Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan!

The Office Bearers and members of OCM wish to extend their greetings
to all members of OCM, NSAs, Sponsors, Media, and etc. Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan.

Spare a thought for Nadarajan

K. Kandiah

WHEN he was fit and strong, Nadarajan Devarajo sacrificed for the country as a national athlete. Today, at 35 years old, he is an invalid.

Nadarajan's passion for sports in general and athletics in particular was immense and he also had dreams of seeing his children run for Malaysia.

Tragically, a freak accident made the sprinter an invalid for life. He now needs 24-hour care and he cannot speak properly.

He cannot recognise faces but could recall if narrated. His memory remains intact except for the accident. The badly damaged part of his brain was removed.

The former bank officer was in a coma for six months and doctors have given up hope on his recovery.

Nadarajan suffered more misery when he fell and broke his leg during a physiotherapy session.

He lives with his wife Shamala Dorasamy, 30, a homemaker, and four children, Jivithra, 8, Lineysa, 7, and four-year-old twins Peravinash and Peravishah on a Socso aid of RM1,126 a month.

The Socso help is not enough. His medical bills, special diet milk, and pampers alone cost more than RM700 per month.

He applied to the welfare department for aid but has not received any response.

The wheelchair-bound Nadarajan and his family are now living with his sister D. Piramila, 34, who is a nurse at a private hospital, on the 21st floor of a rented apartment.

Nadarajan's plight is among those highlighted in the National Athletes' Charity Foundation's (Yakeb) 1Ringgit 1Malaysia donation drive.

He hopes the government would include ex-athletes of earlier years, especially the permanently disabled in its pension scheme.

"We should not be forgotten. We also need help. We, too, sacrificed to bring glory to Malaysia," he said.

"It is very difficult for me to maintain my family with the Socso money alone. My wife cannot go to work as she has to take care of me.

Nadarajan, with his wife and children, has to manage life on a monthly Socso pension of RM1,126. — Pic: RAMDZAN MASIAM

"My family and I now have to 'tumpang' with my sister," he said.

Nadarajan won bronze in the 400m and silver in the 4x400m at the 1995 Chiangmai Sea Games and silver in the 400m and gold in the 4x400m gold at the 1997 Jakarta Sea Games.

He also represented Malaysia in the 1993 Asean Schools Athletics Championships in Jakarta, the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games and the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.

The former Kepala Batas Datuk Haji Abdul Kadir schoolboy first came to prominence by winning the 400m in the 1993 National Junior Athletics Championships in Penang.

Two years later, he grabbed the gold in the same event at the National Open Athletics Championships and set a Penang state record of 47 seconds which has remained unbroken till today.

Teacher-cum-athletics coach S. Ramachandran, who discovered Nadarajan's talent, said the latter was a dedicated athlete who worked hard to achieve success.

Those who wish to contribute to the 1Ringgit 1Malaysia campaign can send their donations to Yakeb's Maybank account number 564847005696 or SMS YAKEB1 to donate RM1, YAKEB2 for RM2, TAKEB5 for RM5 and YAKEB10 for RM10 and send to 33898. Each SMS costs RM0.50.

For enquiries, contact 03-89964841/4844 or log on to www.yakeb.org.my.

* Watch BersamaMu-Wira Sukan, Anda Tetap Di Hati on TV3 at 9.30pm tonight.

Nadarajan harap jasa tidak dilupa

NADARAJAN (berkerusi roda) menerima kunjungan mesra pelajar USM dan wakil penaja, Faiza ketika mengadakan lawatan ke rumahnya di Tanjung Bungah, semalam.

Pernah menang emas 4x400m Sukan Sea

SUKAR untuk dipercayai, D Nadarajan yang dulu gagah berlari di atas trek, kini terlantar sakit pada usia 35 tahun.

Kerjaya gemilangnya sebagai atlit kebangsaan terpaksa dipendekkan berikutan kemalangan tragik yang mengakibatkan dirinya terlantar sakit untuk seumur hidupnya. Dia kini memerlukan penjagaan 24 jam dan kehilangan keupayaan untuk bertutur.

Dia tidak lagi boleh mengenali wajah tetapi boleh mengingati mereka jika dibantu. Ingatannya masih kekal kecuali jika ditanya mengenai kemalangan itu. Bahagian otaknya yang cedera teruk itu dikeluarkan.

Bekas pegawai bank itu berada dalam koma selama enam bulan. Nadarajan terus dirundung derita apabila jatuh dan patah kakinya sewaktu sesi fisioterapi.

Dia kini tinggal bersama isterinya, Shamala Dorasamy, 30, seorang suri rumah dan empat anak, Jivithra, 8, Lineysa, 7 dan kembar berusia empat tahun, Peravinash dan Peravishah yang ditanggungnya atas bantuan RM1,126 sebulan oleh Perkeso.

Bantuan Perkeso itu tidak mencukupi. Yuran perubatannya, susu diet istimewa, (Alpha Lipid) dan lampin memerlukan perbelanjaan lebih RM700 sebulan. Nadarajan pernah memohon kepada Jabatan Kebajikan tetapi tidak menerima sebarang maklum balas.

Nasib Nadarajan antara mereka yang mahu diketengahkan dalam kempen 1Ringgit 1Malaysia anjuran Yayasan Kebajikan Atlit Kebangsaaan.

"Kami seharusnya tidak dilupakan. Kami juga memerlukan bantuan. Kami juga berkorban untuk membawa kejayaan buat Malaysia.

"Ia adalah sukar untuk menyara keluarga dengan wang Perkeso semata-mata. Isteri saya tidak boleh bekerja kerana menjaga saya yang sakit," katanya yang memenangi emas acara 4x400m di Sukan Sea Jakarta 1997.

Mereka yang prihatin boleh menderma menerusi akaun Maybank Yakeb untuk kempen 1Ringgit 1Malaysia, 564847005696. Sumbangan juga boleh disalurkan menerusi sms YAKEB1, YAKEB2, YAKEB5 atau YAKEB10 (RM1, RM2, RM5, RM10) ke 33898.

Tabung kutipan juga turut disediakan di pejabat NSTP di Jalan Riong, Kuala Lumpur selain pejabat cawangannya di seluruh negara begitu juga Bank Simpanan Nasional.

Anda boleh menonton kisah Nadarajan menerusi program BersamaMu-Wira, Anda Tetap di Hati di TV3 jam 9.30 malam ini.- BERITA HARIAN

SportCheck: Thanks to his tough father

Vinashal Pillai

HIS father threw him into the river when he was eight years old. He was born with disabilities in his right hand and in both his legs,

It was not to end his life but to prepare him for adversities when he grew up.

Zul Amirul Sidi Abdullah vividly recalled that day. "When I was young, I used to accompany my father to the paddy fields in Miri. And one day, on the way home he said to me, 'You will thank me for this' and literally flung me into the river."

"My father was teaching me how to swim," he said.

Today, the 37-year-old father of four is a "professional" athlete though he is unable to secure a permanent job due to his disability.

The Sarawakian had competed in several meets, including the 2002 Asean Para Games in South Korea, the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, and 2008 in Beijing.

Zul Amirul Sidi Abdullah takes a breather during training at the National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil. — Pic: MOHD YUSNI ARIFFIN

A certified swimming instructor, he used to teach children during a short working stint in a factory in Nilai, Negri Sembilan.

Ranked World No 5 in the 50 metres backstroke, Zul trains daily at the National Sports Council (NSC) in Bukit Jalil and goes back to his rented flat in Paroi, Seremban, to see his wife and children every weekend.

The Asean Para Games silver medallist is the sole bread winner in the family as his wife is unable to work due to back pain. He takes home RM700 a month which includes allowances from NSC and RM200 from the welfare department.

"I make do with what I have, It's not much but I'm thankful to NSC and the Malaysian Paralympic Council for supporting me all these years," he said.

Zul, who will compete in the Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur from Saturday, said: "I will eventually retire one day. It's a scary thought but my main focus right now is the Asean Para Games.

"My main event is the 50m backstroke. In Korea, I managed only a silver out of three events (50m, 100m backstroke and 50m freestyle).

" My target is three gold medals and I'm not intimidated by the competition," said Zul with a smile.

Zul is one of the many Malaysian disabled athletes who defy the odds to shine in their sports because of their determination.

The National Athletes Charity Foundation's (Yakeb) 1Ringgit 1Malaysia campaign was launched in June to help former athletes and current athletes. It offers two coverage plans -- for former athletes below the age of 69 and for those above 70.

Donations and sponsorship should be channeled to Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan -- Tabung Yakeb, Maybank account No: 564847005696, or SMS YAKEB1 to donate RM1, YAKEB2 for RM2, YAKEB5 for RM5 and YAKEB10 for RM10 and send to 33898. Each SMS costs 50 sen.

For enquiries, contact, 03-89964841/4844 or visit www.yakeb.org.my.

n Watch BersamaMu-Wira Sukan, Anda Tetap Di Hati on TV3 at 9.30pm tonight.

Rabuan Pit - The fastest man in Asia

Buat pertama kalinya di Stadium Jawaharlal Nehru, Bendera Malaysia berkibar megah dan seramai 75,000 orang penonton berdiri memberi hormat apabila Rabuan Pit, anak muda yang bersemangat Hang Tuah ini dimahkotakan sebagai Pelari Terpantas di Asia.

Rabuan seterusnya memenangi pingat gangsa untuk Malaysia dalam acara 200 meter. Rabuanlah orang yang bertanggungjawab memulihkan maruah dan kemendungan Kontinjen Malaysia di New Delhi.

Rabuan Pit mendaki tangga kejayaan bukan hanya dengan kekuatan dan tenaga tetapi dipadukan dengan disiplin diri, semangat dan kesungguhan yang tulen serta keringat dan airmata.