Joniston showing Malaysia’s top 5 highest mountains, all located in Sabah.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sabah Tourism Board (STB) is spotlighting Malaysia’s top five highest peaks, all located in Sabah, at this year’s MATTA Fair, promoting the state’s diverse mountaineering destinations.
Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai launched the initiative at MATTA Fair here Friday. It is part of STB’s ongoing efforts to showcase the diversity of Sabah’s adventure tourism offerings.
“With the ‘Top 5 Mountains in Sabah’ campaign, we aim to showcase that Sabah offers a multitude of mountaineering experiences.
“Whether you’re a seasoned climber or a beginner, there’s a mountain waiting for everyone in Sabah,” said Joniston, also Chairman of STB.
Also present were STB CEO Julinus Jeffrey Jimit, Deputy CEO Tay Shu Lan and MATTA Fair organising chairman Datuk Tan Kok Liang.
While the iconic Mount Kinabalu, standing at 4,095 meters in the highland district of Ranau, remains the top attraction, the campaign also highlights alternative climbing experiences.
These include Mount Trus Madi in Tambunan, Malaysia’s second-highest peak at 2,642 meters. It is categorised as moderate to hard difficulty and can take climbers 2-4 days to hike.
Mount Sinsing, also in Tambunan, stands at 2,586 meters and is known for its moderate to hard difficulty.
This relatively new trail was only discovered in 2018.
Also featured is Mount Tambuyukon, with an altitude of 2,579 meters. Sitting between the boundaries of Kinabalu Park, this is considered one of the most challenging climbs in Sabah.
Climbers can expect to encounter the rare pitcher plants Nepenthes edwardsiana and Nepenthes villosa, both endemic to Mount Kinabalu and Mount Tambuyukon.
Meanwhile, Mount Kaingaran (2,468m) offers a distinct climbing experience with its trails linking to Mount Sinsing.
During the event, Joniston also launched the Sabah CAN (Culture, Adventure, Nature) packages with new brochures promoting attractions in various districts.
Sabah tour agents are offering special CAN-themed packages starting at RM149.
STB has funded the production of district brochures to support the District Tourism Action Council and promote community-based tourism across Sabah.
The three-day MATTA Fair, which starts on September 6, is held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) here.
