Indian community donate RM13,200

Sandakan: The Indian community here paid tribute to the mountain guides for their courage and bravery in working to save lives during the recent Mount Kinabalu earthquake.Comprising the Sandakan Indian Association (SIA), Sabah MIC Youth, MIC Libaran and the Manoharan Jr Tennis Academy, they went up to Kinabalu Park in Kundasang to present a total of RM13,200 to the Kinabalu Mountain Guides Association.

Together with them were fellow contributors from the St Francis Convent Class of 1993 and Matrikulasi UKM Sabah 1994 led by Nurulalsah Hassan Alban and Jocelyn Lee, respectively.

"Due to the current suspension of climbing activities on the mountain, our heroes are now facing a loss of work and income," said SIA President Taren Sunil Manoharan who is also the Sabah MIC Youth Chief and Chairman of MIC Libaran.

"Therefore, we organised a donation drive to raise funds for the mountain guides to help them tide over this period of uncertainty and our members have responded generously to this worthy cause," said Taren Sunil.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Sabah revenue hits RM6.97 billion: Hajiji says GRS State Government may see full term

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government continued its momentum in managing the economy in line with the commitment and spirit of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) when it posted record high state revenue of RM6.973 billion last year.

Taren Sunil handed over the contributions to the association secretary, Abdul Hasinin Kasim.

"Our malim gunung did what they did to save lives and not for fame or money. That is the very reason that has made them true heroes - heroes who have made our State and country justifiably proud," stressed Taren Sunil.

"And yet they are so modest about their heroic deeds that they even confessed to being overwhelmed and stressed at being thrust into the limelight," he pointed out, quoting what some of the guides have told the press recently.

"They had gone through great pains to ensure that as many quake victims as possible were saved. Sadly, in doing so, four of them have made the ultimate sacrifice. They have put the lives of others above their very own. That is really going well beyond the call of duty," said Taren Sunil.

"Now that their livelihood has been affected, we should all do our best to help ease their burden. They have families to feed and other obligations to meet," he added.

Taren Sunil paid tribute to them saying that the deeds of these mountain guides should be a glowing example of how humanity should care for one another, especially in times of crises.

He also extended his condolences to the families of the guides who have sacrificed their lives to save others as well as the families of all the other victims of the tragedy.

Meanwhile Taren Sunil also stressed that the role of other rescue services personnel should also be given due credit.

Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.

Daily Express Malaysia

"Many of them have been very unfairly criticised. We should put the issue in perspective. I believe the other rescue services personnel have been wise to leave certain aspects of the rescue operations to the mountain guides who were no doubt far more suited to handle the situation under the circumstances as they know the mountain routes, terrain and conditions inside out.

"As acknowledged by the mountain guides themselves, their fellow rescue services personnel provided all the support and equipment they had to facilitate the operations. They too deserve recognition," Taren Sunil added.

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00