KUNDASANG: When Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan told his friends he wanted to scale Mount Kinabalu, many were sceptical.
Jeffrey, after all, is in his 70s and still recovering from the effects of the 2007 horrific car accident that injured his spine, paralysed him, and confined him to the wheelchair for four months.
However, the septuagenarian put all sceptics to shame, reaching the summit at 6.30am yesterday in a bid to promote the Jom Sihat programme and more importantly, the diversity of Kadazan Dusun Murut cultural costumes in conjunction with this year's Kaamatan.
He was determined to climb the mountain, long revered to be the final resting place of the Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) people.
The plans were made as early as January this year.
"The plan is to reach the summit where we all change into our traditional costumes to promote the diversity of the KDM people's cultural costumes," he said.
Jeffrey added that he walked around his house in Inanam every morning and evening to prepare himself for the expedition.
On Thursday, Jeffrey who is also the organising chairman of the state-level Kaamatan or harvest festival, led the group of 50 climbers up the mountain, arriving at the Panalaban Base Camp at around 4pm.
They then began the ascent to the summit at 2am yesterday, reaching the top around 6.30am.
After spending about 30 minutes at the summit, Jeffrey descended the Kinabalu, finally reaching the Timpohon Gate shortly before 7pm.
"It was a very difficult journey especially after Layang-Layang and the last climb to the summit from Panalaban.
"Imagine climbing on big stones for 6km with big steps up and up; there are many steep wooden steps. Then the final phase is from Panalaban, climbing granite rocks with ropes before manoeuvring loose stones for almost 3km up to the summit," he said.
In fact, Jeffrey said the team almost did not make it to the summit at all due to heavy rain.
They were told by the Chief Ranger at 2am that since it was pouring, the planned ascent could only be made at 3.30am, weather permitting.
If not, the expedition would have to be cancelled or postponed.
"But I said Akinabalu will not disappoint us. He is just clearing the path for us and we will be rewarded with clear weather. True enough it was a fantastic scenery up there," he said.
"In the end, I'm glad I was able to participate in this expedition. I've always believed that we can all achieve whatever we set our minds to. If you really want something, go for it.
"Climbers will be tempted to give up many times during the ascent. The key is simple. Never, ever say never. Most importantly, ignore the critics and the sceptics," he said.
Kitingan was also accompanied on this journey by his wife Datin Seri Cecilia Edwin.