MELAKA: Malaysia’s sprint king Khairul Hafiz Jantan will get to see his childhood buddies and savour his favourite homemade sambal kacang dish at his 19th birthday bash at the National Stadium this Saturday.
The athlete’s father Jantan Ramli, 48, said the whole family would be heading to Bukit Jalil on Friday night to prepare for the celebration. “My son’s close friends will be there too,” he said.
“The event is a special one not just for Khairul but for all of us as it’s the end of Syawal and we will mark it with thanksgiving for my son’s achievement in breaking a 49-year-old national record,” he said.
“We will bring along homemade dishes and invite all his childhood friends to the bash.”
Jantan said his 20-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter also wanted to give surprise gifts to their brother who broke the country’s oldest athletics record and for making Melaka proud.
Jantan thanked Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron and the people of Melaka for their support, which he credited for his son’s extraordinary achievement.
“My gratitude also goes to coach Mohd Poad Mohd Kassim for turning him into a sprint ace in a short time,” he added.
Norliza Mohamad, 42, was delighted when she heard the news that her boy had smashed the 200m record set by Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan in 1968.
“We were elated, and hope our son will make us proud in the upcoming Kuala Lumpur SEA Games,” she said.
Idris said Khairul should be hailed as a national hero.
“He is now a Malaysian legend and not ‘owned’ by Melaka alone. He has made Malaysia proud,” Idris said after chairing the weekly exco meeting here.
He added that Khairul should now focus on breaking more records at the SEA Games next month.
“He can do this by being confident and resilient.”
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