 for the whole of last year.
“Most of these cases involve full rescue which is lifting the victim down to Timpohon due to Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) or a mountain disease that shows climbers are less prepared when climbing,” she said while officiating the closing of the 8th Mount Kinabalu Earthquake Commemoration Programme at Kinabalu Hall, Kinabalu Park.
“This programme means a lot to me and all the rescue departments and agencies involved in rescuing victims that day. We have taken advice, experience and shared sadness at that time.
“The Mount Kinabalu earthquake tragedy has passed eight years, but it is very meaningful and historic, not only to the families of the victims but also to all the department staff and rescue agencies of the State Government and the Federal Governments, including the Sabah Parks.
“On this occasion, let us recall the bitter and sad event of the earthquake that struck Mount Kinabalu for the first time in Malaysian history at 7.15am, June 5, 2015, with a magnitude of 6.0 (Richter Scale),” she said.
The disaster killed a total of 18 climbers and stranded 137 climbers at km 6.8.
Of the 18 people who died, four were mountain guides, seven students from Singapore aged between 12 and 16, three accompanying teachers, two Malaysian climbers, one Chinese climber and one Japanese climber.
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