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From Slipped Disc to Kinabalu: A Story of Resilience and the UMPSA Flag
by: Dr. Mohd Hanafiah bin Ahmad, Dean, Faculty of Industrial Management and Associate Academic of GET-BS
Three months ago, life slowed me down. A sudden, crippling back pain sent me to an MRI room, where the diagnosis confirmed my fears…a slipped disc. The doctor’s advice was clear: avoid surgery, focus on physiotherapy, and rebuild strength step by step. So began a chapter of deliberate movements, daily walks, and learning to listen closely to my own body. I assumed this season of life would be solely about recovery. But leadership challenges have a way of showing up when you least expect them.
The Leadership Call and a Month of Intense Preparation
Two months later, during the UMPSA Staff Sports Programme, the Registrar and the Director of the Sports Centre approached me with a challenge to lead a five-member UMPSA climbing team to raise the university flag on Mount Kinabalu in conjunction with Malaysia’s Independence Month.
Preparation time? Only 30 days.
In that short window, strategy and structure became everything. Training plans were customized to each climber’s capability, gear was carefully checked, weather risks assessed, and clear team roles assigned. Each member knew their responsibility, from timekeeping to equipment management to morale building. Safety briefings were emphasized not as a formality but as a leadership priority.
Saying “yes” was not about being at my physical best; it was about leading with conviction, inspiring others, and showing that resilience is a choice.
Training, Strategy, and Weathering Uncertainty
What began as casual park walks evolved into disciplined hill climbs. Training wasn’t just physical preparation; it was mental fortification. Resilience is born not from strength alone but from structure, consistency, and trust in a plan.
The weather forecast predicted rain throughout the climb, but instead of fearing it, we planned for it. Every detail was accounted for: rain gear, pacing strategies, and contingency steps for emergencies.
The Summit Push and the Courage to Turn Back
At 2:40 a.m. on August 21, we started our summit push under darkness, fog, and steady rain. The winds grew harsher, and gloves were soaked; every step was deliberate. By 4:40 a.m., we reached Sayat-Sayat, passing the cut-off time. But at KM8, 3,929 meters, reality hit with slippery trails, stronger gusts, and other climbers losing their footing.
Our guide made the difficult call…. turn back!
Coming Down Stronger and Wiser
We returned to Timpohon Gate by 2:50 p.m., greeted by the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Bursar, and Sports Centre Director. Their presence was an affirmation that this mission was never just about the summit; it was about representing UMPSA with resilience, discipline, and pride.
This climb wasn’t just a physical journey. It was a leadership lesson etched into memory:
- Resilience is intentional. Built through planning, preparation, and persistence.
- Leadership is situational. The strongest leaders strike a balance between ambition, empathy, and responsibility.
- Success is the journey. The certificate we brought home symbolizes teamwork and character over destination.
We may not have stood on Kinabalu’s highest peak that day, but we came back with something far more meaningful, a living testament to courage, leadership, and the strength of collective resilience. As a dean and a leader-climber, this journey reinforced that the true summit is not always a physical point, but the growth, trust, and unity we build within our team. Every challenge on the mountain or in academia becomes an opportunity to lead with empathy, clarity, and conviction. And like every leader knows, there will always be another mountain ahead, waiting to be conquered not just with strength, but with wisdom and heart.
