Help for ‘Flying Dayak’ is justified

I REFER to the report “‘Flying Dayak’ no longer a bankrupt” (The Star, Oct 19).

As a former national athlete, I am happy that Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem has stepped in to help Watson Nyambek (pic) settle his outstanding loan of RM80,000 to a bank. Watson was also given a house.

Considering his contributions to sport in this country, the financial aid and gift of the house were a long overdue recognition accorded by the Sarawak government.

There were some comments in Facebook questioning why Watson’s outstanding loan, which was taken to fund the treatment of his cancer-stricken father, was settled by the state government.

For the record, Watson was the fastest man in Malaysia until recently. In 1998, he broke the 29-year-old national 100m record set by M. Jegathesan (in the 1966 Asiad in Chinese Taipei at 10.46 secs).

A year before this, he competed at the Sixth World championships in Athens, and later in the SEA Games where he took home a bronze medal.

1998 was a golden year for Watson. He broke his own national 100m record three times and also won a silver medal at the Asian Track and Field (ATF) which was a major accomplishment by Malaysian athletics.

At the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Watson managed to advance to the quarterfinals at the century dash and in 1999, he became the first Malaysian to reach the semi-finals at the world indoor championships. He also took part in the seventh world outdoor championships at Seville that year.

He retired in 2002 but made a comeback in 2003 where he won a silver medal in the 100m race at the national championship. That was Watson’s last race.

Watson is now a sprint coach in Miri, his hometown, where he is trying to identify, nurture and develop another flying Dayak. C. SATHASIVAM SITHERAVELLU Seremban