SANTUBONG: Accomplishing an eight-hour swim in the South China Sea yesterday was a somewhat bitter success for 56-year-old one-legged Junaidi Pauzan from Kampung Santubong.

MY SUPPORTERS, MY FRIENDS: Junaidi (right) sharing his proud moment with friends who visited Santubong to congratulate him.

“Although I feel satisfied because I managed to swim about 19km this time, I am disappointed at the lack of support given to me,” he said at the end of his 20km swim from Pulau Satang.

Not more than 20 people waited to receive and congratulate Junaidi at Santubong beach when he crossed the finishing line at 1pm.

His supporters this time were members from the Fire Rescue Department who were there to ensure that he was safe and sound, and members of his family members as well as a handful of close friends.

“Even last year’s support was better than this,” he told reporters.

Last year Santubong Member of Parliament Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was also present.

“I am interested to make this a Malaysian record, with the intention to prove that disabled and elderly people are equally as good as normal people,” he said.

“I’m not in the pursuit of medals or rewards,” he stressed.

Yesterday’s feat was not Junaidi’s first time braving the sea; in it was his third.

The first time was in 2006 when he swam a 5km distance from Pasir Pandak to Santubong, and the second time was last year when he swam from Pulau Satang to Damai, covering a distance of about 15km.

Junaidi’s manager Kamri Munir, 61, said the swim this time was supported by the Youth and Sports Department as well as several sponsors.

However, he felt sad that Junaidi was not able to get the support he wanted and hoped that in future attempts, Junaidi would get the necessary attention for a Malaysian record.

The manager also denied that this year’s swim was a ‘last minute event’, saying the swim was planned since May.

“Next year, Junaidi will try to cycle in a wheelchair from Miri to Kuching together with his friends and in year 2010, he plans to swim across the Straits of Malacca.

“We are now starting to make preparations for these future events to ensure that everything will run smoothly,” he said. These events are expected to be in the month of August as well.

Later yesterday, Junaidi was rewarded with a Modenas Kris 120 from Yayasan Suaidi and Yong Motors.

Junaidi said he would use the motorcycle in his small business of selling local delicacies.

SANTUBONG: Accomplishing an eight-hour swim in the South China Sea yesterday was a somewhat bitter success for 56-year-old one-legged Junaidi Pauzan from Kampung Santubong.

MY SUPPORTERS, MY FRIENDS: Junaidi (right) sharing his proud moment with friends who visited Santubong to congratulate him.

“Although I feel satisfied because I managed to swim about 19km this time, I am disappointed at the lack of support given to me,” he said at the end of his 20km swim from Pulau Satang.

Not more than 20 people waited to receive and congratulate Junaidi at Santubong beach when he crossed the finishing line at 1pm.

His supporters this time were members from the Fire Rescue Department who were there to ensure that he was safe and sound, and members of his family members as well as a handful of close friends.

“Even last year’s support was better than this,” he told reporters.

Last year Santubong Member of Parliament Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was also present.

“I am interested to make this a Malaysian record, with the intention to prove that disabled and elderly people are equally as good as normal people,” he said.

“I’m not in the pursuit of medals or rewards,” he stressed.

Yesterday’s feat was not Junaidi’s first time braving the sea; in it was his third.

The first time was in 2006 when he swam a 5km distance from Pasir Pandak to Santubong, and the second time was last year when he swam from Pulau Satang to Damai, covering a distance of about 15km.

Junaidi’s manager Kamri Munir, 61, said the swim this time was supported by the Youth and Sports Department as well as several sponsors.

However, he felt sad that Junaidi was not able to get the support he wanted and hoped that in future attempts, Junaidi would get the necessary attention for a Malaysian record.

The manager also denied that this year’s swim was a ‘last minute event’, saying the swim was planned since May.

“Next year, Junaidi will try to cycle in a wheelchair from Miri to Kuching together with his friends and in year 2010, he plans to swim across the Straits of Malacca.

“We are now starting to make preparations for these future events to ensure that everything will run smoothly,” he said. These events are expected to be in the month of August as well.

Later yesterday, Junaidi was rewarded with a Modenas Kris 120 from Yayasan Suaidi and Yong Motors.

Junaidi said he would use the motorcycle in his small business of selling local delicacies.