RANAU: Accommodation advertised online at Sayat-Sayat and Gurkha Hut on Mount Kinabalu is reserved exclusively for high-altitude climbers and is separate from the High Altitude Training Centre (HATC), Sabah Parks director Datuk Maklarin Lakim said.
Maklarin told the Daily Express that a private operator is paying rent to Sabah Parks to build the huts and manage the tourism packages, with operations targeted to begin next year.
The clarification follows online advertisements for packages featuring overnight stays at both sites, though Maklarin did not detail climber eligibility or confirm if bookings were officially authorised.
Kundasang Tourism and Culture Association chairman Datuk Japiril Suhaimin had earlier questioned the ownership, purpose, and operating approvals of the facilities.
Japiril also urged authorities to pause construction pending an independent assessment of structural integrity and potential risks to the mountain’s water catchments.
