Kundasang: Ten years after the devastating 2015 earthquake in Ranau, Singapore is still grateful to the courageous guides of Mount Kinabalu, who helped rescue its citizens and retrieve the bodies of those killed in the incident.
Its High Commissioner to Malaysia, Vanu Gopala Menon, returned to Kundasang on Tuesday to honour the mountain guides.
He met members of the Persatuan Malim Gunung Kinabalu and presented 30 pairs of shoes as a symbolic token of appreciation to the guides who had risked their lives to protect and rescue climbers.
“The tragic Sabah earthquake in 2015 affected many lives, including Singaporeans. My team and I came to honour the mountain guides who played a very important role in rescuing climbers and retrieving the bodies of the deceased,” he said.
Vanu recalled that in 2016, the High Commission had hosted a reception to thank the guides and has maintained contact with them since.
“Ten years after the earthquake, we continue to express our gratitude. Their courage will not be forgotten.”
The 6.0-magnitude earthquake on June 5 killed 18 people, including 10 students and teachers from Singapore’s Tanjong Katong Primary School.
Vanu also expressed appreciation to the Malaysian Government and the State Government for the critical assistance extended during the tragedy.
“Singapore and Malaysia are close neighbours. As neighbours, we help one another, especially during difficult situations.
“In times of tragedy, we have looked beyond our nationalities and treated each other as people first,” Vanu said.
Meanwhile, Vanu said the collaboration between Sabah and Singapore in the tourism sector is expected to bring significant benefits to the people.
According to him, in addition to generating a more sustainable economy, the collaboration will also strengthen the good relations between both parties.
“For me, Sabah holds great potential for tourism and economic cooperation. The people of Singapore have some knowledge about Sabah, and they can learn much more about the State.
“They come to swim and to climb Mount Kinabalu, but Sabah is more than that as there are various business opportunities available in Sabah,” he said during an interview after paying a courtesy visit to Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Musa Aman, at Istana Seri Kinabalu, Thursday.
Vanu emphasised that the cooperation opportunities between Singapore and Sabah, which enjoy strong support from the State Government, should be fully utilised.
He hopes more entrepreneurs from Singapore will come and conduct business in the State.
“I will return to Singapore and inform the entrepreneurs there about the opportunities and support provided by the State Government here, and I am confident that our government will also support the collaboration between both parties,” he said.
