KAMPUNG GAJAH: His father has encouraged him to join motorcycle races to stop him from being involved in illegal ones.
Like true champions, however, Khairul Idham Pawi took it a step further and did his family, not to mention Malaysia proud when he became the first Malaysian to win the Moto3 race in the MotoGP World Championship in Argentina.
His victory has also delighted the people here with many of his relatives and friends visiting his family's home to congratulate them today.
"We are overjoyed with his victory. He has proven that a racer from a ‘kampung’ can also succeed at on the world stage,” said his father Pawi Omar when met at his home at Simpang Empat here.
The 52-year-old oil palm dealer said his family was initially concerned about the 17-year-old’s condition in Argentina as none of them could accompany him.
"We cannot afford to go there as we did not get any funding.
"But we are happy that he is doing fine and could outdo other racers," said Pawi whose family stayed up to watch the historic moment early this morning and recorded the whole race.
Khairul's youngest brother Anuar Ibrahim, 16, said they were being updated by Khairul before the race began.
"He said we should watch the race as he wanted to win it.
"He also said in jest that his winning could help increase the number of his Instagram followers," said Anuar who admitted that he was initially skeptical that Khairul, the third of four siblings, could emerge as champion.
Khairul's coach Mohamad Nor Kamaruddin, 37, hoped that more funds would pour in after the historic victory.
"His father has spent thousands of Ringgit to support Khairul when we could not get sufficient funds for him to participate in international competitions overseas," said Nor who has been coaching him since he was 12.