Sarawakian Muhammad Irwan gearing up for North Pole expedition

KUCHING: Sarawakian Muhammad Irwan Yusuf Abdullah is all set to conquer the North Pole.

The 36-year-old, who will be undertaking the one-man National Expedition to the North Pole 2017, said to prepare himself for the gruelling challenge, he will be going to several countries including South Korea and Japan to get more comprehensive training as well for mental and physical preparation.
"The training will hopefully help me handle the challenges including the extreme cold temperature which could lead to frostbites, the possibility of being exposed to polar bears as well as the difficult," he said.
He was speaking to reporters after the announcement of the expedition organised by the Seven Continents Exploration Club (KE7B) by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth chief Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusuf at Wisma PBB here today.
Also present was KE7B advisor Datuk Akmar Hisham Mokhles and KE7B chairman Muqharabbin Mokhtaruddin.
Muhammad Irwan Yusuf said the expedition is scheduled to begin in April 2017 and he will go to Norway before taking a special flight to the Arctic Circle to begin skiing on the solid-ice surface North Pole.
According to KE7B's planning, the expedition will either be done by "All The Way" skiing method for 222 kilometres over 21 days or the "Last Degree Ski" option for 111km over 11 days.
The club had previously organised a South Pole Expedition earlier this year, the Annapurna High-Altitude Cycling Expedition last year and the Greenland expedition in 2014.
Meanwhile, Fadillah, who is also Works Minister, said the Artic expedition would be a good platform to boost the self-esteem and spirit of patriotism among the younger generation.
He said this was one way youths could become better people who contribute to the country, become stronger and more competitive. — Bernama