THE HEALTH | NOVEMBER , 2023

DIFFERENT STROKES

BY ADI SATRIA

Tan Sri Azman Hashim , ex-Chairman of Ambank is no stranger to us all . Still , he was relatively unknown as a mountain climber until Ong Hock Siew , my ex-banker friend and billiard addict in Universiti Malaya way back in the early 70 ’ s , told me about his plan to climb the mountain with Azman .

I was amazed but not entirely surprised . Age is no barrier , as late last year , my classmate Alias , who was 71 , also achieved that feat when he climbed that same mountain .

What is it that made them do it ? Well , a famous mountain climber once said - because it is there !

I did some climbing during my school days – a two-hour walk up the Penang Hill every year with Penang Free School students and teachers . And 10 years ago , at age 62 , I climbed the Klang Gates Quartz Ridge behind Taman Melawati with five of my same-school classmates .

Touted as the longest quartz formation in the world , spanning more than 14km and 200m wide and 396 meters high , it was quite a feat as , at certain spots we had to crawl up the ridge together with hundreds of other climbers during that weekend . It so happened that one of the younger climbers had suffered a fall and was being helped down by his friends , proving that it is not that easy .

On the way down , my ex-army classmate Izhar and I took a wrong turn , and we were down a slope when I realised we were lost . Now , this is when you suddenly find that all the trees up the slope look the same , and you have no clue how to get back . We just shouted for our classmates , and luckily , one of them heard our desperate calls and made our way to where their voices were . Phew !

With modern telecommunications nowadays , one can never get lost , even in Mount Everest . However , death can occur due to breathing difficulties , falls and other health issues .

YOUR FITNESS LEVEL IS IMPORTANT

Mount Kinabalu they say is actually easier to climb than Gunung Tahan in Pahang which is Peninsula Malaysia ’ s tallest mountain . Climbing Gunung Tahan takes at least seven days for the round trip using the Kuala Tahan Classic trail , trekking across undulating ridges and several river

Azman ( left ) and Hock Siew at the peak .

Azman showed true grit and determination .

crossings before reaching the foot of the mountain to make the final ascent . The mountain is 2,187 meters high and is considered the most challenging summit in Malaysia .

Comparatively , Mount Kinabalu requires no specialised climbing skills . It depends on your fitness level . As long as you can walk three km on an uphill incline in under 30 minutes , it is likely that you will be able to make it to the peak with minimal difficulty .

Mount Kinabalu has an elevation of 4,095 meters and is located in the Ranau District of Sabah . It is by no means a walk in the park . The danger zone is located at a steep zone where climbers have to be attentive and careful , especially during the descent .

Climbing at a slow pace will allow

Low ' s peak .

your body to acclimatise to the altitude as at 3,000 meters you only have 70 per cent of the oxygen you would normally have at sea-level . Hence , you must not have any heart or lung problems to make that climb .

And so I was quite impressed that Alias , who was a heart attack survivor when he was in his late 50 ’ s during his international mission in Somalia , would have made it at the age of 71 ! A clear testament that one is never too old for anything with the right training and attitude .

By the way it was recorded that the British colonial administrator Sir Hugh Low was the first recorded man to have climbed Mount Kinabalu in March 1851 . Low ’ s peak was named after his climb , although he never reached the

Adi Satria , a marketing communications and media veteran , feels that this feat is what life is all about . Never stop experiencing , meet goals and challenges to keep the mind and body healthy , and never say die . peak as it was quite tough to do so then because the base of the mountain was surrounded by dense jungle .

On Oct 31 , 2023 we were excited to receive pictures of Hock Siew and Azman taking a rest before their final climb to reach the peak . Then , there was a picture of the rocky slope 80 feet from the top before they both finally reached the peak .

Azman displayed a banner that read “ 84 AT THE PEAK ” while Hock Siew ’ s « HERE AGAIN AT THE TOP », marked his 70th climb .

AN INSPIRATION TO SENIORS

The morning after on Nov 1 , Hock Siew sent a WhatsApp summing it all up in a long inspiring note . It was the accomplishment of a huge goal . Their tired bodies and pain-wrecked limbs had been stretched to the furthest limits of their human bodies .

It had seemed an unlikely accomplishment from the start , especially watching the 84-year-old man standing graciously at the summit with tears in his eyes . He admitted he was at first taken aback when Azman asked if he could accompany him on one more climb up this great mountain .

He first did it about 12 years ago . Azman had set conditions for himself - no carrying up or down or extra help as he needed to do it on his own . Such determination !

It was a huge responsibility as the risk of injury was high , as he couldn ’ t afford a fall . However , His enthusiasm and exhilaration carried the day . Here was a man facing one of the toughest challenges of his life , and his determined attitude and friendly humility with the guides endeared him to all of them .

The whole climb was filled with cheerful singing accompanied by Hock Siew ’ s ukulele . Azman is also well known for his singing talent , and he will always sing at a dinner function whenever the opportunity presents itself . In fact , he and his wife had set up The Singing Shop , and my wife and daughter took lessons there in Ampang many years back .

Upon seeing Low ’ s Peak , their agonising steps of endurance were nearing completion . The last few steps to the summit took all of 30 minutes . Raising their hands in victory , Azman and Hock Siew have shown that age is truly just a number .

Azman is an inspiration to us seniors who think we are too old for further adventure in our lives . For Hock Siew and indeed the rest of the team members , it was a tremendous privilege to walk these Kinabalu steps with Azman - a true Malaysian leader of leaders !

Azman ’ s feat and for that matter and Hock Siew ’ s 70th climbing achievements were carried on the front page of The Sun and other mainstream newspapers and online media . Many of my senior citizen friends were completely blown away and it inspired a group of my classmates to meet up for a ‘ back to nature reunion ’ at our classmate Prof Zaidi Mat Isa ’ s small hill farm in Ulu Jelebu , Negeri Sembilan on Deepavali weekend for durians and other fruits .

Let ’ s see how many can climb the surrounding hill slope and stay the longest underwater at the pristine river in front of his abode for a ‘ selam dunk ’ contest ! – The Health