Construction works recently highlighted on social media at Mount Kinabalu have been approved as part of a High Altitude Training Centre (HATC) project, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Jafry Ariffin said.
He said the development had secured approval from the Sabah Parks Board of Trustees and endorsement from the Mount Kinabalu Native Customary Advisory Council.
Jafry said the project was first proposed under the Kinabalu Park Development Plan in 2015 but was deferred following the earthquake that struck the mountain that year.
It was revived and officially launched in 2025 as part of Sabah’s efforts to diversify its tourism offerings and strengthen its position as an international mountaineering destination.
The project involves providing basic accommodation facilities to support specialised high-altitude training and mountaineering activities.
Jafry said the project used lightweight, prefabricated and modular materials to minimise environmental disturbance.
He said the construction method was designed to avoid the use of heavy machinery while ensuring the structures could withstand strong winds and challenging weather conditions at higher elevations.
However, he stressed that approval did not exempt the project from complying with environmental safeguards, technical specifications and relevant regulations.
“We will not hesitate to take appropriate action against any party found to have violated the stipulated conditions or failed to comply with the relevant laws and regulations,” he said in a statement from Kota Kinabalu on Sunday.
The minister was responding to a local reports over the alleged construction and drilling on the site over the weekend.
Jafry said the ministry would consider a thorough investigation, in coordination with Sabah Parks and other relevant authorities, to establish whether all approved specifications and environmental requirements had been observed.
He said the HATC was intended to provide a specialised training environment for climbers preparing for expeditions to higher-altitude destinations, including Mount Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua and Mount Everest.
The facility would support altitude acclimatisation, technical mountaineering training and familiarisation with specialised climbing equipment, catering to domestic and international climbing communities.
Jafry said Mount Kinabalu’s accessibility, established climbing infrastructure and proximity to Kota Kinabalu International Airport gave Sabah an advantage in attracting international mountaineering clubs and organisations.
He added that the initiative also supported the objectives of the Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark through responsible geotourism and sustainable tourism development.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged public concerns following the circulation of photographs showing construction activities on the mountain, describing public vigilance as important in protecting Sabah’s natural heritage.
“Development must never come at the expense of conservation, nor should progress disregard the cultural values and traditions of our communities,” he said.
