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Disabled student sad to part ways with best friend

Disabled student sad to part ways with best friend

Wednesday, 23/03/2022

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Kuala Nerus: “Wherever I went, Muhammad Syazali Zulkiflee was always there as well,” said Mohamad Zulhilmi Mohd Raduwan.

“He was like my shadow during my three years at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), but today we will go our separate ways.”

Mohamad Zulhilmi and Muhammad Syazali, both 24, were conferred degrees at UMT’s 19th Ceremony today after having successfully completed their studies. Mohamad Zulhilmi is disabled and wheelchair-bound.

At the beginning of his study, Mohamad Zulhilmi went to classes from the hostel with the help of UMT staff.

His close friend Syazali then volunteered to assist him wherever he wished to go, and the two became inseparable since.

“We were like siblings,” Mohamad Zulhilmi said. “He was always by my side wherever I was, and he also lived at the hostel.”

With Syazali’s help, his movement around campus became easy.

“But all these times with him will become only memories now because my friend will be going back to Perlis,” said Mohamad Zulhilmi, who is also an archery athlete and represented the state at paralympic Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA)

He was grateful for having a friend as good as Syazali, who was willing to go the extra mile to help him.

“Without his help, I would not have been able to go to classes and return to the hostel,” he said. “And because of that, I was able to focus on my study, and now I am a holder of an undergraduate degree in economics (natural resources). “

Syazali also helped Zulhilmi to go to other places as well, not just somewhere on campus.

“I will never forget my time with him,” Zulhilmi said.

Zulhilmi plans to keep in touch with Syazali with the help of modern technologies although he will remain in his hometown in the east coast and Syazali will be residing in the northern region.

“When people like Syazali exist in this world, there is no reason for people like me to use their disability as an excuse not to obtain a degree,” Zulhilmi said.

 

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Corporate Communications Office
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu