In a sea of people, Mohamad Othman looks just like one of the crowd, decked in his dark blue batik shirt, slacks and songkok.
The 62-year-old father of three was seated at a table with nine other people, who were special guests at the official launch of the Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation two weeks ago.
I admit the only reason I approached him was for an article. I needed to talk to someone who benefited from the work that is being done at the foundation.
I knew that the best bet was those 10 people, who comprised cancer patients, survivors and their family.
The group is among the many people who are living with cancer. Through the foundation, they receive the much-needed attention and help to obtain the best treatment, medication and support.
The more I talked to Mohamad, the more I realised the man is full of positive energy despite the many challenges he had to endure as a father, worker and person battling cancer.
He was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in September last year. It was a great shock to him. More so since he was formerly a medical representative who sold medicine to a wide range of clients.
“All the doctors I knew could not believe that I have cancer. They said ‘Mat, kenapa jadi macam ni?’ (Mat, how can this be?).”
“I sold medicine to cure illnesses and now, I am the one who is ill.”
With a family to take care of and the prospect of endless treatment, including chemotherapy, he applied for assistance from the Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation.
His application was successful, and Mohamad is thrilled that he can get the medicine and other necessary support to get him through the treatment process.
He admitted that before receiving help from the foundation, he was treated at government hospitals, which already provides quality medical care at highly-subsidised rates.
“I understand the need for people with cancer to seek help.
“It is a financial burden for many people as medicine, such as tablets for chemotherapy, cost more than RM1,000 for a two-week dosage.”
It is people such as Mohamad, who will continue to have their needs taken care of as the foundation expands to play a bigger role in supporting people who are living with cancer.
Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah attended the official launch of the Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation on Aug 6.
The entire royal family were present at the event to lend support to the important cause.
The ruler’s son, Tunku Laksamana Johor Tunku Abdul Jalil Sultan Ibrahim, died of liver cancer in December last year.
The late prince fought for the cause of other cancer patients in the same way that he fought against his illness.
That is why many people to refer to him as a fighter, who represented the courageous spirit of people living with cancer.
It was this trait that brought about the tagline #FightLikeJalil, which is now associated with the late prince, as well as the foundation.
During a heartfelt speech at the event, Raja Zarith Sofiah said Tunku Abdul Jalil remained an inspiration to cancer patients and survivors, and she promised to fight for the cause and help patients ease their burden.
“Almarhum used to visit cancer patients, and my children and I promise to continue making these visits on his behalf because we know that is what he would have wanted us to do.
“We will make sure his dreams become a reality, and that his legacy lives on,” said Raja Zarith Sofiah, who is the foundation’s chairman.
That legacy has been going on strong since the foundation was corporatised on June 26 last year.
State secretary Datuk Ismail Karim, who is a member of the foundation’s board of directors, said among the facilities available was the Tunku Laksamana Johor Foundation Oncology Complex at Permai Hospital in Johor Baru, which could accommodate up to 24 cancer patients who might need lodging if they came from outside the state capital.
These patients obtain treatment at the oncology treatment centre at Sultan Ismail Hospital, Johor Baru, located 13km away.
Ismail said Sultan Ibrahim had graciously contributed a minibus to transport patients from the oncology complex in Permai Hospital for treatment at the oncology treatment centre in Sultan Ismail Hospital, which is a major facility for cancer treatment.
There were 1,235 cancer patients who registered at Sultan Ismail Hospital in 2010, and this increased to 1,690 last year.
Ahmad Fairuz Othman is NST’s Johor bureau chief. When not working, he loves driving along the coastal highway and trunk roads of Johor. A lover of food, music and theatre, he recommends everyone to try Johor’s version of ‘ais kacang’, which is drenched in chocolate sauce