KLANG: Former Asia Road Racing Championships (ARRC) rider Zamri Baba, who sustained serious injuries during a race crash in 2015, has suffered serious memory loss and remains unable to walk almost a decade later.
The 42-year-old is cared for by his family, led by his wife Fazlina Ahmad Fauzy, 42, and their two children Muhammad Haiqal, 15, and Muhammad Farish, 11.
Zamri, who had also raced as a wildcard rider in Moto2, suffered serious injuries to his spine during the crash which occurred at the Sentul Circuit in Indonesia in June 2015.
Fazlina said the family takes turns to take care of Zamri, who also has difficulty controlling his speech.
"Initially, it was tough because before the accident, Zamri was the sole breadwinner in the family," said Fazlina today.
"Zamri needed hands-on, round-the-clock care earlier on but now we just need to monitor him, just in case. When I have to go to work, my children will take turns to take care of him.
"He still cannot walk but can shuffle (across the floor). He can also eat by himself, however, we have to spoon feed him if he is eating rice, otherwise the rice will go all over the place and he will not eat enough.
"His memory is also not the same. I have to tell him everyday that I am his wife and these (Farish, Haiqal) are his children. He sometimes remembers his old cars and motorbikes though.
"We also have to give him medicine to sleep at night, otherwise he won't sleep. He can get aggressive at times."
The family were forced to sell Zamri's car and his motorbikes.
Fazlina currently works at their family restaurant, Warung Zamri, in Bukit Raja to sustain the family.
National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) chairman Datuk Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed visited Zamri and his family at their home in Taman Cempaka Sari, Klang today to present them with a new wheelchair for Zamri as well as a cash contribution.
Fazlina disclosed that Zamri's expenses each month cost roughly RM1,000.
"He needs pampers and underpads daily as well as medication, which comes to about RM1,000 monthly," said Fazlina.
"My mother and mother-in-law do help us with some of the expenses and recently Zakat Selangor have helped provide the pampers and the medication.
"We are also grateful to Yakeb for their support. I spoke to them last month about the wheelchair but did not expect to get it this fast.
"Zamri had used his previous wheelchair for almost 10 years but it broke recently. Yakeb has also mentioned that they are trying to help arrange for Zamri to receive therapy at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR)."
Noorul disclosed that Yakeb will provide Zamri with RM300 monthly subsistence for a period of six months, starting from this month.