YAKEB, PPUM TO DISCUSS EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR WALKING LEGEND SARAVANAN

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- The National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) will hold a meeting with the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (PPUM) to facilitate an effective line of treatment for former race walking champion G. Saravanan, who is suffering from a debilitating muscle disease.

Yakeb chairman Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said that for now, the 55-year-old, who is stricken with motor neurone disease (MND) - a rare disease that causes muscle neurodegenerative disorder and has no known cure - has returned to his hometown in Penang.

"The disease that Saravanan has is a fairly critical disease that is difficult to explain in terms of treatment, which is why he has undergone further treatment in India to receive alternative treatment. We have discussed with Yakeb Board of Trustees member Dr Ahmad Munawar Helmi Salim.

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"Our meeting with PPUM is to get a real picture of what else can be done to facilitate medical treatment for Saravanan and he will remain at PPUM until his health improves," he said at a Yakeb press conference here today.

Ahmad Shapawi said the assistance scheme that will be given to Saravanan is based on the foundation's capacity, in addition to the athlete also receiving a subsistence allowance for six months starting this month.

On Friday (April 18), Saravanan received a contribution of RM10,000 from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, while Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Adam Adli Abd Halim and the Prime Minister's Political Secretary, Datuk Ahmad Farhan Fauzi visited him at PPUM.

Saravanan has been reportedly suffering from MND since 2021.

In 1998, Saravanan brought frenzy to national pride when he ignored agonising leg cramps to cross the finish line and emerge as the men's 50-kilometre walk gold medallist at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.

His gold medal was the 10th for the national contingent at the Games, which saw Malaysia finish the edition as the fourth-best contingent overall.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Shapawi said the foundation would visit former athletes this week in Melaka and Johor, including national football legend Datuk Soh Chin Aun and former national boxer Nekmat Jantan.

-- BERNAMA