JITRA: Muhammad Adam Daniel Fadzli, a 17-year-old student at SMK Tunku Seri Indera Putera, aspires to be fit and stylish like his peers despite his towering height of 195cm. To achieve this goal, he's working on losing weight through a healthy lifestyle.
Adam doesn't mind the attention his height draws, viewing it as a blessing from God.
At school, teachers often rely on him for tasks that require height, and his friends also seek his help for reaching things or lifting heavy objects.
"I enjoy helping out. My friends at school often call me when something is out of reach. If something needs to be installed up high, I will assist.
"Even for heavy items, they ask for my help, and I'm happy to lend a hand to lighten their load," said the resident of Kampung Telaga Batu, Sungai Korok.
Recently, Adam caught the attention of Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Sanusi Md Nor when he visited flood victims at the temporary relief centre at SMK Tunku Indera Putera on Sept 23.
Sanusi was surprised to learn that Adam wears size 15 shoes.
Adam is also active in school sports like shot put and tug-of-war, holding an undefeated record.
He often plays a crucial role in his team's victories.
"When it comes to tug-of-war, I am always positioned at the back, and I help my team win," he said.
While Adam has faced some teasing for his size in the past, he has always taken it in stride.
Adam said during primary school, some people called him "giant".
He enjoys the unique experiences that come with being tall, like having friends look up to him and needing to be careful in low-ceilinged spaces.
"My friends usually enjoy being around me. When I stand, they often have to look up to talk to me!
"Also, I have to be careful when entering low-ceilinged bathrooms or buildings as I might bump my head."
The youngest of four siblings is currently working on losing weight, which is 130kg.
His large frame also means that he needs custom-made clothes.
"For school uniforms and festive clothes, my mother usually orders custom-made ones. It takes about 8m of fabric, while the typical size for Southeast Asians is only 4m to 5m.
"As for shoes, I wear size 15, and it's hard to find them in stores or malls, so I have to buy them from online platforms," he said.