EAST MALAYSIA SABAH'S MOUNTAIN PATH IS WORLD'S HIGHEST

KOTA KINABALU (Malaysia), Dec 16 (Bernama) -- Mountain Torq Sdn Bhd Tuesday
announced that its 'via ferrata' (iron road in Italian) on Mount Kinabalu at
3,776 metres above sea-level, has been certified by Guinness World Records (GWR)
as the world's highest via ferrata.

Mountain Torq Sdn Bhd, based in East Malaysa Sabah state promotes adventure
and mountaineering activities in Asia.

A copy of this certification -- Sabah's first and only Guiness World
Record -- was officially presented to Sabah Park deputy director Dr Jamili Nair,
and witnessed by Sabah Tourism Board chairman Tengku Zainal Adlin at a
ceremony here Tuesday.

A via ferrata is a mountain path which comprises a series of rungs, rails
and
cables embracing the rock face.

There are more than 300 via ferrata routes worldwide, predominantly in
Italy,
Germany, and France, among others.

"GWR took about six months to determine and access before deciding which via
ferrata is the highest. We were notified about the results in July," said
Mountain Torq's sales and marketing director Quek I-Gek.

The second highest via ferrata is found in the Italian Dolomites, called the
Marmolada West ridge, at the highest point of 3,343 metres.

Mountain Torq's founder and executive director Wilfred Tok said they began
operations on Dec 15, 2007 where it was then certified by the Malaysia Book of
Records as the world's highest.

"Since its inception, about 5,000 people have completed the routes," he told
reporters.

Quek said the youngest climber was an eight-year-old girl from Kuala
Lumpur while the oldest was a 69-year-old man from Britain.

-- BERNAMA