A British woman is among four tourists arrested for
stripping naked on a Malaysian mountain, a move locals claim angered tribal
spirits and caused a deadly earthquake. The Westerners have been accused of
posing in the nude for pictures on the country’s highest peak last month just
days before an earthquake killed 18 climbers on the mountain.
stripping naked on a Malaysian mountain, a move locals claim angered tribal
spirits and caused a deadly earthquake. The Westerners have been accused of
posing in the nude for pictures on the country’s highest peak last month just
days before an earthquake killed 18 climbers on the mountain.
The British woman was detained at a Sabah airport yesterday
while trying to fly to Kuala Lumpur. Two Canadian siblings and a Dutch man
surrendered themselves at a police station in Sabah later that evening, said
state police chief Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman.
while trying to fly to Kuala Lumpur. Two Canadian siblings and a Dutch man
surrendered themselves at a police station in Sabah later that evening, said
state police chief Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman.
They were believed to be part of a group of 10 people who
stripped naked before taking photos at Mount Kinabalu on May 30.
stripped naked before taking photos at Mount Kinabalu on May 30.
The men were completely nude, while most, if not all of the
women were topless in the photos, which were circulated on social media.
women were topless in the photos, which were circulated on social media.
A 6.0-magnitude earthquake on Friday sent rocks and boulders
raining down the trekking routes on the 4,095m (13,453ft) mountain in Sabah on
Borneo island, killing 18 climbers.
raining down the trekking routes on the 4,095m (13,453ft) mountain in Sabah on
Borneo island, killing 18 climbers.
The victims were nine Singaporeans, six Malaysians and a
Filipino, a Chinese and a Japanese national.
Filipino, a Chinese and a Japanese national.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan has
blamed the tragedy on the foreigners for showing ‘disrespect to the sacred
mountain’ by posing naked at the peak.
blamed the tragedy on the foreigners for showing ‘disrespect to the sacred
mountain’ by posing naked at the peak.
He has said a special ritual will be conducted to ‘appease
the mountain spirit.’
the mountain spirit.’
Mount Kinabalu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular
climbing destination, is considered sacred by Malaysia’s Kadazan Dusun tribal
group, who believe it is a resting place for spirits.
climbing destination, is considered sacred by Malaysia’s Kadazan Dusun tribal
group, who believe it is a resting place for spirits.
The quake damaged roads and buildings, including schools and
a hospital on Sabah’s west coast.
a hospital on Sabah’s west coast.
It also broke one of the twin rock formations on the
mountain known as the ‘Donkey’s Ears.’
mountain known as the ‘Donkey’s Ears.’
Six other tourists are still apparently at large, according
to police.
to police.
‘We detained all four of them on Tuesday… and yes we are
still searching for the other six tourists, and we will catch them,’ said
Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman, the police commissioner for the Malaysian State of
Sabah where the mountain is located.
still searching for the other six tourists, and we will catch them,’ said
Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman, the police commissioner for the Malaysian State of
Sabah where the mountain is located.
Jalaluddin said those detained might be charged for causing
public nuisance.
public nuisance.
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