Kota Kinabalu: Bukit RISM (Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia), which sits at the very centre of Sabah in Tongod, is slated to become an additional tourism attraction on Sabah’s map.
In a statement, the RISM said it would be turned into a tourism product with support from the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry and Sabah Forestry Department.
The Centre of Sabah was established 12 years ago in a project collaboration between RISM, Malaysia Survey and Mapping Department (Jupem), Sabah Land and Survey Department and Sabah Forestry Department (JPS).
“The Centre of Sabah is located on the top of a small hill along Banjaran Gunung Tinkar, Tongod.
“It is marked with a survey control point named M500 – Bukit RISM planted at the peak by Jupem on Sept 30, 2011.
“This survey control point is used for mapping and geodetic survey purpose by the department. M500 – Bukit RISM is about 582 metres above the mean-sea-level.
“The total distance from the base to the peak is approximately 3.5km. The trail cuts through secondary forest and the gradient for half of the trail is more than 25°,” the institution said.
Recently on Feb 17, a group of RISM members scaled Bukit RISM led by its President Sr Dainna Baharuddin, together with Jupem Sabah Deputy Director Hilman Rashid and RISM Sabah Chairman Sr David Chok.
“In the expedition, RISM has installed distance markers along the trail and erect a photograph main Instagramable signpost at the summit of Bukit RISM to facilitate hikers to record their presence at the Centre of Sabah.
“The trail to the summit of Bukit RISM is considered to be a medium to hard trail and hikers need to be reasonably fit physically to tackle it. It took the team about three hours to reach the top of Bukit RISM.
“Hikers will be rewarded with a spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding hills at the Centre of Sabah,” RISM said.
