Cops mark Police Day with climb up to Mt Kinabalu

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Mohd Kamal (left, back row) with his team at Low’s Peak.

Mohd Kamal (left) and his team about to return to the base after scaling Mt Kinabalu.

SIBU: The Police Day celebration here last month was marked with an unusual stint as a group of Sibu police officers led by ACP Mohd Kamal Kordi scaled the summit of Mt Kinabalu – the highest peak on Borneo Island.

This was another of their police-community activity aimed at building goodwill with the community in their fight against crime.

Joining them were five civilians, including a lawyer, a judge, two staffers of University College of Technology Sarawak and a teacher.

Apart from cementing ties, the Police Day event was also aimed at promoting healthy lifestyle through outdoor activities.

In the words of event organiser ASP Chiew Swoi Kee of Sibu police’s Start (Logistics) Department, “The climb up Mt Kinabalu’s Low’s Peak at 4,095 metres (13,435 ft) above sea level was a test of endurance and discipline, a determination in sportsmanship and a show of team work. This is something we wanted to achieve with the public.”

Chiew said they set out on Police Day on the afternoon of March 25 after their ceremonial parade here in the morning.

He said they had a one-day tour of the coast of Kota Kinabalu in Manukan Island – the second largest of the five islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park and the first marine national park in Malaysia.

He said they then proceeded to the mountain – the world-heritage site of Mount Kinabalu renowned for its topography as the 20th most prominent mountain in the world.

“We climbed up on March 27 from Kinabalu Park Headquarters. We spent a night at Laban Rata Resthouse before ascending the peak in the wee hours next morning.”

Chiew said the first among them to reach the peak was Corporal Siti Norhasizon of the Traffic Department.

She reached Low’s Peak at 5.13am.

“The rest followed closely, with most reaching the summit shortly after the first daylight set in on the mountain.

“We – the team of 32 police personnel and friends – were standing on top of Borneo in the bath of the morning soft light.”

Chiew said the team had Mohd Kamal to thank for, after he threw them the challenge last October.

He said the participants prepared for the endurance stint by indulging in individual fitness workout, including jogging, cycling, cross country runs and others.

On a few occasions Mohd Kamal led them on a long distance cycling to further shape them up, he added.

Members of the team were presented with climb certificates from Kinabalu National Park.

Obviously, they had passed the endurance test and learnt about teamwork, and as Chiew put it, “We have made new friends and learnt about mutual support. We are a team.”