'Mount Kinabalu trespassers should face jail'

The deputy state secretary of Sabah, Datuk Jamili Nais, has called for serious consequences for those who trespass Mount Kinabalu, describing it as a necessary step to prevent further damage to the sacred park. Climbing the 4,095-meter peak by defying the trail network should be considered a criminal act, according to Jamili, who previously held the position of Sabah Parks director.

This statement came after the recent rescue of a 46-year-old Croatian man, Mauro Persic, in a five-day operation involving numerous agencies. Persic, who had recently participated in an extreme adventure race, climbed the mountain via an unauthorized eastern route that passes through villages relying on spring water sources in the Kundasang area.

Jamili emphasized that violators should face jail time to deter others, noting that eastern Europeans have been caught in similar violations before under the pretense of ignorance about regulations or language barriers. He also pointed out that trespassers often defecate along unauthorized routes, tarnishing the natural beauty of the area revered by the Kadazandusun, Murut, and Rungus communities.

In response to the recent incident, Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin urged all climbers to adhere strictly to official routes, use licensed operators, and follow the guidance of mountain guides. The incident has also prompted discussions on the use of Native Laws for prosecution, with Native Laws Court judge Rocky Mabin stating that such violations are seen as disrespectful to the sacred resting place of the departed in Kadazandusun culture.

The judge reminded that disrespecting Mount Kinabalu could lead to adverse consequences, citing the 2015 earthquake as a testament, where seven foreign tourists were reprimanded and deported for posing nude along the summit trail shortly before the disaster.