Earthquake 6.0 with epicenter 36 km from Mt. Kinabalu caused 18 deaths, 2 still missing presumed dead, landslides, mud floods, poison river, death of million river fishes, damages to buildings, resorts and hotels, etc was preceded by a controversial 'show of courage' by 10 European/Canadian tourists to strip naked on top of the highest mountain in SEA. 4 of them were arrested and charged with acts of indecency and found guilty. They were fined RM5,000.00 each with 3 days imprisonment.
Mountain guides, using their own skill, creativity and courage to bring down trapped tourists down to safety after search and rescue teams failed to show up and pick them up by helicopter despite good weather for a couple of hours.
Inexperienced Government SAR and uniformed personnels, who were unable/unwilling to climb to the mountain top with the mountain guides, were helplessly waiting at ground zero for the arrival of the rescued tourists.
PM Najib came a day later to convey his condolence to the victims' family and pay respect to the sacrifices of the Mt. Guides who died trying to save the lives of the 100 over trapped tourists.
A rare and unique cloud formation on top of Mt. Kinabalu days after the quake! What was the message from the Creator God who had sent many warnings of repentance and return to Him?
Though the majority of those dwellings around Mt. Kinabalu are the interior Kadazan tribe of Liwan, Tindals (most preferring their colonial name Dusun) are Christians (Catholics/Protestants) or Muslims, many are migrant workers from Indonesia and Philippines, many of them are illegals, some Chinese from West Malaysia/Sarawak, Pakistanis, Malays, etc doing business, settled down or owned land and holidays homes around Kundasang or Bundu Tuhan. The remaining few are still pagans and clung to their animistic belief system.
Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan, the Kadazan Huguan Siou or Paramount Chief, one time Chief Minister of Sabah but was ousted of power when the Muslim Dominated UMNO set based in Sabah, using the hundred of thousands of illegal immigrants as its power base, opined that the 6.0 earthquake was connected to the nudity of the 10 European/Canadian tourists, which defiled and angered the mountain spirits or guardians. This had became a sensational headlines around the world calling even the scientific community and social media forum abuzz with debates and opinions.
The locals, among them those who professed to be Christians/Catholics and Muslims, quickly organized their spirit mediums or Bobolians/Bobohizans/Tatangas from the Lotud tribes of Tuaran to perform the appeasement or monogit ceremonies which was reported in the local newspaper and documented by the Sabah Museum.
Seen here above is the magavau ceremony performed by young Bobohizan students in connection with the welcoming of Bambaazon, spirit of padi, a fertility goddess connected to Ashotoreth, queen of heaven, Baal's female consort or Semi-Ramis, and one of the dominant spirits revered in Mt. Kinabalu. This was performed on 13/6/15 at kg. Kibabaig, a village populated by many young generation of the Tuawon sub-tribes whose ancestors were chief warriors protecting the Huguan Siou in the past, at a belated harvest festival celebration.
