Sabah Parks assistant park manager (rescue and crisis unit) Julaimin Kamin said Tengku Hassanal and his entourage arrived at the Sayat-Sayat checkpoint at 5.05am before reaching the summit at 8.45am, reported Bernama.

Julaimin said weather conditions during the climb were favourable, with temperatures at about 9°C, allowing the ascent to proceed safely and smoothly.

He said Tengku Hassanal and his entourage spent nearly an hour at the summit before descending at 9.30am.

Yesterday, Tengku Hassanal led the expedition to Mount Kinabalu in conjunction with the three-day Mahkota Borneo Expedition, which concluded today.

The climb began from Timpohon Gate at 8.05am yesterday, with Tengku Hassanal and his entourage arriving at the Panalaban accommodation area at 3.45pm.

Standing at 4,095.2m above sea level, Mount Kinabalu is Malaysia’s highest peak and is located within the 754 sq km Kinabalu Park.

Gazetted in 1964, Kinabalu Park is a biodiversity conservation area and Malaysia’s first Unesco World Heritage Site.