Najib: Malaysia's paralympic medallists are role models

SEPANG: The Malaysian paralympic medallists will be regarded as "icons for all Malaysians" due to their heroic feats at the recently concluded games in Rio.
In stating this, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said the success story of the four medallists should serve as an inspiration for Malaysians to believe in their own strength and capabilities.
"The paralympians have proven to all of us that despite the challenges we are facing, we can still achieve success so long we have the will," he said.
"They have their disadvantages but we are all able-bodied. We can be extraordinary if we give greater effort.
"Make them our examples and role models. They are all extraordinary!" Najib said in his speech at the welcoming ceremony of the Rio para-athletes at the Bunga Raya Complex.
The welcoming celebration was attended by the Malaysian paralympic contingent, including the four medallists - Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi, Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli, Abdul Latif Romly and Siti Noor Radiah Ismail.
The paralympian quartet made Malaysians proud by ending the country's campaign with its best ever medal count - three golds and one bronze - placing Malaysia on the 36th ranking among 163 competing nations.
The three golds came in courtesy of Mohd Ridzuan, Muhammad Ziyad and Abdul Latif through the men's 100m T36 (cerebral palsy), men's shot put F20 (intellectual disability) and men's long jump T20 (intellectual disability) respectively, while Siti Noor Radiah won the bronze in the women's long jump T20 (learning disability).
Najib in his speech also announced an incentive of RM1 million for every gold medallists, and a pension of RM5,000 per month.
"We will also reward the bronze medallist with RM200,000," he added.
Najib said the achievements by the para-athletes in Rio was a "great history for the nation".
"They have achieved something that Malaysia has been dreaming for," he said, adding that the whole nation was exctied to see the national paralympians performing at the games.
"We were excited when they achieved such extraordinary success, we were excited when they wrapped their bodies with the 'Jalur Gemilang'," he said.
Earlier, more than 500 people thronged Bunga Raya Complex to celebrate the arrival of the paralympians.