The three Malaysians who won Gold at the Paralympics are (from left) Mohd Ridzuan, Abdul Latif and and Ziyad.
PETALING JAYA: All Asean athletes who win medals at the ongoing Paralympics in Rio de Janerio will be entitled to free flights from AirAsia – just like their able-bodied counterparts.
The airline's chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes posted an image on Instagram Monday evening, featuring medal winners from Asean nations and said all Gold medal winners would be entitled to free flights for life.
He added that Silver and Bronze medallists would also get free flights for five- and three-year periods respectively.
Fernandes said that the Paralympics had showed him "what determination is all about".
"Thanks guys and girls for giving all of us the spirit to never give up despite all the obstacles in front of us," he posted.
He made the post soon after announcing that the three Malaysians who won Gold medals at the Rio Paralympics would get free flights for life.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, Fernandes said the achievements of the three – Abdul Latif Romly, Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli and Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi – made him "super proud."
"What a night. Watched our two first gold medals in Olympics. Made me super proud. Mohamad Ridzuan and Muhammad Ziyad who got a world record in shot putt. More free flights for life coming," said Fernandes.
He followed this with a tweet on his @tonyfernandes account on Monday morning saying Abdul Latif would be getting free AirAsia flights for life.
"Third gold. And a world record. Well done, Abdul Latif. You have free flights for life," said Fernandes.
Mohamad Ridzuan won the first gold medal for Malaysia in the men's 100m T36 (cerebral palsy category) dash.
He clocked 12.07 seconds to erase the old Paralympics record of 12.25s set by Roman Pavlyk from Ukraine at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.
The second gold was delivered by Muhammad Ziyad with a new world record in the men's shot put F20 (learning disability) event.
He hurled the iron ball 16.84m in his fifth attempt, erasing the old world record of 16.29m set by Todd Hodgetts of Australia at the London Paralympics in 2012.
Abdul Latif, who came up tops in the T20 men's long jump event with a 7.60m jump, broke the world record three times on his way to Gold.
AirAsia had previously announced that all Asean athletes who won gold medals at the recently-concluded Rio Olympics 2016 would get free flights for life.
