Isak Ngau, James Ritchie with DSP (R) Samson Juan… Founder of the Special Branch Border Scouts
“Even if you are blind, nothing is impossible. If you try and try again, you can succeed”
KUCHING: – Visually impaired Isak Ngau, the first blind Sarawakian to reach the peak of Kinabalu, will do it again in September this year.
He will be joined by 50 others, mostly like him, blind.
He first conquered Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in South East Asia, on June 1, 1988.
His second successful climb, together with four other blind men, was in September 2014.
Isak Ngau, a Kayan, was only 14 when he was hit by glacoma and was forced to leave school.
Within three years he was totally blind and spent a year at home wondering what the future held for him.
The youngest of seven chlidren of farmer Ngau Imang and Do’ Jok from Long Seniyai in Ulu Baram who was unable to sit for his form three examinations in 1993, finally decided to go to the Centre for the Blind in Kuching a year later where his life changed.
After a year in Kuching, Isak, was sent to Gurney Training Centre for the Blind in in Kuala Lumpur where he trained hard and became an accomplished masseur and reflexologist under the guidance of Director of the Centre Nazar Othman.
When he was 21 years old, Isak was selected as one of 42 blind students from GurneyTraining Centre to climb Gunung Kinabalu.
On June 1, 1998 Isak became the first blind Sarawakian to reach the peak of Kinabalu—a rare feat for any disabled person.
Thankful to the Almighty, Isak who is from the Borneo Evangelical Church (BEM) or Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB) rose to become the chief instructor of the Institute for massage and reflexology at the Gurney Training Centre.
Early this year the Isak decided to give back to society and form his own “Kinabalu Quest” Sarawak Blind group which will attempt to trek reach the peak of Gunung Kinabalu on September 16 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of “Malaysia Day”.
The Sarawak team will comprise 52 climbers.
In an interview with Sarawak’s Journalism Icon James Ritchie the Kuala Lumpur-based Isak who is Sarawak branch Chairman of the Commitee for Welfare for the Blind, related that he came upon the idea of climbing Gunung Kinabalu last year to give confidence to his blind colleagues and instil the spirit of loyalty to the country.
“For me and the other blind society members, we want to thank you to Malaysia. It will also show that even if you are blind, nothing is impossible. If you try and try again, you can succeed.”
Isak reminisced, that when he first became blind, he lost all hope.
But with the guidance of so many caring Malaysians, he was able to work his way up the ladder.
Now Isak who is married to a Bidayuh and a proud father is looking forward to more challenges.
“Over the year we have climbed Gunung Serapi (Santubong) six times, Gunung Gading (Lundu) twice and Mount Singghai (Bau) once.”
“Of course the most difficult and challenging was Borneo Highlands.”
“Among our group of Kinabalu climbers are 13 girls, eight of whom are blind. Six of the remaining girls will become guides for the blind girls and we really thank them for joining us and making our dream a reality,” he said.
The group will leave Kuching for Kota Kinabalu on September 14 and star climbing the following day.
Malaysians wishing the group the best of luck can call Isak at 0162050923.
