SHAH ALAM, May 23 — It has been 29 years since two Malaysians, Datuk Magendran Munisamy and Datuk Mohanadas Nagappan, conquered Mount Everest, the world’s highest summit, on May 23, 1997.
Magendran and Mohanadas’ expedition was part of the Malaysia-Everest ‘97 Project, joined by 10 Malaysian hikers with support from the Youth and Sports Ministry and Malaysia Mountaineering Federation.
In an interview about this historic day, Magendran said the journey to the peak is still fresh in his mind even after nearly three decades.
He added that the success isn’t just a personal achievement, but a symbol of Malaysians’ trust that nothing is impossible.
“If I think about it, I still get choked up. It wasn’t just (making) the summit, but because along the way, lots of people said it was impossible for us to do it.
“People looked at us like… ‘Could Malaysians really do this?’, so when I stood at the (summit), the feeling was hard to describe,” he said.
Magendran summited Everest at 11.55am Nepal time, and Mohanadas followed 15 minutes later, making them the first Malaysians and among the first Southeast Asians to conquer the 8,848m mountain.
Magendran said flying the Jalur Gemilang at the top of the world was among the most emotional moments of his life.
“When the Jalur Gemilang unfolded at the summit, I felt like the entirety of Malaysia was with us. At the time, I was so proud. The tiredness, the cold… everything disappeared for a bit,” he added.
According to Magendran, the achievement didn’t depend on mere physical ability.
“If you ask what brought us to the top, it wasn’t just physical strength. We trusted in each other, and we believed Malaysians could go further if given the chance,” he added.
He also said the real fight wasn’t in the so-called “death zone” on Everest, but the entire journey, which demanded high mental fortitude, as extreme weather, the lack of oxygen, and overwhelming fatigue made each step challenging.
“There were times I felt like even one step was too heavy. We would walk five, six steps, then stop to breathe for a long while. The mental fight was (greater) than the physical one,” he added.
Magendran said summiting Everest wasn’t a sudden success, but the result of expeditioners’ months of training, significant sacrifice, and high discipline.
Now, after 29 years, he is still an active climber and often shares his experience with the younger generation on the value of perseverance, discipline, and courage to chase dreams.
“When I meet young kids, I always say… Don’t be afraid to try. We don’t know how far we can go if we don’t take the first step.
“I don’t even come from a hiking family; I’m just a normal Malaysian who had a big dream and was willing to work hard for that dream, so I believe anyone can do extraordinary things if they have the discipline and spirit,” he said.
Magendran has received many accolades and awards for his contribution to Malaysia, including Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) in 1997, Darjah Setia Mahkota Malaysia (JSM) in 2004, and Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN) in 2011 that carries the title “Datuk”.
He also received the Ahli Mahkota Selangor (AMS) award in 1999 and Penang’s Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN), which carries the title “Datuk”.
At the international level, he received the Mount Everest Golden Jubilee Celebration Medal from Nepal in 2003.
“The awards weren’t just for me; but for everyone involved in the expedition and Malaysians who believed in us and supported us from early on,” he said.
Magendran’s achievement in 1997 remains one of the most significant moments in Malaysia’s sports history, and has opened doors for many more Malaysians to try their hand at conquering Everest.
