PENAMPANG: After years of driving her son around, the mother of a former state swimming representative has finally signed up for swimming lessons for herself - at 69.
Janet Tye from Kota Kinabalu said as a full-time housewife, she had been busy with household chores and chauffeuring her only child, Jack Hong, around.
"I did not know how to swim at all. When I took him for swimming, I just watched from the side.
"Despite having a son representing the state swimming team, my schedule was too tight to learn swimming as I had to take care of the family, do the household chores, and take my child to various places.
"But now, I am more or less 'retired', I have the time to do what I like, and this is a chance of a lifetime," she said, adding that her child is now 42 years old.
She was among 41 senior citizens who participated in the Youth and Sports Ministry's basic swimming lessons at the Penampang Sports Complex here today.
Tye said that she found out about the lessons from a club together with 13 other members.
"I want to thank Sports Minister Miss Hannah Yeoh for making this possible, especially for old people like us. It is never too late to learn.
"After this course, I hope I can swim, and in times of flood, I might be able to save my life. I am not afraid to be in the water as I know I am in the good hands of professional coaches."
Earlier, after Yeoh launched the event, she told reporters that the ministry is focusing on providing lessons to senior citizens to encourage an active lifestyle.
"If we look at their joy in learning a new sport with friends, it brings happiness to the elderly.
"This skill, when provided by the government to the people, will not be wasted.
"Apart from that, it will also help retired swimmers to continue having a career or projects through the ministry."