Rescued Croatian hiker fined RM25,000 over Mount Kinabalu climb says trespassing was ‘last thing on my mind’

KOTA KINABALU, September 20 — Croatian hiker Mauro Persic, who was penalized RM25,000 for unlawfully entering Kinabalu Park, has refuted allegations that he entered the mountain intentionally or attempted to evade paying the entrance fee. The 46-year-old London resident claimed that his visit was spontaneous, inspired by his admiration for the mountain's beauty.

Persic posted on Facebook, expressing his regret for the trespassing and apologizing to the people of Sabah for any offense caused. He emphasized that his intention was solely to explore the natural splendor of Kinabalu. Persic further apologized to the inhabitants of Sabah, affirming that his actions were not intended to disrespect their culture, traditions, or the mountain itself.

He also stated that he took precautions to minimize his environmental impact, ensuring he left no trace and refrained from scaling the mountain's sacred peaks due to their cultural significance to the Kadazan-Dusun community. Persic acknowledged that his climb was not a conquest of Mount Kinabalu, challenging the notion of "conquering" mountains.

He questioned the validity of this widely accepted idea, arguing that mountains remain unchanged despite human presence. Ultimately, Persic expressed his remorse for his unauthorized entry and extended well wishes for Happy Malaysia Day to all Malaysians, regardless of their location.