Thursday, June 25, 2015

Malaysian Officials Claim Nude Photos Are the Cause of Deadly Earthquake

Source Website: http://mpora.com/articles/mount-kinabalu-earthquake
By Stuart Kenny, Mpora © 2015 Factory Media Ltd. on 9 June 2015


Malaysian officials have claimed that tourists who took naked photos at the top of Mount Kinabalu are to blame for the 5.9-magnitude earthquake that followed days later, killing 16 climbers in the process.
PHOTO: Malaysian officials have claimed that tourists who took naked photos at the top of Mount Kinabalu are to blame for the 5.9-magnitude earthquake that followed days later, killing 16 climbers in the process.
Photo by Stuart Kenny, Mpora © 2015 Factory Media Ltd. on 9 June 2015
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDkMkrUCq5tdI7Myr7S5ojO5Q6q0P_Gmm9rfFDaxGmca-WZNrFWrsamdq5QtlKs7ezNdqKdnoJHeKax2bz6__xLRLvvuhwuM7CCKHT75l0xIoNkwyOvbhXqkneCrS5D8hp3FexHxcTd8/s1600/nude-earthquake-1.jpg
http://cdn.coresites.factorymedia.com/mpora_new/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/nude-earthquake-1.jpg
http://mpora.com/articles/mount-kinabalu-earthquake


“Whether others believe this or not, it’s what we believe. The earthquake was confirmation."

Malaysian officials have claimed that tourists who took naked photos at the top of Mount Kinabalu are to blame for the 5.9-magnitude earthquake that followed days later, killing 16 climbers in the process.

Now, this may all sound a little bit absurd at first, and while it does seem ridiculous to make the group scapegoasts for such a tragic natural disaster, the tale of their naked roaming does paint them in a more than disrespectful light.

The guilty party of 10 were climbing Kinabalu on May 30th when they broke away from their party to strip off and take some photos.


The guilty party of 10 were climbing Kinabalu on May 30th when they broke away from their party to strip off and take some photos.
PHOTO: The guilty party of 10 were climbing Kinabalu on May 30th when they broke away from their party to strip off and take some photos.
Picture posted by  Báo Tuổi Trẻ Pháp Luật
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpN81W0U1zkfy_gS4-M4uIrZwvSWgBaHx_GCOxQzGI6w0sXahdH3BHBHspfwyoo_EudZYG-lxiWFaENWgaLhAjMZtIHC0tBq_zZtj4QMD4gWvMKpK-XQaMwbwUsvo96vXAdNG4XW7zB0A/s1600/lot-do-tren-nui-d1472.jpg
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http://www.baotuoitrephapluat.com/2015/06/nu-du-khach-anh-lot-nguc-tran-tren-nui.html


Now, this all seems fairly routine for a bunch of young ramblers, but the thing is, Mt. Kinabalu is seen as sacred ground to the locals, who believe the mountain carries the spirits of their ancestors.

When climbing up the mountain then, it’s taken for granted that tourists conduct themselves courteously and honour the traditions that have been held for generations in the surrounding towns.

So, when the tour guide of the group in question saw them getting their kit off and – as far as he was concerned – effectively posing naked around a hallowed resting place, he understandably asked them to stop. They told him “to go to hell”.


Eleanor Hawkins, British girl, 23, pleaded guilty before a court of Malaysia for her public nuisance when posing naked on Mount Kinabalu
PHOTO: Eleanor Hawkins, British girl, 23, pleaded guilty before a court of Malaysia for her public nuisance when posing naked on Mount Kinabalu
Picture posted by  Báo Tuổi Trẻ Pháp Luật
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicO041nNwdwCb9pH1K6wdrfCslqDWg4w_XZXkgP092mBlVeAy4XjMhUFmGv6RGyQAxSqhN9Rgmec67qKjmizsYoQpu5N2YBf2eaXYwWnEyYSqs-sBYL1SeC7u32p5SnfbKfBQegfG-uPk/s1600/Cameron-Diaz9-6277-1395116003.jpg
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http://www.baotuoitrephapluat.com/2015/06/nu-du-khach-anh-lot-nguc-tran-tren-nui.html


The tragic earthquake hit less than a week later, and while it’s more appropriate to call the bunch of tourists disrespectful jackasses than murderers, their sacrilegious actions are now being held to blame by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who is calling for them to be brought to a native court and charged according to local customs.

“Whether other people believe this or not, it’s what we Sabahans believe,” he said, speaking about the mountain. “When the earthquake happened, it’s like a confirmation of our beliefs.

“It is a sacred mountain and you cannot take it lightly. There is almost certainly a connection. We have to take this as a reminder that local beliefs and customs are not to be disrespected.”


Tourists walk away from Mount Kinabalu hours after a magnitude 5.9 earthquake shook the area in Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia.
PHOTO: Tourists walk away from Mount Kinabalu hours after a magnitude 5.9 earthquake shook the area in Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia.
Photo by AP (posted by News Limited) on 07 June 2015 at 7:53AM
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4HNnMhp9KryUpnsaBfP7yoCCSn59JoJgCfgAH9WbPGor4m0AZHgGx3WgLz39IsiJsI6E9_lGDHXd8qwRKpCGygAgg6y8ONnwyAZn5sZ-i2SrgL0RlvLKljoysbWK8wteEn5iQ3ngbyY/s1600/external.jpg
http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/external?url=http://content6.video.news.com.au/hkZDhqdTp4joaol74To9zcvAg0yjIFjL/promo257891406&width=650&api_key=kq7wnrk4eun47vz9c5xuj3mc
http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/malaysia-earthquake-at-mount-kinabalu-rescuers-still-looking-for-climbers-and-children/story-fnizu68q-1227386283858


Datuk Masisi Manjun, the Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, went even further, saying that the culprits will be found if they are still in Sabah, and not allowed to leave the country without facing action.

“We have to trust that people who come here are good people,” he said, adding that the locals are planning on holding a traditional ceremony and ritual to appease the spirits as soon as possible.

Five of the travellers involved in the naked fiasco are said to still be in the country, and will apparently be blocked when they try and depart.


JAILED: Dutch national Dylan Snel (centre) leaving a court hearing along with three other hikers in Kota Kinabalu on June 12. The four took naked photos of themselves at the summit plateau of Mount Kinabalu.
PHOTO: JAILED: Dutch national Dylan Snel (centre) leaving a court hearing along with three other hikers in Kota Kinabalu on June 12. The four took naked photos of themselves at the summit plateau of Mount Kinabalu.
PHOTO: REUTERS
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdpVQHEXTGvqqEDXdJFuXFxXD-Mzt7jVJssxq5o1_ll3S7ZVAmEvItkclAtZgI80nVrT3kfB5UOvE_wwyHxpPvI8s8jcOVzeX5yqCjkDF0csxDVGUQ1SqadQvd3miXC6R9fpNU7VxcwU/s1600/Dutch+national+Dylan+Snel+jailed.jpg
mypaper, myp@sph.com.sg, Thursday, 25 June 2015, page A7
http://epaper.mypaper.sg/emnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2015-06-25


While they did show clear disregard for ancient customs, we hope that the group do get out of the country at least unharmed, although hopefully with a lesson learned. The whole scenario is starting to sound like something out of a horror film.

A very unfortunate story indeed. Show respect when you’re travelling folks – for obvious reasons.

By Stuart Kenny, Mpora © 2015 Factory Media Ltd. on 9 June 2015



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