JOHOR BARU: A former tahfiz school teacher from Pontian has gone from pursuing a long-held passion for massage therapy to earning international recognition, clinching first place in the Asian Massage category and second overall at a competition in Australia.
At just 27, Muhamad Qaizil Haiqil Abdul Jalak has taken part in about seven international massage competitions since setting out to master the profession.
His latest triumph came at the Oceania Massage Championship 2026 in Sydney, Australia, held on Oct 9 and 11.
“I previously worked as a teacher at a tahfiz school in Semenyih for about four years. I had always been interested in massage therapy, but I never really pursued it,” he said in an interview.
His life took a different turn after he performed the umrah in 2024.
Upon returning to Malaysia, he decided to turn his long-held interest into a serious pursuit by acquiring the skills needed to become a professional massage therapist.
He travelled to Penang for a two-day massage course, marking the start of his journey in the field.
Since then, he has attended more courses to refine his techniques and deepen his understanding of massage therapy.
Despite his growing list of achievements, he continues to learn under an experienced practitioner, recognising that there is still much to master.
Keen to broaden his knowledge and gain exposure, Muhamad Qaizil began entering massage competitions, including international events, last year.
The Oceania Massage Championship drew therapists from around the world, with categories including Sports Massage, Clinical/Remedial Massage, Eastern Freestyle Massage, Western Freestyle Massage, Facial Massage, Wellness Massage and Thai/Asian Massage.
But getting to the starting line was a challenge in itself, as visa issues threatened to derail his participation in Sydney before the organisers allowed him to compete online.
Then came another unexpected hurdle: the model he usually used for massage demonstrations was unavailable on competition day.
With little time to spare, Muhamad Qaizil had to find a replacement, eventually securing a model weighing about 130kg.
Undeterred, he proceeded with his 30-minute online demonstration, relying on his technique and skills to make an impression on the judges.
The result exceeded his expectations, with Muhamad Qaizil taking first place in Asian Massage and second place overall.
He described the achievement as the biggest milestone in his journey so far, saying it showed that Malaysian therapists have the talent and expertise to compete with practitioners from other countries.
Beyond competitions, Muhamad Qaizil believes massage therapy can play a role in maintaining physical well-being, including helping to relieve joint pain.
His international journey is far from over as he and the Malaysia Therapist Team are scheduled to compete in another international event in Singapore next month.
Muhamad Qaizil hopes the team will put on a strong showing and make the country proud as he continues to hone his skills in the profession.
