A life worth serving is a life worth living
Syed Abdullah Syed Mohamed (interviewer and photographer)
Dr Kamaruddin Ahmad, 56, is married to Mariam Nawang, a physio-therapist. They have seven children.
 |
| GOOD RAPPORT: Dr Kamaruddin Ahmad serves a patient at his clinic in Tampoi. |
 |
| SMOOTH OPERATIONS: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak opening the dialysis and health centre next to the Bandar Baru Uda Mosque. On the left is Dr Kamaruddin Ahmad. |
I WAS born 56 years ago in Batu Pahat with polio. My left leg was smaller in size and weaker as compared with my right.
In primary school, I hardly mixed around with my schoolmates as my movement was limited. I couldn’t play games requiring me to run, jump, twist or slide.
During school tournaments, I could only watch and support my friends who played football, badminton and hockey.
But as a youngster in the mid-1960s, my life began to change for the better.
By then our family had moved to a new housing estate called Kampong Majidi Baru (now known as Kampong Dato’ Sulaiman Menteri) in Johor Baru and I studied at Sekolah Dato’ Jaafar (SDJ), 15km away from home.
I began to mix with friends from all races and we talked in English.
SDJ was at that time a boys’ school and the students were good in their studies and extra-curricular activities.
My personality and confidence grew after I was voted as a school prefect by my schoolmates.
After completing my Form Five at SDJ, I was sent to Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar (also known as English College) and studied my Form Six in the science stream.In 1971, I scored well in the Higher School Certificate exams (now Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia) and obtained a scholarship under the Colombo Plan in 1972 to study at the Bahagalpur Medical College in Bihar, India.
Unfortunately, the course did not run smoothly as the college was new and not recognised by the Public Service Department so I continued my studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for six years.
I was awarded the Sheikh Alhady Book Prize for securing a distinction in anatomy.
That achievement gained me another government scholarship to pursue my master’s degree at the National University of Singapore.
I got involved in voluntary organisations after I went into private practice in 1987 and opened a clinic in Tampoi.
My patients were mostly from the low- and middle-income groups as the clinic is located near Kampung Pengkalan Rinting, Kampung Pasir, Skudai Kiri and Skudai Kanan.
My rapport with the kampung folk was good and sometimes I gave free treatment to the poor.
My neighbours from Desa Rahmat are active, helpful and friendly.
Now, I am the chairman of the An-Nur mosque and vice-chairman of the Mara religious school board of directors.
I am active in the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, the Malaysian Medical Association and the Johor Baru Senior Citizens Club.
I was also made chairman of the board of visitors of Hospital Permai, Tampoi.
In 2004, I was involved in the setting up of a dialysis and health centre under the patronage of the Bandar Baru Uda Mosque committee.
As the director of operations, my job is to see that that the centre runs smoothly. I drop by the centre every morning before I start work at my clinic.
From two patients, the number of patients has grown to 56.
Life is hectic but I am satisfied and happy each time I contribute my energy and ideas to voluntary bodies.
To me, a life is only worth living if you are sincere and open-hearted.
|
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association, along with Muslim restaurateurs and several Muslim non-governmental organisations, will be launching a campaign to boycott American ...