Najib lauds feat of five Felda youths in scaling Everest

Good job: Najib signing his name on a congratulatory banner for the youths’ successful conquering of Everest at his office in the Perdana Putra building, Putrajaya. — Bernama

 

PUTRAJAYA: The success of five Felda youths in reaching the peak of Mount Everest is further proof that there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister, who feted the intrepid climbers to a luncheon at his office yesterday, pointed out that not many challenges could match what mother nature threw at those seeking to reach the summit of the world.

“I was made to understand the challenging situation. Among the issues was frostbite and this is a big risk with temperatures dipping below 30°C combined with the thin oxygen level.

“We know the risk if there is no preparation or training. Just recently eight people died in their attempt. It takes one and a half years to train but our team only took seven months so this achievement is something special,” he said, adding that the team's achievement was a lesson to all Malaysians that they should stop making excuses and work to achieve their goals with the right preparation and support.

He said the fact that the team of five who with two coaches formed the largest Malaysian contingent ever sent to scale Everest came from the various Felda settlements across the country also served as a reflection of the transformation occurring under the authority.

“If the first generation (of Felda settlers) made their mark in the jungles using axes and whatever tools available to them, the second generation are paving a different future for themselves as they are looking beyond the borders of Malaysia, to the rest of the world and the summit of the world's tallest mountain.

“This, to me, is not just a physical transformation but also that of the mindset, where our spiritual and mental strength allows us to look far beyond what is in front of our eyes. This is the gist of transformation that I want to see happen in Felda as a whole,” he pointed out.

Najib presented incentives sponsored by Felda Global Ventures Holdings (FGVH) worth RM50,000 to each of the climbers and coaches and RM10,000 each to the 14 members of the climbers' support crew.

The team put together by the Seven Continents Expedition Club (KE7B) conquered the summit of Everest in two separate groups, with most reaching the top on the morning of May 21 after nearly a month.

The first group included Mohd Nasuha Shamsuddin, 21, Mohd Asyraf Mohd Halim, 25, Muhammad Hafizuddin Ibrahim, 22, and 26-year-old Myrza Fasha Md Hamyrudin.

Expedition leader Siti Hanisah Sharudin, 23, took longer to reach the summit, successfully reaching the top at 7.41am on May 23.

(Source: The Star Online)