Kundasang: Mount Kinabalu’s legendary porters hauled a 500kg generator-set up the steep trails to Panalaban, a rest point for climbers making their way to Malaysia’s highest peak, recently.
The feat required the combined effort of around 30 porters, each taking turns to carry, pull, or stabilise the massive load. Others stood by, ready to switch when fatigue set in.
Such moments reaffirm why these porters are called “Badang Sabah”, a reference to the mythical strongman of folklore. The nickname reflects not just their muscular strength but also their unyielding stamina and mental toughness.
Witnesses described how the team negotiated a narrow, twisting section of the trail. Some men gripped ropes tied to the generator from the front, pulling it uphill, while others pushed from behind to keep the heavy cargo balanced.
The teamwork was precise and deliberate, with every step requiring focus.
One misstep on the slippery and uneven path could have been disastrous but the porters advanced steadily, inching the generator upward with patience and strength born from years of experience.
Carrying half a tonne up a mountain is not a matter of brute force alone. The porters worked in a rotation system, taking turns shouldering the weight to conserve energy.
Standby members stepped in when others were exhausted, ensuring the effort never lost momentum. This strategy has been honed over decades.
Porters on Mount Kinabalu are no strangers to heavy loads, often carrying gas cylinders, sacks of rice, crates of bottled water and even construction materials needed to maintain mountain facilities.
Only days earlier, the same group transported another 500kg of supplies up to Panalaban, that time involving 33 porters.
Such assignments highlight the critical role porters play in sustaining life on the mountain. Without them, climbers would find no food, no shelter, and no electricity waiting at rest points.
One of the porters, known among his friends as Idung, recalled just how punishing the climb was.
“It may look like we are strong, but carrying something that heavy is never easy. The generator was 500kg in total, and we had to rely on each other every step of the way.
“Sometimes my knees felt like they were about to give up, but I reminded myself that we needed to finish the job,” he said.
For Idung, every trip up the mountain is about responsibility as much as strength.
“We don’t do this to show off. We do it to earn a living. This is how we put food on the table for our families. It’s exhausting, but this is our work,” he said.
Another porter, known as Pat, described the importance of working as a unit during the mission. “When the load is that heavy, one man alone can’t do anything. Some of us pull with ropes, others hold from behind, and we switch places to save our energy.
On the sharp corners, we need to trust one another completely, because one slip could put all of us in danger,” he said.
Pat also explained how unpredictable the climb can be.
“The mountain changes every day. Sometimes it’s sunny, sometimes it rains, and when the trail gets slippery, carrying a heavy load becomes even more dangerous. We have to stay sharp, help each other, and keep moving carefully no matter how tired we are.”Even though the job is hard, they are proud of what they do.
“Most climbers never see the effort behind the scenes, but we know our work keeps the mountain alive for everyone. That alone gives us strength,” said Idung.
Every step they take ensures that climbers enjoy warm meals, comfortable lodging, and functioning facilities, often without realizing the effort that made it possible.
Their story is a reminder that while climbers conquer the peak, it is the porters who conquer the mountain every single day.
