National pride: Selva (third from left) symbolically handing over Jalur Gemilang to Mohd Nor. Some 100 flags for cars will be distributed to motorists in remembrance of Muhammad Adhdin.
MELAKA: A hotelier here has decided to fulfil the wish of a 31-year-old cancer patient who wanted to celebrate National Day with his neighbours, even though he has since passed away.
Anderson K. Selva said he was deeply moved by the patriotism shown by Muhammad Adhdin Mohd Shamsudin from Pulau Gadong, who despite his battle with cancer, wanted to host a meaningful National Day celebration in his neighbourhood.
“His determination to celebrate National Day with his neighbours was incredibly inspiring, and it motivated my hotel team to honour his wish,” he said yesterday, adding that news of his death was “heartbreaking.”
He added that his hotel’s general manager Simon Tan had agreed to “go big” with the celebration by sponsoring Jalur Gemilang flags and taking part in the festivities.
Selva, who is also from Pulau Gadong, had planned to meet Muhammad Adhdin to deliver the flags but learnt of his passing when he contacted Muhammad Adhdin’s friend yesterday.
Muhammad Adhdin had succumbed to a late-stage germ cell tumour.
“We were approached by an official from the residential association where Muhammad Adhdin lived, who asked us to help make his wish come true,” Selva, 54, explained.
He said Birkin International Hotel had also wanted to invite Muhammad Adhdin and his eight-year-old son to its opening ceremony at the end of the year.
“It’s a tragic loss, and we want to pay tribute to him with a special celebration. We’ll invite his parents to the opening ceremony,” he added.
Selva said Tan has also agreed for the hotel team to participate in a 208km relay run organised by the National Cancer Society of Malaysia to celebrate survivors and remember those who have lost their lives to cancer.
The relay will kick off at 7am on Aug 24 at Titiwangsa Lake Gardens in Kuala Lumpur and end here the following day.
It will feature 20 cancer survivors running alongside 2,000 other participants, carrying the “Cancer Freedom Torch” across Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan, and Melaka.
Selva also said he would distribute flags through Mohd Nor Ismail, secretary of the Taman Nirwana and Taman Cenderawasih residential association, who had assisted Muhammad Adhdin with medical equipment during his illness.
