25th February 2023
Bukit RISM at the Centre of Sabah, District of Tongod
The Centre of Sabah was established 12 years ago in a project collaboration between Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM), Jabatan Ukur dan Pemetaan Malaysia (JUPEM), Jabatan Tanah dan Ukur Sabah (JTU) and Jabatan Perhutanan Sabah (JPS).
The Centre of Sabah was calculated based on more than 18,000 points taken around the mainland of Sabah and a centroid was determined through mathematical methods. Simply put, if a string is threaded through the centroid point of a cut-out cardboard shape of Sabah, the cardboard will hang in balance.
Located on the top of a small hill along Banjaran Gunung Tinkar, Tongod, it is marked with a survey control point named M500 – Bukit RISM planted at the peak by Jabatan Ukur dan Pemetaan Malaysia (JUPEM) on 30th September 2011. This survey control point is used for mapping and geodetic survey purpose by the department.
M500 – Bukit RISM is about 582 metres above the mean-sea-level. The total distance from the base to the peak is approximately 3.5 km. The trail cuts through secondary forest and the gradient for half of the trail is more than 25°.
The trail to the summit of Bukit RISM is considered to be a medium to hard trail and hikers need to be reasonably fit physically to tackle it. It took the team about 3 hours to reach the top of Bukit RISM.
For the expedition on 17th February 2023, RISM installed distance markers along the trail and unveiled a signpost at the summit of Bukit RISM to facilitate hikers to record their presence at the Centre of Sabah.
It was a rewarding experience to reach the Centre of Sabah which presented hikers with a spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding hills.
Group photograph of the climbers at the base camp before ascending Bukit RISM
On behalf of the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia, I would like to thank RISM Sabah Branch, Jabatan Ukur dan Pemetaan Malaysia (JUPEM), Jabatan Tanah dan Ukur Sabah (JTU) and Jabatan Perhutanan Sabah (JPS) for making all the necessary arrangements for the smooth running of the expedition. Appreciation must be recorded to the sponsors Nippon Paint (S) Sdn. Bhd., Remajaya Sdn Bhd, Jurukur Bahan SPL Sdn Bhd., PUBM Quantity Surveyors Sdn. Bhd., and Prokosman Konsultant who have supported and contributed generously.
I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to members of the Organising Committee and the many people involved in the making of this expedition. Your professional style and teamwork have made this event a reality and a great success.
Lastly, it is my hope that the Sabah surveying fraternity have benefiting positively from the outcome of the expedition and that Bukit RISM at the Centre of Sabah will become an additional tourist attraction on the map of Sabah.
Fond memories and great fellowship captured in a video https://youtu.be/EW7sp6KjAb0
Sr Dainna Baharuddin, CQS, FRISM, FRICS
President
Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia
Session 2022/2023
