Former Singapore para-athlete earns a living through street art in Kuala Lumpur
In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 58-year-old Dasuki Johari, who previously represented Singapore in para-sports, earns a living through street art. Every day, he travels in a motorized wheelchair to a spot near the Sogo shopping centre on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, where he draws landscapes and portraits in pencil. Channel NewsAsia reports on his story.
A medal for Singapore
Johari was born without legs and has used mobility aids since childhood. In his youth, he worked as a data entry operator in Singapore and also competed in para water skiing. In 1995, he won a bronze medal in slalom at the Second World Disabled Water Ski Championships in Australia.
Johari did not continue his sporting career because of a severe fear of flying. At the same time, he worked at the Singapore Water Ski Centre and practised the sport outside international competitions.
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Journey to Malaysia and art
In 1998, when he was 30, Johari left his job, family and friends in Singapore and set off for Malaysia with a backpack and a skateboard. For several years, he travelled around the peninsula, did odd jobs, slept in mosques, helped on shrimp-catching boats in Langkawi and worked as a packer of traditional fish crackers in Terengganu.
During his travels, Johari studied under artists in Langkawi and Kuala Pilah. He now sells landscape sketches for about 20 Malaysian ringgit, while he asks for 350 ringgit for a portrait, which takes him about a week to create. According to him, on a good day he earns 50–60 ringgit, but rainy weather prevents him from working outdoors.
Each month, Johari receives about 900 ringgit in assistance under programmes for people with disabilities and those with very low incomes. The rent for his room in Kuala Lumpur is 450 ringgit. He told the outlet that he does not consider his search futile because he found art.
