KOTA BARU: Cerebral palsy did not stop Ahmad Faiz Ibrahim from Sekolah Menengah Ugama (Arab) Ar-Rahmah Kenali in Kubang Kerian here from scoring 10 Mumtaz (Excellence) in the Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM).
The 19-year-old suffers from immobility and is able to only move his two right fingers but he managed to pass with flying colours, answering all 10 Islamic papers using his chin and two fingers to hold the pen.
“I’m very happy for the results because during my trials, I only scored 8 Mumtaz but today’s results was a real pleasant surprise for me,” said Faiz, who was among 1,957 students who sat for STAM in Kelantan last year.
Speaking to reporters at his home in Kampung Demit Sungai, Faiz said he felt grateful for obtaining such good results and hopes to continue his studies at the University Islam Madinah in Saudi Arabia.
“If I’m given the chance, I wish to pursue my doctorate and specialise in Hadith so that one day I can become a good ulama or iman,” he said.
Although, he was given extra time to answer each paper, Faiz said he managed to finish the papers in the same timeframe as the other students.
Faiz said that he conducts his revisions through group studies with his close friends.
“I don’t study or revise for long hours but I make sure that I understand the subject or topic I read rather than memorising the facts per say,” he replied, when asked about his secret to success.
His mother, 43-year-old Zalina Mohd Kassim said when Faiz first wanted to learn to write, he used to bite and grip the pencil with his teeth but he changed his style when he was 10.
“We realised that for him to use his mouth to hold the pencil was not exactly a good idea because it contained carbon and lead which could cause health problems. When we advised him about it he told me he’ll try other ways but it would take a longer time,” she said, recalling how Faiz first started writing with his chin.
After constant practise, she said he got better at it and now, he can write both, in Jawi and Romanised alphabets, as fast as his peers, despite his disability.
“Due to his condition, Faiz also could not walk or move around like others of his age but luckily his set of friends in school were very kind to help him around while we were not there,” she said, adding that she sends and picks him up from the school, located about a kilometre away from their home.
“As a mother, when I first learned about my son’s condition, I was totally devastated but then I knew this was a test from Allah, so I told myself to be strong for his sake,” said the housewife, who dropped everything, including her studies, to fully care and concentrate on her son.
Ibrahim Yunus, his father and a teacher at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Meranti in Pasir Mas said to make his son’s dream come true, Faiz would need an assistant to push and ferry him around if he makes it to Saudi Arabia.
“We have not made any decisions yet but will evaluate the available options and decided on the most suitable one later,” the 48-year-old said.
Meanwhile, Kelantan Social Welfare Department director Mohamad Hanafi Maulud who paid a surprise visit to Faiz after hearing of his excellent results said the department was ready to render assistance in term of medical aid and equipment to help improve his restricted mobility.
Hanafi said for a start, the department will help Faiz get a customised wheelchair according to his physical needs.
“Although he’s physically challenged, his brain development is simply excellent. He has potential and we don’t want such talent to go to waste.”