KUCHING: The Dayak Cultural Foundation (DCF) is contributing RM5,000 to Inspector Kanang Usin, who will attempt to scale and conquer the 8,848-meter Mount Everest summit this month.
Inspector Kanang will be together with a team of 11 Malaysian mountaineers for the Malaysia Everest 2022 Expedition, which is inspired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“For our Inspector Kanang, he is an Iban police officer with Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) attached to A 69 Commando Squadron (VAT 69) Special Operations Force, Department of Home Security and Public Order.
“He holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Open University Malaysia. On March 1, 2013, he was involved in the Lahad Datu standoff.
(Otherwise known as the Lahad Datu incursion, it was a military conflict from Feb 11 to March 24 2013. The conflict began when 235 militants arrived by boats in Lahad Datu district.)
“He has also served as Criminal Investigation Department officer in Bau District police headquarters from 2016 until 2017,” DCF said in a press statement yesterday (April 13).
Kanang hails from Rumah Serang, Sungai Bayo, Sebauh in Bintulu and is married with four schooling children.
“DCF wishes him a safe trip and look forward to receiving reports on the expedition,” the foundation said.
On the expedition, DCF, which is under the chairmanship of Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, said the prime minister’s inspiration was in line with his vision to unite Malaysians as one big family under the Keluarga Malaysia concept.
“The mountaineers comprise both men and women from various racial backgrounds, Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Bumiputera from Sabah and Sarawak.
“The team has vast experiences in mountaineering and has been working together since 2018 and leading the team is experienced mountaineer Azim Afif Ishak who has reached the summit of Mt. Cho Oyu in 2014 and Everest in 2016.”
The Malaysia Everest 2022 Expedition is headed by experience mountaineer and chef de’ mission Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor, the oldest Malaysian to have reach the 5,334-metre Everest Base Camp at the age of 72.
