Undeterred by cancer, pupil sits for exam in hospital
KOTA BARU: Mohamad Najmee Rosidi may have stage three cancer of the muscle, but it has not prevented him from sitting for the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination.
The 12-year-old, from SK Sarang Tiong in Rompin, Pahang, has been warded at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian since Aug 17 for dehydration, after he underwent three days of chemotherapy at Rompin Hospital.
His parents, Rosidi Saad, 44, and Fazilawati Md Isa, 35, have been at his bedside every day.
Najmee said he was diagnosed with cancer in February and after much discussion with his family, he stopped going to school.
This is because he had to travel back and forth to Rompin Hospital for his chemotherapy sessions once every three weeks.
However, he said he was determined to sit the UPSR exam.
“Although I had to do plenty of last-minute studying, I was determined to take the exam.
“I didn’t want to think too much about my illness.
“I want to succeed like everyone else,” he said when met at the hospital yesterday.
A total of 29,397 candidates in Kelantan sat the Bahasa Melayu paper yesterday.
In Sarawak, flash floods in several low-lying areas triggered by overnight downpours failed to stop 41,317 UPSR candidates from sitting their examinations at 1,286 centres state-wide.
In a statement, state Education director Rakayah Madon said the exams were progressing smoothly.
Roads leading to some schools, including Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanjung Latap in Sibu, have been cut off by floodwaters, but teachers and pupils managed to make their way to their schools via special vehicles.
“Floodwaters rose to knee-level, thus authorities helped to transport our staff, teachers and pupils to the school using a fourwheel-drive.
“We have nine candidates taking UPSR in the school,” Rakaya said.
She praised the prompt assistance given by the state Disaster Management Committee, Fire and Rescue Department, the police, the Civil Defence Department and the state Welfare Department.
The state Disaster Management Committee said 35 villagers from Rh Lembu Entalun Skrang, Engkilili, were taking shelter in the Dewan Dr Johnical Rayong in Skim Skrang.