IIUM KINABALU OKU CHALLENGE 2022

by oku4u

In conjunction with IIUM’s 40th Anniversary this year, the Sports Development Centre (SDC) and the Disability Services Unit (DSU) under the purview of the Office of Deputy Rector (Student Development and Community Engagement) have led the IIUM Kinabalu OKU Challenge 2022: Road to 40th Anniversary to celebrate our nation’s 65th Independence Day among IIUM disabled and non-disabled students and staff at Malaysia’s highest peak on 31st August 2022.

The mission to Mount Kinabalu is part of IIUM’s initiative to acknowledge and highlight the capabilities of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) or Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) rather than their disabilities in our community. Initially planned for 2020, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the mission had to be postponed until now. This project was inspired by the success story of one of our amazing IIUM alumni, Br. Azzrulkhan Hasrullah Bin Matsah who was stricken by polio at a young age, causing paralysis in both his lower limbs. Despite his impairment, he had proven that his strong conviction and a positive mindset had brought him to successfully climb Malaysian mountains including Mount Kinabalu in 2016, and is recognized as a national high achiever by the Malaysia Book of Records. In May 2018, he inspired the whole world by successfully crawling up to Everest Base Camp located 5,350 meters above sea level.

The IIUM Kinabalu OKU Challenge 2022 has, for the first time, brought together 4 disabled IIUM students, 1 disabled IIUM staff and 1 invited disabled person from OKU Sentral with 5 climber buddies selected from the IIUM Recreational Club to conquer and reach the Summit of Mount Kinabalu on 31st August 2022 on Merdeka Day to signify the strife to achieve independence for all.

The Launch Ceremony

The Programme's Objectives

The IIUM Kinabalu OKU Challenge 2022 seeks to promote the abilities rather than the disabilities of PwDs and create awareness that PwDs are also as capable as others with the right support. It also aims to promote inclusivity and empathy among members of the university community to reflect the concept of Tawheed in Islam of establishing not only a strong relationship with Allah but also strong relationships among human beings and all other creations (hablun minallah wa hablun minannas).

In addition, this programme seeks to achieve the following objectives:

To provide a recreational platform and opportunity for IIUM disabled and non-disabled students and staff to challenge their limits in conquering Malaysia’s highest peak
To act as a platform for fundraising for disabled students’ facilities and assistive devices;
To instill teamwork and team cohesion among participants; and
To strengthen ukhuwwah among disabled and non-disabled students and staff through mountaineering activities.

Participants

Head of Expedition

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zulkifli Hasan – Deputy Rector (Student Development and Community Engagement)

Special Climbers

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Nizam Barom – KENMS Lecturer (Visually impaired)
Br. Ahmad Danial Mohd Sani – KIRKHS Undergraduate student (Visually impaired)
Br. Suhaimi Sapar – KAED Postgraduate student (Physical hand)
Br. Muhammad Zaid Zainon Abi din – KLM Undergraduate student (Physical hand)
Sr. Nurhidayu Ishak – KICT Undergraduate student (Dwarfism)
Br. Khairull Hafiz Ismail – OKU Sentral (Leg Amputee)

Climber Buddies

Sr. Abir Husna binti Ahmad Zakun (KIRKHS)
Br. Muhamad Aidil Mohd Sharif (KOE)
Br. Muhamad Izzat Izzuddin Saharuddin (KOE)
Br. Suhaimi Samsudin (KENMS)
Br. Zafran Al-Aiman Zainal Abidin (KENMS)
10 staff climber crew