GEMAS: The attempt by army officer Mohd Hazri Abdul to don a uniform with only one hand has earned him praise among the netizens.
In a TikTok video, which has since gone viral with over 4.5 million views, Hazri, 40, said it has been a while since he last wore his uniform without anyone's assistance.
Sharing his story, Hazri said that he was born normal, but an accident on July 19, 2022, forever changed his life.
Recounting the accident, Hazri said he was riding pillion on his friends' motorcycle from Felda Pasir Besar to the Syed Sirajuddin Camp in Gemas when they met with an accident.
In the accident, his left hand was caught on the motorcycle rim, causing the arm to be amputated to prevent infection.
In an interview with Harian Metro, Hazri said: "I was conscious during the incident and knew that my left hand could not be saved. Moreover, my wife is a nurse, so she was aware of the possibilities that could happen to me."
"At that time, the doctor told my wife that there were only two options: either to amputate the arm or not. If not, the risk of infection would be high."
Since the amputation was inevitable, Hazri said he accepted his fate.
Hazri, still serving in the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), will retire in September.
"I will be retiring soon, so I want to keep this video as a memory. I didn't expect it to go viral, and I am grateful to everyone who has supported and prayed for me," he said.
Hazri also expressed gratitude that his family and friends provided much-needed support for him to face this challenge.
His wife, Noraini Alias, 29, in particular, was very understanding and has been a great help to him from the beginning until now.
"Despite my condition, I'm grateful that my wife is constantly by my side, offering support and encouragement," he said.
Hazri added that he had slowly adapted to life as a person with a disability (PwD), including using a prosthetic arm since Aidiladha last year.
"I rarely use the prosthetic hand because it's uncomfortable, but I have to get used to it," he said.
Hazri enjoyed playing football or recording and uploading videos on TikTok in his free time.
For now, Hazri is just grateful for the second chance in life.
"Alhamdulillah, there have been nothing but positive responses from netizens, friends, and acquaintances.
"If someone complains about not having an arm, there are others who are more unfortunate, lacking legs, and suffering illnesses," he said.