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'The spirits don't like what they did' – Malaysians voice anger at naked prank 'The spirits don't like what they did' – Malaysians voice anger at naked prank
(35 minutes later)
Residents in the Malaysian city where a group of tourists are being held after posing naked on the country’s highest mountain have spoken of their anger at the stunt.Residents in the Malaysian city where a group of tourists are being held after posing naked on the country’s highest mountain have spoken of their anger at the stunt.
Four western tourists, including a 23-year-old Briton, Eleanor Hawkins, on Wednesday appeared handcuffed and dressed in purple prison uniforms in a court in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah state. Four western tourists, including a 23-year-old Briton, Eleanor Hawkins, appeared on Wednesday handcuffed and dressed in purple prison uniforms in a court in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah state.
They were part of a group of 10 trekkers who were last month photographed stripping on Mount Kinabalu. Malaysian officials later linked the stunt on the sacred mountain to an earthquake six days later which killed 18 people.They were part of a group of 10 trekkers who were last month photographed stripping on Mount Kinabalu. Malaysian officials later linked the stunt on the sacred mountain to an earthquake six days later which killed 18 people.
Related: Mount Kinabalu 'naked prank': UK reviews advice for travellers to MalaysiaRelated: Mount Kinabalu 'naked prank': UK reviews advice for travellers to Malaysia
The four were remanded in police cells in the city, which lies about 90km (55 miles) south-east of the mountain, while investigations are carried out. The four tourists were remanded in custody in the city, which lies about 55 miles (90km) south-east of Mount Kinabalu, while investigations are carried out.
Fendi Adam, a teenager, is a member of the Dusun tribe, which believes spirits live in the mountain and that the naked tourists caused the earthquake.Fendi Adam, a teenager, is a member of the Dusun tribe, which believes spirits live in the mountain and that the naked tourists caused the earthquake.
“The spirits don’t like what they did. They should be kept in jail for a long time,” he told the Guardian.“The spirits don’t like what they did. They should be kept in jail for a long time,” he told the Guardian.
Others accept that the tourists’ behaviour was unconnected to the earthquake. But they see it as a display of disrespect on one of their most revered landmarks. Locals tell stories of mountain guides who died in the earthquake while trying to save tourists. Others accept that the tourists’ behaviour was unconnected to the earthquake. But they see it as a display of disrespect on one of their most revered sites. Locals tell stories of mountain guides who died in the earthquake while trying to save tourists.
“Some village people think that the earthquake was caused by the tourists, but they are superstitious,” said Anna, who works at a tour agency that takes visitors to the national park where the mountain is. “Most people are angry. Their beliefs are strong,” she said. “Some village people think that the earthquake was caused by the tourists, but they are superstitious,” said Anna, who works at a tour agency that takes visitors to the national park where the mountain is located. “Most people are angry. Their beliefs are strong,” she said.
At a police station in Kota Kinabalu, a guard said the authorities were also trying to track down the group’s tour agency to ask why the foreigners were not prevented from stripping.At a police station in Kota Kinabalu, a guard said the authorities were also trying to track down the group’s tour agency to ask why the foreigners were not prevented from stripping.
None is eligible for bail. All are being investigated by a civil prosecutor for public indecency, which carries a sentence of up to three months in jail with the possibility of a fine. But indigenous elders, including the Dusun, are also considering whether to try them in a native court, as they are accused of breaching customary law. It is not clear what type of punishment they would receive in a native court, which has ordered community work and fines. None is eligible for bail. All are being investigated by a civil prosecutor for public indecency, which carries a sentence of up to three months in jail with the possibility of a fine. But indigenous elders, including the Dusun, are also considering whether to try them in a native court, as they are accused of breaching customary law. It is not clear what type of punishment they would receive in a native court, which can order community work and fines for offences.
Sabah’s chief tribal priest, Tindarama Aman Sirom Simbuna, told Malaysia’s Star newspaper that the tourists should be fined 10 head of buffalo in line with local customs.Sabah’s chief tribal priest, Tindarama Aman Sirom Simbuna, told Malaysia’s Star newspaper that the tourists should be fined 10 head of buffalo in line with local customs.
The spirit of the mountain is very angry. This fine should be in the form of 10 buffaloThe spirit of the mountain is very angry. This fine should be in the form of 10 buffalo
It quoted him saying: “According to local beliefs, the spirit of the mountain is very angry,” he said. “This fine, called sogit in the native tongue, should be in the form of 10 male or female buffalo.”It quoted him saying: “According to local beliefs, the spirit of the mountain is very angry,” he said. “This fine, called sogit in the native tongue, should be in the form of 10 male or female buffalo.”
Catherine Allerton, an anthropologist from the London School of Economics who specialises in the region, explained the status of Mount Kinabalu.Catherine Allerton, an anthropologist from the London School of Economics who specialises in the region, explained the status of Mount Kinabalu.
“The people who live nearby the mountain, the Dusun people, really see the mountain peaks as the resting place for the souls of the dead,” she told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme. “And even people who don’t share those beliefs see it as a very sacred and special place. It is the real symbol of Sabah within the Malaysia nation.”“The people who live nearby the mountain, the Dusun people, really see the mountain peaks as the resting place for the souls of the dead,” she told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme. “And even people who don’t share those beliefs see it as a very sacred and special place. It is the real symbol of Sabah within the Malaysia nation.”
Allerton, who has climbed the mountain herself, added: “Even before the earthquake there was a lot of anger about what the tourists had done and the sort of insensitivity that they had shown by stripping naked on his very special place. Allerton, who has climbed the mountain, added: “Even before the earthquake there was a lot of anger about what the tourists had done and the sort of insensitivity that they had shown by stripping naked on his very special place.
“People’s offence has been heightened by the fact that four of the people who died in the earthquake were very local Dusun guides who take people up the mountain, and are really revered in Sabah for the wonderful job that they do.”“People’s offence has been heightened by the fact that four of the people who died in the earthquake were very local Dusun guides who take people up the mountain, and are really revered in Sabah for the wonderful job that they do.”