12-07-2025
App to boost safety of Mt Kinabalu climbers
Sharmila (centre) showcasing high-quality, innovative batik shirts produced by Anne Antah (right), founder of Chanteek Borneo Sdn Bhd.
KOTA KINABALU (July 12): The Malaysian Foundation for Innovation (YIM) is currently collaborating with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to develop a smart application aimed at enhancing the safety and experience of mountain climbers.
YIM chief executive officer Dr Sharmila Mohamed Salleh said the project, initiated last year, is expected to be completed in 2026 and will result in a first-of-its-kind product in the Malaysian market.
'This application will create a new experience for climbing enthusiasts, especially those lacking formal training or stamina,' she said when met here yesterday.
She said the innovation is designed to address common challenges faced by climbers, such as health issues or getting lost due to lack of internet connectivity.
'This equipment will ensure accurate tracking of the climber's location, provide real-time health updates, record the route taken, and offer many other features,' she added.
Sharmila also revealed that the technology has helped identify a new 40-kilometre climbing route that passes through several villages, providing economic opportunities to local communities.
'The route doesn't lead up to Mount Kinabalu itself, but offers breathtaking views of the mountain and has the potential to become Sabah's next tourism gem,' she said, adding that the location is currently not open to the public, although some climbers have already explored it.
YIM, an agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, has been actively supporting local innovation through various programmes and funding initiatives.
According to Sharmila, the foundation has helped numerous innovators nationwide develop market-ready products with high value-added potential, some of which have entered both local and international markets.
'We currently have 11 participants under this programme, including several from Sabah,' she said, noting that each participant receives a grant of RM80,000 to grow their business.
She highlighted the success of one participant, Anne Antah, founder of Chanteek Borneo Sdn Bhd, who has made a name for herself through the design of textiles featuring ethnic Sabah motifs and other handcrafted items.
