THE FELDA COURAGE
Sixteen years on, Malaysia is again enthralled by the inspiring story of a group of Malaysians who scaled Mount Everest on Tuesday morning in freezing conditions.
Six Felda Everest Expedition 2013 climbers reached the summit two days before the 16th anniversary of the first time Malaysians Datuk M. Magendran and Datuk N. Mohandas made it to the very top and planted the Jalur Gemilang on behalf of the country.
As Malaysians marvel at the latest feat, captured vividly in pictures and video shots, those involved in the expedition said it was no child's play.
Felda Everest Expedition 2013 media coordinator Hazran Mohamed told the New Straits Times that it took a gruelling eight months of intensive training to prepare the climbers for the majestic yet treacherous terrain up the mountain peak. The training, he said, was to build both physical and mental strength.
For mental endurance, the climbers had to undergo sessions to prepare them on what to expect as well as the dos and don'ts when scaling the mountain.
"They were prepared for risky situations via videos and guided by the personal experiences of former climber Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtarrudin, or better known as Qobin, who climbed the mountain in 2004," said Hazran.
The most difficult portion of the mountain was the Khumba icefall at 5,486m of Everest, he added.
The Khumbu glacier that forms the icefall moves at such speed that large crevasses frequently open up with little warning.
Towers of ice at the icefall have been known to collapse suddenly. Reports said huge blocks of ice that had tumbled down the glacier ranged in size from cars to large houses.
"It was critical for them to have mental strength to tackle this stretch," Hazran said, adding that the last two months of training were the most intense.
"For physical strength, the climbers had to undergo breathing techniques as the higher you go, the less oxygen there is."
The climbers, who had to put in at least two hours of workout daily, also had to pay special attention to strengthening their thigh and leg muscles.
Stairs-climbing was a routine exercise. They also embarked on expeditions to mountains such as Mount Kinabalu, Mount Brinjang and Mount Berembun.
Hazran said an initial group of 15 were selected out of the 50 Felda settlers who had applied to take part after they passed a fitness and intelligence quotient test last September.
"They had to pass a stamina test that required the men to complete a 2.4km run in under 11 minutes and women under 15 minutes."
Hazran said the group had to undergo further tests before the final seven were selected at the Base Camp of Everest.
Mohd Nasuha Shamsudin, 21, from Felda Tersang 3 in Raub, Pahang, was the first to reach the summit at an altitude of 8,848m at 8.31am local time (10.46am in Malaysia) on Tuesday.
Nasuha was followed by Mohd Asyraf Mohd Halim, 25, from Felda Lok Heng Timur in Kota Tinggi, Johor (8.48am); Muhammad Hafizudin Ibrahim, 22, from Felda Chini Timur 1 in Pekan, Pahang (9.11am); and coach Zainudin Lot, 37, (10.16am).
Female climber Myrza Fasha Md Hamyrudin, 25, from Felda Tersang 3 in Raub, together with coach Muhammad Illaham Ishak, 37, became the fifth and sixth climbers to make it to the top (11am).
The seventh climber, Siti Hanisah Sharudin, 23, from Felda Jelai 1 in Gemas, Negri Sembilan, reached the summit at 7.41am local time (9.46am in Malaysia) yesterday. She became the youngest Malaysian woman to reach the peak.
The Demi Negara Everest Felda 2013 expedition was supported by Felda, Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd and the Felda Youth Council.
(Reporter: Sukhbir Cheema – nst.com.my)