Media Team Conquers Gruelling Mulu Climb Ahead Of Sarawak Day

KUCHING, July 3 (Bernama) -- After a gruelling 2.4-kilometre climb through steep slopes and sharp limestone terrain, members of the Kuching Division Journalists Association (KDJA) successfully reached the summit of Gunung Api in Mulu National Park on Tuesday, as part of a special expedition in conjunction with Sarawak Day.

The four-day, three-night expedition, which began on June 29, marked the fifth edition of KDJA’s annual climb, following previous ascents including Mount Kinabalu in Sabah.

In a statement today, KDJA said the expedition brought together media practitioners from various agencies to test their physical and mental endurance while highlighting the natural beauty of Sarawak’s UNESCO World Heritage site

“On July 1, the third and most challenging day of the trip, participants began their climb at 6am to reach the Mulu Pinnacles, one of Southeast Asia’s toughest hiking trails.

“By 10am, eight out of ten participants reached the summit and returned to Camp 5 before sunset,” read the statement.

Participants represented agencies such as The Borneo Post, Utusan Borneo, Sin Chew Daily, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), Dayak Daily, Suara Sarawak, Cats FM, See Hua, and TVS.

On the first day, they visited Gua Rusa and Gua Lang - famous for their million-year-old limestone formations, and witnessed the bat exodus at dusk.

The second day involved a visit to Gua Angin and Gua Air Jernih, followed by a one-hour boat ride upriver to Long Litut.

From there, they trekked nine kilometres through flat jungle terrain to Camp 5 for an overnight stay in preparation for the Mulu Pinnacles climb.

TVS participant Jeeridyne-Eve Chan Sue En, a first-time hiker, said the team spirit and breathtaking landscape made the effort worthwhile.

“I’m proud of myself and the team. Everyone should visit this place at least once in their lifetime,” she said.

Cats FM’s Karuna Sho Hei Pohim described the hike as a long-awaited personal achievement.

“The toughest part was the descent, especially after days of exertion. But I stayed strong and I’m grateful I completed it,” he said.

Suara Sarawak’s Nick Fletcher Neha, who had considered withdrawing a week before the climb due to concerns about the trail’s difficulty, proved his determination by being among the first to reach the summit.

“It was too late to back out, so I challenged myself. I moved quickly, worried I’d run out of energy on the way down,” he said.

On the final day, participants retraced their steps through the nine-kilometre jungle trail to Long Litut, then travelled by boat back to the national park base before flying home to Kuching.

The programme was supported by the Sarawak government, in line with Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s efforts to promote the state’s tourism destinations in conjunction with Sarawak Day on July 22.

-- BERNAMA