Netizens Criticise M’sian Couple For Hiking Mount Kinabalu With Their 16-Month-Old Child

Being the tallest peak in Malaysia, Sabah’s Mount Kinabalu is one of the most popular landmarks in our country, especially among local hiking enthusiasts. Recently, one Malaysian couple who recently reached the top of Mount Kinabalu attracted a lot of negative comments from netizens because the couple hiked the mountain by bringing along their 16-month-old child.

As reported by Harian Metro, the couple, 42-year-old Amizan Manis and his wife 33-year-old Melissa Sulaiman brought along their 16-month-old daughter Hana Sofea while climbing the tough terrains of Mount Kinabalu on 1 January 2023. Moreover, Melissa shared that she and her husband had planned to do the climb while carrying their daughter since the toddler was still 1 year old. She shared,

“The idea of bringing our daughter along for our Mount Kinabalu hike was from my husband. He owns a company that organises hiking trips there. He’s used to it. So, when we were blessed with our firstborn, he was very excited to bring her along with our hike.”

Melissa further revealed that they wanted to bring their daughter for the Mount Kinabalu hike when she was 1 year old but the plan was opposed by the couple’s parents. They then delayed the plan up until their daughter was 16 months old and successfully hiked to the top of Malaysia’s highest peak on New Year’s Day.

Prior to the hiking expedition, the couple sought advice from a medical doctor and even informed the Sabah Kinabalu Park as well as the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia of their plan to climb Mount Kinabalu with their toddler. The couple also trained for the hike, whereby they brought along their daughter to hike various hills in Kundasang almost every week prior to the climb.

Melissa said that throughout the 2-day hike, their 16-month-old daughter was healthy and doing good. They stopped at every outpost during the ascend to feed the toddler and she only cried during the second day of the expedition when they stopped for a while during the descent from the mountain’s peak. The couple also went straight to the doctor to do a medical checkup on the baby when the climb was finished and everything was fine.

However, while the couple did go the extra mile in ensuring the safety of their toddler, most netizens are left unimpressed by their action, with many saying that their action is irresponsible and could endanger the life of their daughter. One commenter said that the couple showcased one of the worst ‘ diseases’ of humanity during this social media age, whereby they would do anything, even if it could be harmful to their children as long as they can get ‘likes and praises”.

In another comment, a netizen laments how the couple could expose their daughter to such a dangerous situation when she is still a toddler, with another netizen agreeing with the sentiment, saying that the couple took an unnecessary and irresponsible risk for something that the toddler won’t even remember when she grows up. Meanwhile, another commenter went a step further and said that the couple’s action may make them liable under the Child Act 2001 for endangering their child.

Well, Melissa also shared that they don’t recommend parents bringing their toddlers for such a difficult climbing expedition, especially if they are not physically fit to do so. She stressed that parents need to be ready physically and mentally to bring their toddlers for such a climb.

So, what do you guys think of the whole situation? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Also read: “He walks faster than me” – 90yo Uncle Becomes Oldest M’sian To Reach Peak of Mt Kinabalu