Part 1: TREKKING UP MOUNT KINABALU_ 8-9 May 2009

its been many months since am back from Sabah last May. Ive been posponing to write on it quite awhile already..

Lets start from here:

Perasaan ingin menakluki Mount Kinabalu telah lame terpendam dalam hati since 2005. Tp disebabkan kesibukan kerja dan seterusnya tiada kesempatan utk pergi sebelum ini telah membuatkan perancanganku tertangguh hingga kesekian lamanya.

Walaubagaimanapun, started November 2008, aku semakin serius dengan the trekking plan. Perancangan yang rapi diperlukan untuk menjayakan plan tersebut. Bermula dengan kerja booking membooking accommodation hinggalah persediaan mental dan fizikalku.

i started to digged up information bout climbing kinabalu frm everywhere. But theres ONE particular website which help me very much in providing watever dat i need to know bout kinabalu. A must read website tersebut adalah : http://mount-kinabalu-borneo.com/blog/

Setelah meneliti segale information yang ade dlm website tersebut, terdapat satu ISSUE yang sgt significant terhadap pengurusan Sutera Sanctuary Lodge (SLL), a company yang memonopoli pengurusan dan pentadbiran Sabah Park, iaitu KENAIKAN HARGA ACCOMMODATION YANG SGT TIDAK MUNASABAH.

Rentetan dari masalah tersebut, aku telah melayangkan satu SURAT CINTA kepada Ministry of Tourism Sabah(surat ini telah diemelkan pada Friday, December 05, 2008 10:49 AM) dan berikut adalah intipati surat tersebut, hehe :

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HI,

i need your feedback about how MINISTRY OF TOURISM, CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT

handling the issues of hiking price offered by Sutera Sanctuary Lodge in providing accomodation at Mount Kinabalu.

well, sutera santuary lodges increase the price again.

1. Before 2008, the Accommodation price only RM3/person… then increased to RM12/Person… RM18/person… RM30/person….

2. Start on the 18th Jan 2008, SUTERA SANCTUARY started selling new

package. Forcing climbers to buy the new package, included the meals.The price increase more than 6times…. from RM30/person to RM188/person….

3. Now, they start selling at RM290/person for Gunting Langadan/non-heater

room, and RM350/person for Laban Rata for the year of 2009.

Dont you think that is too much. anything we can do about it? seems like

some people really make a lot of money. but still thinking not enough.

greedy isn’t?

i am wonder…

1. How can the Ministry Of Tourism approved this new rate?

2. Ministry dont know? Not care about the locals? Not care about the Climbers?

3. Ministry involve in C……..N???

I need your kind response pertaining to these matters.

Thank You.

Regards.

.

surat tamat

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Daring tak?

N guess wat??? immediate feedback from Mr William Baya dari Ministry berkenaan to SSL :

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From: Wiliam Baya [mailto:william.baya@sabah.gov.my]

Sent: Friday, 5 December 2008 2:15 PM

To: SSL - Freddie Coleman

Cc: suzannah.liaw@sabah.gov.my; Datuk Irene Benggon Charuruks;

Paul.Basintal@sabah.gov.my

Subject: Fw: Official Web Site of Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment,

Sabah, Malaysia: COMPLAINT ON SUTERA SANCTUARY LODGE (mount kinabalu)

Dear Mr. Freddie,

Forwarded herewith one of the many complaints we received from tourists regarding what they claimed as exhorbitant price charged by SSL at Kinabalu Park. Grateful if you could kindly look into this complaint and keep us informed. Thanks.

William Baya

Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Sabah.

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-----Original Message-----

From: SSL - Freddie Coleman

Sent: Friday, 5 December 2008 4:21 PM

To: 'Wiliam Baya'

Cc: suzannah.liaw@sabah.gov.my; Datuk Irene Benggon Charuruks;

Paul.Basintal@sabah.gov.my; SSL - Christina Lam

Subject: RE: Official Web Site of Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment,

Sabah, Malaysia: COMPLAINT ON SUTERA SANCTUARY LODGE (mount kinabalu)

Dear Mr.William,

Thank you for the feedback below.

We will be in contact with Mdm. Mastura Zuber to look into her

concern/inquiries on the "3 Days 2 Nights Mountain Climbing package"

via Kinabalu Park. The package is inclusive of accommodation and 6 buffets meals

at Kinabalu Park and Laban Rata.

We will keep you posted on the feedback.

Regards,

Freddie Coleman,

Sutera Sanctuary Lodges.

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Terus aku dapat call dari Ms Christina Lam dari SSL, utk terangkan everything pasai apa harga naik bagai nk rak. After knowing all the reasons dats been given, am still thinking dat de current prices proposed by SLL is still exorbitant! Dah la accomodation jenis hostel aje..

So wat i do is asking her to give feedback on the revised rate.

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From: SSL - Christina Lam Subject: RE: Official Web Site of Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Sabah, Malaysia: COMPLAINT ON SUTERA SANCTUARY LODGE (mount kinabalu)To: "SSL - Freddie Coleman" , "Wiliam Baya" , masz_overmars11@yahoo.co.ukCc: suzannah.liaw@sabah.gov.my, "Datuk Irene Benggon Charuruks" , Paul.Basintal@sabah.gov.myDate: Saturday, 6 December, 2008, 12:16 AM

Good afternoon Cik Mastura

As per our telephone conversation yesterday evening, we are pleased to forward

you the 2 Days/1 Night Mt. Climbing Package Via Timpohon Gate (Government Rate)

RM250.00 nett per Malaysian Climber Via Timpohon Descend Timpohon
Inclusive of :-
1 x night stay at the Non Heated Dormitory -Gunting Lagadan/Waras Hut/Panar Laban
Meals Arrangements
Day 1 - Packed Lunch to be collected at Kinabalu Park Balsam Restaurant Buffet Dinner at LR Resthouse
Day 2 - 2am Supper before climb Buffet Breakfast at LR before descending to Timpohon Gate
All Mt. Climbing Fees which is payable to Sabah Parks is not inclusive in the above
(Effective 01st September 2008 - new rates applies)
Entrance fee per person RM3.00
Climbing Permit per person RM30.00
Mt.Insurance per person RM7.00
Mt.Certificate per person RM10.00
Return Transfer Timpohon Gate per person RM33.00 by KOKTAS
1 Mt.Guide return trip for 2 persons RM105.00

Will be most grateful if you could forward me the climbing dates in order for

us to book

In for you. Should you need further clarifications pls do contact me at

012-8287767

Thank you.

Christina Lam

Marketing Administration Manager

Sutera Sanctuary Lodges

The Magellan Sutera

1 Sutera Harbour Boulevard

88100 Kota Kinabalu

Sabah, Malaysia

Tel: Direct: (60-88) 308 425 General: (60-88) 318 888

Fax: (60-88) 308 449

E-Mail: christina.l@suteraharbour.com.my

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So kesimpulannya, based on de quotation aku kene bayar RM 250 untuk tido di NON_HEATED ROOM dan jauh dari tempat makan di LAban RAta dan extra RM188 lagi utk entrance permit segale. Keseluruhannya RM 438. Siot je.

Ape lagi aku terus call n minta nego lagi. Aku minta accommodation di Laban Rata Rest HOuse (the heated room) n minta kurangkan bilangan meals.

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From: mas zuber Subject: RE: Official Web Site of Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Sabah, Malaysia: COMPLAINT ON SUTERA SANCTUARY LODGE (mount kinabalu)To: "SSL - Freddie Coleman" , "Wiliam Baya" , "SSL - Christina Lam" Cc: suzannah.liaw@sabah.gov.my, "Datuk Irene Benggon Charuruks" , Paul.Basintal@sabah.gov.myDate: Tuesday, 9 December, 2008, 10:03 PM

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. Based on our telephone conversation this morning, i would like you to forward me the new rate based on my package requirement:

2 Days/1 Night Mt. Climbing Package Via Timpohon Gate (Government Rate)Inclusive of :-1 x night stay at the Laban Rata Room 3 Dormitory Bunk Bed with heater)

Meals Arrangements (Minimum)

Day 1 - Buffet Dinner at LR Resthouse

Day 2 - Buffet Breakfast at LR before descending to Timpohon Gate

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And guess wat i got after a looooog way of complaining n negotiation:

Hanya RM 540 untuk 3 orang inclusive of:

1. 1 nite Accomdation @ Laban Rata (the heated room) : RM 70 X 3 = RM 210

2. KInabalu Park Entrance Fee + Climbing permit + Mount Insurance + BUffet Dinner + Buffet Breakfast, altogether for 3 person = RM 330

SO roughly sorang bayar dalam RM 180.00 shj.

Sangat laa berbeza harganye kalo nk dibandingkan dengan 400 lebih/seorang sebelum nih!

TO BE CONTINUED.................