Final preparations are being made for Putera Umno's North Pole Free Fall Expedition, which will include a skydiving simulation training at Genting Sky Venture tomorrow.

Free fall instructor of the Malaysian Sports Aviation Federation (MSAF) Azlan Ismail said the exercise was part of the four-day phase three training which began on March 5.

"The exercise will enable the jumpers to master the arch position, a state of balance for skydivers when they are on air," he told Bernama on Thursday.

Twelve Putera Umno jumpers, including two reserves, will make a 10,000 feet jump from an aircraft at the North Pole between April 15 and April 20.

The group was shortlisted from 100 Putera Umno members who had applied to join the historic event, which was mooted by Putera Umno chief Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim.

Previously, Abdul Azeez said the participants would not be given cash rewards for the feat.

"We will not shower them with money and their participation is out of the national fervour. I don't want them to be driven by monetary reward," said Abdul Azeez according to Sabah-based daily The Daily Express on Feb 15.

'Give them another chance'

Last week, Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein, said it was important to give former illegal motorbike racers (or mat rempit) a second chance.

"Some of the Umno Putera members you see here are the mat rempit that you have said have no value for life... We must give them an opportunity, otherwise they will be still racing on our streets endangering the lives of others," said Hishammuddin in the Star on Tuesday.

It is uncertain who is funding the the North Pole expedition.

The expedition is among the latest controversial moves by Umno to engage youths, especially mat rempit, in a series of baffling activities.

This includes a 50,000-strong carnival gathering which never took off, a road trip tainted by sex and booze allegations and a proposed programme to reward mat rempit for nabbing snatch thieves.