Time Out at 40

Noor Adlan Bin Zulkifli
On Dec 18 2007, Malaysia passed the ‘Persons with Disabilities Act’. The legislations’ preamble stated that one of the purposes of the act is ‘recognising that persons with disabilities are entitled to equal opportunity and protection and assistance in all circumstance’, but for years Noor Adlan Bin Zulkifli has been proving that Malaysia’s disabled can prove themselves without legal assistance.

As a former Paralympic athlete and now national team coach for Malaysia’s disabled athletes, Zulkifli has helped his team achieve unprecedented success. Earlier this year, Zulkifli took a 66-strong Malaysian contingent to the Asean Para Games in Korat, Thailand. They returned with a phenomenal 82 Gold medals, 74 Silver and 46 Bronze. They also broke 32 records and gave Malaysia second place in the rankings. Feature continues

You've been chosen as one of Time Out’s heroes… how do you feel about that?
I feel so surprised and happy because I didn't expect it.

Who are your KL heroes?
My prime minister [Dato’ Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi].

What’s the biggest thing that's happened in your field in KL in the last 40 years?
The ’06 Fespic Games. It was a real turning point both for me personally and the team. I became a coach for the first time at that games and my athletes won many medals, too.

What’s your personal favourite moment in KL? Where were you, and what was happening?
At Jalan Masjid India, I met my new friend there and it has changed my life.

What’s the future for disabled athletics in KL? What are your hopes, and what needs to happen?
I hope many athletes will qualify for the Paralympics in London 2012 and hope the programme training will start from January 2009 continuously until 2012 without any problems.

What does Time Out mean to you?
It’s a very good magazine to read because it tells and shows everything happening now.

Complete the sentence: Kuala Lumpur is…?
…my home.

www.timeoutkl.com