KUANTAN: "To be a chef".
Those simple words of personal intent were spoken by smiling Muhamad Safiuddin Rosli, a hearing-impaired graduate who secured fifth place for Malaysia in the Cooking category in the 9th International Abilympics in France early this year.
Safiuddin, bespectacled and clad in dark suit, was all smiles on the sidelines of the Polytechnic and Community Colleges Outstanding Achievement Awards Ceremony at Zenith Hotel here yesterday.
Inclusive of Safiuddin, who was honoured for his participation in the vocational skills competition for disabled participants (Abilympics), the ceremony saw 110 staff and students of the colleges receive awards.
"My lecturer gave me motivation (to succeed)," said Safiuddin while looking with a smile at Asfarul Haris, his former lecturer at Selayang Community College.
Asfarul had trained Safiuddin for six months in preparation of the Abilympics, which saw 24 participants from 12 countries compete in the Cooking category in Bordeaux, France, in March.
Safiuddin in his younger years studied Food Preparation at SMPK Shah Alam, then recently graduated with a Certificate in Culinary Arts from Selayang Community College. The high school and college are in Selangor.
Asfarul, 34, who shows clear rapport with 21-year-old Safiuddin, said that the latter's disability was no hindrance to claiming fifth place, in light of the fact that this was the first time Malaysia had sent a representative for the Abilympics' Cooking category.
Asfarul noted that the success was also noteworthy as Safiuddin was trained to cook with Malaysian food ingredients and was initially not familiar with French food ingredients utilised in the Abilympics.
"His (Safiuddin) success proves that we have to have faith in and give opportunity to disabled people in Malaysia because they can be independent and showcase their skills," said Asfarul.
When asked whether he felt proud at Safiuddin's success at the Abilympics, Asfarul said it is more important for Safiuddin to receive continued guidance to allow him to be part of Malaysian society.
"I teach him to integrate with the community for his survival," said Asfarul while standing besides Safiuddin, who is currently working at a KFC fast food restaurant outlet at KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur.
"If given the opportunity, people like him can succeed in life," said Asfirul of Safiuddin, the eldest of five siblings who was born in Bukit Beruntung, Selangor, to a security guard father and a housewife mother.
The awards ceremony was also attended by Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching.
In an earlier press conference before the awards ceremony, Yap said that 97.4 percent of community college students and nearly 80 percent of polytechnic college students attain employment immediately after convocation.
"This shows the employability of the graduates," said Yap, adding that the ministry is targeting for 100 percent of graduates to secure jobs post-convocation by next year.