Employees from Continental enrolled for the challenge to climb Mount Kinabalu • 41 successfully scaled and conquered the Malaysia’s highest peak • Training started since last year
Mount Kinabalu, Sabah (Malaysia), February 16, 2023. Enticed by the beauty at the peak and the excitement to triumph over their mission to conquer the summit of the popular Mount Kinabalu, 53 Continental employees from all the manufacturing locations in Malaysia, passed the physical examination and trained since last August for the 2023 Conti Mount Kinabalu Challenge. Continental in Malaysia consists of 4 manufacturing locations in Malaysia for its businesses in tyres, automotive electronic components as well as auto mechanical parts and Conti Tech.
Early in the morning on 10 February 2023, the team begun their ascend from Timpohon Gate. It took about 4 hours for the first group to arrive at Panar Laban. The team had the opportunity to rest and explore the surroundings before the summit attack.
The journey to the peak was slightly delayed due to torrential rain. This made the hike more challenging. At 3.30am and in darkness, the team had to brave the tough journey after the bad weather through slippery, rocky terrains and open space. Some of our climbers experienced difficulty to complete the ascent with the thinning air and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). But 41 out of the team victoriously reached the summit at Low’s Peak, 4,095 m (13,435 ft) above sea level, as the sun started to rise.
“I am so proud of our entire team’s unwavering determination during the hike. The bad weather and hiking in pitch darkness were challenging, but at the same time exhilarating. I am glad to have experienced this amazing journey with such passionate team that came together from the various locations and departments of Continental, supporting each other with encouragement to push forward. We walked, hike, made decisions and had fun together. The journey tested our passion to win and showed our spirit for one another!”, said Carlos Cano, Managing Director at Continental Automotive Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
“The journey felt endless. It demands stamina, endurance, mental fortitude and determination to complete the journey. But along the way, the view was so breathtaking that all pains were forgotten and made me want to enjoy the moments with no regrets. All hardships endured were totally worth it”, said first time mountain climber, Anis Syafiqah Binti Md Fisal, Customer Quality Engineer at Continental Automotive Components Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
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“I am so grateful to my company for organizing this event. Never in a million years would I have imagined hiking up to the peak of Mount Kinabalu, if not for this opportunity. It was challenging and nerve wrecking but doing it with the team had made it so fun. I had an amazing time and also got the chance to meet people from so many other locations and departments of Continental“, said Tessrina Kaur Dhillon, Finance R2R Manager, at Continental Tyre PJ Sdn Bhd.
“It was my dream come true that I was able to climb Mount Kinabalu. Although I fell short of the journey to peak, but it was an experience that I will never forget. As we climb higher, the thinning air makes it harder to breathe. Nevertheless, the journey was most interesting as I notice the character shift of the forest as we ascend. From admiring stunning lushy tropical forest with beautiful flora and fauna, the foliage changed to rockier terrains. As we ascend higher the trees changed to sub-alpines plants and taller trees. Crossing many bridges and streams, we were suddenly above the clouds, this breathtaking scenery certainly mesmerized me.“, said Zukifli Bin Kasim, 59, who is the oldest participant from the team, an Engineering Supervisor at Continental Tyre Alor Setar Sdn Bhd.
“We conquered the summit of Mount Kinabalu as we are Stronger Together. The team spirit, the support and encouragement among the team was the main driver of our success”, said Shahidan Ahmad Jaberi, SMY Quality Manager from Continental Automotive Components Malaysia Sdn Bhd, who were among the first to arrive at the peak and witnessed, “The most beautiful sunrise ever”, he added.
Continental Malaysia is very proud of our team that had displayed outstanding perseverance, strength, and successful advent of this amazing journey. Congratulations on the outstanding achievement!
