Corporate figure Azman Hashim scales Mount Kinabalu at the age of 84
02 Nov 2023 11:16pm
Corporate Figure Tan Sri Azman Hashim has proved that age is just a number when he managed to conquer the peak of Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in Southeast Asia, last Tuesday - FILE PIX
The former AmBank Group chairman said he started the climb on Monday (Oct 30) at 8.45 am and arrived at Laban Rata, the halfway house, at 7.15 pm; while the summit climb started at 5am on the next day, reaching the summit early in the morning.
"I’m gratified of this achievement at 84, for me age is not a barrier and believe with determination and high spirit, everything can be achieved,” he told Bernama through email here today.
This marks Azman’s second climb in reaching the summit of Mount Kinabalu, which stands at 4,095 metres above sea level, with his first climb to the top achieved at the age of 71 in 2010.
Mount Kinabalu derives its name from the Kadazan word ‘Aki Nabalu’ meaning ‘the revered place of the dead’ and is also the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea.
Asked about his advise especially to the younger generation, Azman said this achievement further exemplifies one’s commitment to pushing boundaries and achieving new heights in every endeavour.
"This achievement will also undoubtedly serve as an inspiration to all, across all generations, that nothing is impossible to achieve, and within our grasp,” said the banker.
Azman is one of Malaysia's doyens in the banking fraternity, having started off in the sector in the 1960s and with his strong entrepreneurial spirit, he has been the key driver of AmBank Group’s growth since 1982.
From its origins as the Arab-Malaysian Development Bank with an initial staff of 200, Azman build it up to now a financial conglomerate - the AmBank Group - with over 9,000 staff.
Meanwhile, according to the Mount Kinabalu Information Centre spokesperson, the oldest Malaysian who had scaled and reached the peak of the mountain was Buatin Blandong, 90, who managed the feat on Sept 5, last year.
It was the eighth time the government retiree form Papar, Sabah had managed to climb the peak of Mount Kinabalu, with the first being during his youth years - BERNAMA
