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Daily Express
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Express
Singapore honours Kinabalu guides
Published on: Friday, July 25, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 25, 2025 Text Size: Vanu (centre) with members of the Persatuan Malim Gunung Kinabalu Kundasang: Ten years after the devastating 2015 earthquake in Ranau, Singapore is still grateful to the courageous guides of Mount Kinabalu, who helped rescue its citizens and retrieve the bodies of those killed in the incident. Its High Commissioner to Malaysia, Vanu Gopala Menon, returned to Kundasang on Tuesday to honour the mountain guides. He met members of the Persatuan Malim Gunung Kinabalu and presented 30 pairs of shoes as a symbolic token of appreciation to the guides who had risked their lives to protect and rescue climbers. 'The tragic Sabah earthquake in 2015 affected many lives, including Singaporeans. My team and I came to honour the mountain guides who played a very important role in rescuing climbers and retrieving the bodies of the deceased,' he said. Vanu recalled that in 2016, the High Commission had hosted a reception to thank the guides and has maintained contact with them since. 'Ten years after the earthquake, we continue to express our gratitude. Their courage will not be forgotten.' The 6.0-magnitude earthquake on June 5 killed 18 people, including 10 students and teachers from Singapore's Tanjong Katong Primary School. Vanu also expressed appreciation to the Malaysian Government and the State Government for the critical assistance extended during the tragedy. 'Singapore and Malaysia are close neighbours. As neighbours, we help one another, especially during difficult situations. 'In times of tragedy, we have looked beyond our nationalities and treated each other as people first,' Vanu said. Meanwhile, Vanu said the collaboration between Sabah and Singapore in the tourism sector is expected to bring significant benefits to the people. According to him, in addition to generating a more sustainable economy, the collaboration will also strengthen the good relations between both parties. 'For me, Sabah holds great potential for tourism and economic cooperation. The people of Singapore have some knowledge about Sabah, and they can learn much more about the State. 'They come to swim and to climb Mount Kinabalu, but Sabah is more than that as there are various business opportunities available in Sabah,' he said during an interview after paying a courtesy visit to Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Musa Aman, at Istana Seri Kinabalu, Thursday. Vanu emphasised that the cooperation opportunities between Singapore and Sabah, which enjoy strong support from the State Government, should be fully utilised. He hopes more entrepreneurs from Singapore will come and conduct business in the State. 'I will return to Singapore and inform the entrepreneurs there about the opportunities and support provided by the State Government here, and I am confident that our government will also support the collaboration between both parties,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
7 days ago
- General
- Borneo Post
S'pore honours Kinabalu guides with shoes on quake 10th anniversary
Singapore High Commissioner Vanu Gopala Menon presents shoes to Kinabalu mountain guides during his visit to Kundasang today. — Photo courtesy of Singapore Embassy KOTA KINABALU (July 24): A decade after the June 5 earthquake on Mount Kinabalu, Singapore continues to honour the bravery of the mountain guides who rescued its citizens and retrieved the bodies of victims. Marking the tenth anniversary of the 2015 Ranau earthquake, Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia, Vanu Gopala Menon, visited Kundasang near here today. He met with members of the Persatuan Malim Gunung Kinabalu (Kinabalu Mountain Guides Association) and presented them with 30 pairs of shoes. This symbolic gift expressed deep appreciation for the guides' courageous actions during the tragedy, protecting and rescuing climbers. 'The tragic Sabah earthquake in 2015 affected many lives, including Singaporeans,' Vanu stated in a statement. 'My team and I came to honour the mountain guides who played a vital role in rescuing climbers and recovering the deceased.' He highlighted Singapore's enduring gratitude: 'In 2016, we hosted a reception to thank the guides and kept in touch. Ten years later, we continue to express our gratitude. Their courage will not be forgotten.' Vanu also thanked the Malaysian and Sabah governments for their assistance during the disaster. 'Singapore and Malaysia are close neighbours. As neighbours, we help one another, especially in difficult situations. In times of tragedy, we looked beyond nationalities and treated each other as people first.' The 2015 earthquake claimed 18 lives on the mountain, including seven students from Singapore's Tanjong Katong Primary School and four guides.
Barnama
7 days ago
- General
- Barnama
Singapore High Commissoner Honours Mount Kinabalu Guides On Quake's 10th Anniversary
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- Marking a decade since the devastating 2015 Ranau earthquake, Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon paid tribute to the bravery of Mount Kinabalu guides, reaffirming Singapore's enduring gratitude for their heroism in the face of tragedy. During a visit to Kundasang on Wednesday, Menon met with the members of Persatuan Malim Gunung Kinabalu and presented 30 pairs of shoes to the mountain guides. The gesture symbolised Singapore's appreciation for their courageous efforts in rescuing climbers during the disaster. Menon said the tragic Sabah earthquake in 2015 affected the lives of many people, including several Singaporeans. bootstrap slideshow The 6.0-magnitude earthquake on June 5, 2015, struck near Mount Kinabalu, claiming 18 lives—among them 10 Singaporeans, mostly students and teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School. 'My team and I came to honour the mountain guides who played a very important role in rescuing the climbers and helping to retrieve the bodies of the deceased. In 2016, we hosted a reception to thank the mountain guides and kept in touch with them. Ten years after the earthquake, we continue to express our gratitude. Their courage will not be forgotten,' he said in a statement. Menon also expressed appreciation to the Malaysian and Sabah state governments for their support during the earthquake. "As neighbours, we help one another, especially during difficult situations. In times of tragedy, we have looked beyond our nationalities and treated each other as people first,' he said. On June 5, 2015, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Mount Kinabalu, which stands at 4,095 metres, claiming 18 lives, including four Malaysian mountain guides and seven Singaporean primary school students.
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Singapore envoy pays tribute to Kinabalu guides on 10th anniversary of quake
KOTA KINABALU: Ten years after the June 5 earthquake, Singapore is still grateful to the courageous guides of Gunung Kinabalu here, who helped rescue its citizens and retrieve the bodies of those killed in the incident. In commemoration of the 2015 earthquake in Ranau, Sabah, Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon visited Kundasang near here yesterday. He met members of Persatuan Malim Gunung Kinabalu and presented them with 30 pairs of shoes. The shoes were a symbolic gesture of appreciation to the mountain guides who acted with bravery to protect and rescue others during the tragedy. He added that the tragic Sabah earthquake in 2015 had affected the lives of many people, including Singaporeans. "My team and I came to honour the mountain guides who played a very important role in rescuing the climbers and helping to retrieve the bodies of the deceased. "In 2016, we hosted a reception to thank the guides and kept in touch with them. "Ten years later, we continue to express our gratitude. Their courage will not be forgotten," he said in a statement. Vanu also thanked the Malaysian and Sabah governments for the assistance rendered. He said Singapore and Malaysia were close neighbours. "As neighbours, we help one another, especially during difficult situations. "In times of tragedy, we have looked beyond our nationalities and treated each other as people first." The earthquake claimed 18 lives in the mountain, including seven students from Singapore's Tanjong Katong Primary School and four guides — Robbie, 31, Joseph Solungin, 33, Ricky Masirin, 28 and Valerian Joannes, 28.
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Straits Times
Singapore honours Kinabalu mountain guides on the 10th anniversary of Sabah earthquake
KOTA KINABALU - The Singapore High Commission honoured the mountain guides of Mount Kinabalu who played a crucial and heroic role in saving lives in the deadly June 5, 2015 Sabah earthquake. A team led by High Commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon hosted a reception for the mountain guides from the Kinabalu Mountain Guides Association in Kundasang in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the earthquake that killed 18 people, including primary schoolchildren from Singapore. Mr Vanu Gopala also presented 30 pairs of shoes to association members as part of a symbolic gesture of appreciation to the guides for their bravery in rescuing and saving lives at the mountain in the aftermath of the earthquake. 'The tragic Sabah earthquake in 2015 affected the lives of many people, including several Singaporeans,' he said on July 23 . 'My team and I came to honour the mountain guides who played a very important role in rescuing the climbers and helping to retrieve the bodies of the deceased. 'In 2016, we hosted a reception to thank the mountain guides and kept in touch with them. Ten years after the earthquake, we continue to express our gratitude. Their courage will not be forgotten.' Mr Vanu Gopala also expressed gratitude to the Malaysian and Sabah governments for the assistance they rendered during the earthquake. 'Singapore and Malaysia are close neighbours. As neighbours, we help one another, especially during difficult situations. In times of tragedy, we have looked beyond our nationalities and treated each other as people first,' he added. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Live: Thailand, Cambodia clash with jets, rockets, artillery in deadly border row Asia 9 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Singapore Boy, 15, charged after being caught with vapes 5 times; ordered to stay 2 years in S'pore Boys' Home Business MOM probing work injury claim flagged by late Sumo Salad boss Jane Lee: MOS Dinesh Business Marina Bay Sands sees record second quarter with revenue up 37% to $1.77 billion Singapore What's key to a good life? Most Singapore residents choose emotional and mental well-being Singapore Over 2 years' jail for man who worked with wife to cheat her then boyfriend of $220k Asia South Korea police raid offices of BTS' agency Hybe over share probe A total of 18 people, including seven students from Singapore's Tanjong Katong Primary School and two teachers, were killed in the 7.15am earthquake that also killed two mountain guides and other climbers. On that day , mountain guides made new paths through the debris and landslide-hit trails to bring about 130 stranded climbers, some of them injured, back to safety. In the absence of any outside assistance due to erratic weather conditions on the mountain, the guides decided to find a way out for the stranded, as aftershocks and dropping temperatures at the summit area could cause more fatalities among survivors. Most of the stranded and injured victims were brought down to safety at Timpohon gate by about 2am on June 6, 2015, averting a potentially major disaster if the stranded climbers continued to remain at the summit area. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
