KUALA LUMPUR – R.J. Nagarajan today conquered Mount Everest to become the second Malaysian to climb each of the seven continents’ highest peaks.
Nagarajan – affectionately known as “R.J.” or “Rajan” – reached the Himalayan giant’s peak at 10.30am local time (12.45pm Malaysia time), according to Mohd Khafiz Bachok, the founder of the company zeroto8000. Nagarajan is a member of the firm’s mountaineering team.
The so-called “Seven Summits” are the highest peaks in each of the seven continents, and scaling all of them is “one of the highest achievements in the world of mountain climbing”, according to Khafiz.
Khafiz said that the 59-year-old mountaineer had previously successfully climbed Argentina’s 6,961-m Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America; the United States’ 6,194-m Mount Denali in North America; Tanzania’s 5,895-m Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa; Russia’s 5,642-m Mount Elbrus in Europe; Antarctica’s 4,892-m Mount Vinson; and the 2,228-m Mount Kosciuszko in Australia – completing the set with the 8,848-m Mount Everest today.
He added that Nagarajan had also scaled two more mountains, namely France’s 4,810-m Mont Blanc and Indonesia’s 4,884-m Puncak Jaya – which by certain definitions are Europe and the Australian continent’s tallest mountains. It took him seven years since 2016 to complete all the climbs.
Khafiz said previously Datuk Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtarrudin became the first Malaysian to complete the Reinhold Messner version of the Seven Summits, which deems Puncak Jaya the highest in the Australian continent, while two other climbers – Ahmad Reduan Rozali and Fakri Abdul Samah – had previously completed the Richard Bass or Kosciuszko version, which lists Mount Kosciuszko rather than the Indonesian peak.
According to Nagarajan, his climb is to convey the message of Malaysia’s spirit of self-reliance in pursuing dreams and creating success.
Every Malaysian should strive to be independent in creating success in various fields, he said. – Bernama, May 22, 2023
