Kinabalu's Fallen Heroes: Remembered, Two Years Later

On 5 June 2017, exactly two years after the devastating 2015 earthquake in Ranau (Read here), I came across an Instagram post by Jenefer Raymond that read:

"It's been 2 years since the day we wish never came... but it did, and all we can do is to accept what God has planned for us. He separated our loved one from us, but for sure will bring us all back together someday... Our tears still flow as we feel the emptiness you left that can never be filled... Till we meet again dear brother... May your soul rest in peace in the Kingdom of God."

Her words were addressed to her late brother, Tom Ricky Raymond, one of the victims of that tragic disaster.

Although I do not know Jenefer personally, she once revealed in a comment on my blog post “The Gomoron Connection” that we are distantly related through family roots (Read here). Reading her heartfelt tribute, I was reminded of the profound grief carried by her family - grief shared by all who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

On that fateful day, 5 June 2015, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Ranau, Sabah, near Mount Kinabalu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was one of the strongest quakes ever recorded in Malaysia, unleashing landslides and massive rockfalls. Eighteen precious lives were lost - including climbers from Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and China - while many others were injured or stranded high on the mountain.

Amid the chaos, the Kinabalu mountain guides, mostly locals from the Dusun community, emerged as true heroes. With trails obliterated and rocks still crashing down, they risked everything to rescue others: carrying the injured on their backs, guiding terrified climbers down treacherous slopes, and braving repeated aftershocks.

Tragically, four mountain guides themselves made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting and aiding climbers. They were Robbie Sapinggi, Valerian Joannes, Joseph Solungin, and Ricky Masirin (Tom Ricky Raymond) - the brother Jenefer so lovingly remembered.

In the aftermath of the disaster, Pos Malaysia issued a 60 sen commemorative stamp titled “National Heroes – Kinabalu Guides.” The design portrays a mountain guide carrying a climber over jagged rocks - a simple yet powerful image that captures their courage and selflessness.

This stamp is more than just a piece of postal history. It stands as a symbol of resilience, sacrifice, and humanity - a lasting tribute to the bravery of the Kinabalu guides and a reminder of the lives forever changed on that dark day in June 2015.