KUALA LUMPUR: Mohd Nor Dini faced has faced numerous health issues from a young age, but his spirit has never faltered. Even when he lost the use of his arms legs in his 20s, the Kelantan-born 47-year-old has refused to let his disability define him.
The wheelchair-bound Mohd Nor moved from Muar, Johor, to Kuala Lumpur in 2012. In 2017, he began selling packed food such as nasi lemak and nasi lauk on consignment at KL Sentral station.
“My intention has always been to start my own business. I wanted to change my life, so I felt it best to leave my hometown and start over elsewhere,” Mohd Nor, who lives at Setapak Jaya’s PPR Desa Rejang, told FMT Lifestyle.
Despite the hard work required, Mohd Nor remains driven by his goals and the desire to provide for others. His business not only sustains him; it serves as a way for him to help those who, similarly, face challenges.
“Some of my suppliers have kidney issues, some have children with disabilities. So, indirectly, when I do my business, I am able to help them,” he explained.
Mohd Nor’s early life was fraught with health challenges. Adopted by a Johorean couple, he battled muscular dystrophy, a condition resulting from a severe fever during infancy.
Unable to attend secondary school because of his condition, Mohd Nor stayed at home; yet, his entrepreneurial spirit was ignited at a young age by his adoptive uncle, who introduced him to the basics of commerce by selling staple items such as oil and rice around their kampung.
Having arrived in KL, Nor Din started out by helping his friend sell food at KL Sentral. Sadly, this friend eventually passed away from kidney problems, leaving Mohd Noor with the opportunity to take over the business.
Today, he sells up to 100 packets of food daily, on weekdays, to get by. Weekends are days of rest.
“We need to be thankful for what we get,” he said in reflection. “I have a philosophy; I call it ‘R and R’: ‘reda’, meaning do what you can, as much as you’re able to; and ‘redha’, meaning leave the rest up to God.”
Mohd Nor, who receives financial aid from Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan, shared that he typically starts his day at 4am as it requires nearly two hours for him to get ready for work.
After that, it is all about navigating the tight alleyways around the PPR flats and braving the busy main road to get to the bus stop.
Of course, having done this for seven years, Mohd Nor is an expert. With the help of the GoKL driver, Mohd Nor gets on the bus and heads to the Sri Rampai LRT station and, from there, heads to KL Sentral.
After selling his last packet of food at about noon, Mohd Nor repeats the same routine in reverse and arrives back home at 3pm. “It is tiring but it is worth it. I just have to rest for a while and I will be fine,” he said cheerfully.
He usually has dinner, unwinds, and sleeps by 9pm. On occasion, he goes out for a drink at the nearby mamak with his friends, or chats with a companion who stays over from time to time to keep him company.
Reflecting on his journey, Mohd Nor offers words of wisdom to those who face similar challenges: “Don’t be too comfortable. Some people with disabilities who have caretakers might think they don’t need to work. But for change to happen, you need to be tough.”
He recalled that when he started out, certain naysayers from his hometown tried bring him down. “They asked, ‘con’t you have enough to eat here?’ Or, ‘don’t you have a home here?’
“At that time, I wasn’t able to answer; but now, I have the answers,” Mohd Nor said proudly.
Looking ahead, he dreams of expanding his business and having a family of his own. With determination, he declared: “I will do this until I am able to, God willing.”
If you wish to help Mohd Nor, contact him at 011-3569 5813.
- FMT
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