The magnitude 5.9 earthquake that occurred at the Ranau epicentre on June 5th was one of the most devastating occurrences that happened in 2015, causing 18 deaths and grievously affecting many of the victims’ families and friends.

The people who are the greatest affected by the earthquake are  the mountain guides and the porters who immediately lost their main source of income indefinitely. In order to offer assistance to parties in need, Amazing Borneo has set up the Amazing Initiative -- a crowdfunding effort initiated to help raise funds for the mountain guides as well as families of the deceased Robbi Sapinggi and Joseph Selungin, who were former staff of Amazing Borneo.

On September 4th 2015, Amazing Borneo presented donation cheques to three parties, namely the representatives of the Persatuan Malim Gunung Sabah (Sabah Mountain Guide Association), Rozitah Daimin (widow of the late Joseph Selungin’s) and Reena Joshi (widow of the late Robbi Sapinggi).

Representative of Amazing Borneo, Miss Dinna Chong presenting a donation cheque to Junaydie Sihan from the Mountain Guide Association.

Donation cheque presentation to the widow of the late Robbi Sapinggi, Miss Reena Joshi.

Donation cheque presentation to the widow of the late Joseph Selungin, Miss Rozitah Daimin.

The Amazing Initiative crowdfunding effort was one of Amazing Borneo corporate service responsibility (CSR) efforts to ensure that the mountain guides who make their living entirely on Mount Kinabalu will receive the sustenance they need to survive. It is part of the company’s effort to prove that they put their team as priority in every way.

Through the Amazing Initiative, Amazing Borneo has managed to collect a total of RM439, 729.87. The total amount donated for the families of Robbi Sapinggi and Joseph Selugin, as well as the Persatuan Malim Gunung are approximately RM200,000, RM100,000 and RM80,000 respectively, whereas donations for the families of Valerian Joannes and Ricky Masirin -- mountain guides of Mountain Torq Via Ferrata -- are classified.

Left to right: Sapinggi Ladsou (Robbi Sapinggi’s father), Reena Joshi (Robbi Sapinggi’s widow), Rozitah Daimin (Joseph Selungin’s widow) and Binker Sapinggi (Robbi Sapinggi’s brother).

Amazing Borneo hopes that the assistance given will be able to lighten the burdens of those who are most greatly affected by the earthquake. It is also a way to say thank you to the mountain guides and porters who are the key elements in making Mount Kinabalu a successful tourism product all these while.

As of September 1st 2015, the new Timpohon - Laban Rata trail has been reopened to the public. However, the summit climb is expected to reopen only on December 1st 2015. Read more about it here.