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New Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Kiau Gap site stays open for families to remember Sabah earthquake victims
RANAU: The Kiau Gap View site, which honours the 18 lives lost during the June 5, 2015, earthquake, will remain open to families wishing to visit and hold private moments of remembrance. Sabah Parks Board of Trustees chairman Peter Lintar announced that no more formal memorial services will be held at the Kiau Gap site in the coming years. "You are not alone. "The memory of your loved ones lives on in our prayers and collective spirit," he said during the 10th Memorial Service held at the site, where a monument was erected in 2016 to honour the victims. He also said that Sabah Parks had consistently organised annual memorials since 2016 and expressed gratitude to all who have attended especially the families of the victims. The victims, including spirited schoolchildren from Singapore, were remembered as individuals taken too soon in a place meant to symbolise the beauty of nature. Their families were commended for their enduring resilience. During the ceremony, family members lit candles at exactly 7.15am the time the earthquake struck ten years ago and later laid flowers at the monument. "This is a day of reflection, remembrance, and strength for all of us. Mount Kinabalu, so majestic, became the backdrop to a tragedy that claimed 18 beloved lives. "The scars of that day remain deeply etched in the hearts of families, friends, the people of Sabah and Malaysia, as well as the international community who also felt its impact. "To those who lost loved ones, we understand that the pain never truly goes away. Ten years may heal physical wounds, but the longing for those we lost endures. "Thank you for the strength and courage you have shown over the years," he added. The memorial also paid tribute to the bravery and sacrifices of mountain guides, porters, rescue personnel, volunteers, and local villagers who played critical roles in the search and rescue operations. Since the tragedy, various initiatives have been implemented to improve safety and preparedness on the mountain. These include the formation of the Mountain Search and Rescue (MoSAR) unit, regular rescue simulation exercises, enhanced standard operating procedures (SOPs), better emergency protocols, and upgraded training and assessments for mountain guides. Public awareness campaigns have also been strengthened to improve disaster readiness. "We have learned the importance of humility in the face of nature's power and the need for efficient early warning systems and safe climbing practices." Among those present were Sabah Parks director Dr Maklarin Lakim; Sabah Fire and Rescue chief Mohd Pisar Aziz; Ranau district officer Tinus Manggam; Archbishop Datuk John Wong; and Ranau police representative Deputy Superintendent Ediansha Endal.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Pain lingers for families a decade after Kinabalu earthquake tragedy
RANAU: Ten years after the 6.0-magnitude earthquake on Mount Kinabalu that claimed 18 lives, the pain remains fresh for the families of the victims. Soutim Sumbin, 62, the mother of mountain guide Valerian Joannes, said the loss still haunts her. "The last time I met him was a week before the incident, during our big family gathering. Losing him still feels like it just happened yesterday. He wasn't sick; he was healthy and hardworking. "That is what made it even more painful because he left us while doing what he loved. "Although it has been 10 years, it is certainly something that cannot be forgotten forever. I am thankful that despite many years having passed, he is still being remembered," said the mother of 10, when met during the 10th Memorial Service held at Kiau Gap View in Kundasang, near here. Karen Jhala, 58, whose daughter Sonia was among those who perished, said she still misses her. "I still miss her terribly. I will never get over it. She is still a big part of our lives. We haven't forgotten her. "But now, our memories are of the naughty things she used to do, the things that made us laugh, and her character. "She inspires us every day and reminds us to be compassionate and kind. That is the kind of person she was. "We use that to channel strength as a family. I believe we are stronger and closer now. "We appreciate and value our relationship as a family, even though my two children, my son Dillen, 25, and Karishma, 28, work in Australia. Our bond has grown stronger," she said, adding that both her children returned for the memorial service. The family first climbed the mountain and attended the memorial service in 2016. Today marked their second time remembering their departed family member. As for Lina Solungin, 61, the elder sister of mountain guide Joseph Solungin, she recalled their final conversation, which was about a tree she had asked him to find. "A day before the incident, we talked over the phone about the tree, but I never expected it would be the last time I got to talk to him. "I was recalled to work at Ranau Hospital on the day of the quake on June 5. I felt uneasy, especially when I could not reach Joseph despite many calls. "I could not be with my family while waiting for my youngest brother. I could only be there when his body was sent back home to Bundu Tuhan here, after it was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu," said the retired nurse, adding that Joseph was loved for his kind and fun character.
