Ex-Singapore Para-Athlete Now Makes A Living Drawing On KL Streets After Leaving Home To ‘Find Something’

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More than two decades ago, Dasuki Johari left Singapore with a backpack and a skateboard, hoping to find something more for himself in Malaysia

Today, the 58-year-old lives alone in a tiny rented room in Kuala Lumpur and makes a living drawing portraits and sketches on the streets.

His story recently resurfaced online, bringing renewed attention to the former para-athlete who once represented Singapore at an international competition and won a bronze medal.

In a recent feature by CNA, Dasuki opened up about the life he has built in Malaysia, the dreams he lost along the way, and the loneliness that still follows him.

Dasuki once represented Singapore at an international para-sports competition

Born without legs, Dasuki grew up relying on mobility aids and became known among friends as "Dasuki Skate" after taking up skateboarding instead of using a wheelchair.

As a teenager, he also competed in wheelchair racing.

In 1995, he took up para-skiing after being introduced to the sport in Singapore and was eventually selected to represent the country at the 2nd World Disabled Water Ski Championships in Australia. He won a bronze medal in the slalom event in his disability category.

Dasuki recalled crying when he saw the Singapore flag being raised after his result.

His competitive sporting career, however, did not last. A severe fear of flying meant he did not want to travel overseas for further competitions. He eventually continued working at the Singapore Water Ski Centre instead.

At the time, he already had a job, friends and family in Singapore.

But he felt there was something else he needed to find.

He left Singapore without knowing what he was looking for

In 1998, at the age of 30, Dasuki left Singapore and travelled into Malaysia by bus and train. He had no fixed destination and, according to CNA, his family initially did not even know where he had gone.

For several years, he moved around Peninsular Malaysia, taking odd jobs and sleeping wherever he could find shelter. He worked on prawning boats in Langkawi and later packed keropok lekor in Terengganu for RM7 a day.

He also found people who helped him along the way, including a family in Terengganu who took him in after finding him at a mosque.

During his travels, he discovered another skill that would eventually become his livelihood. He spent months learning from artists in Langkawi and Kuala Pilah, gradually developing his ability to draw portraits and scenery.

Today, he sketches on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

While Dasuki's art keeps him going, it barely pays the bills

CNA found Dasuki working near Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, using his wheelchair as his workplace and a skateboard as a makeshift desk.

His daily income is unpredictable.

He told CNA that he earns around RM50 to RM60 on a decent day, while rainy weather can prevent him from working altogether.

His sketches, which once sold for RM50, now go for around RM20 after he lowered the price following a decline in sales after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Portraits cost RM350 and can take about a week to complete, but he receives fewer than 10 commissions in a typical year.

He also receives around RM900 a month in financial assistance for people with disabilities and those on very low incomes. Half of that amount already goes towards the RM450 rent for his tiny room.

There are times when even making art becomes difficult because he cannot afford supplies. CNA reported that he has had to stop working temporarily when he ran out of materials, waiting for his monthly assistance before he could afford to buy more.

A viral post brought attention back to Dasuki

Dasuki's story had already begun circulating online in Malaysia earlier this year.

On 18 February, a Threads user posted about him, urging people to support his work.

The post shared Dasuki's contact and bank details for people who wanted to commission his work or contribute, along with images of his portraits.

The renewed attention has now put a much larger spotlight on a man who has spent years quietly drawing on Kuala Lumpur's streets. But CNA's feature goes beyond the viral appeal to buy his artwork. It asks what happened to the man behind the sketches.

"I'd be lying to you if I said I'm happy"

Dasuki remains remarkably cheerful despite his circumstances.

CNA described him joking with strangers, pretending to host a vlog, and happily entertaining people with stories from his life.

But that changes when the conversation turns to his family. His mother died in 2007, and he regrets not being beside her when she died and not being able to visit her grave more often.

He has also been married and divorced twice, and has a teenage son whom he rarely sees. He told CNA that he has grown distant from his siblings and spends most of his time alone once his work on the street is over.

"I'd be lying to you if I said I'm happy," he said.

Still, Dasuki does not describe his life as a failure.

Asked whether he found what he had been searching for when he left Singapore almost 30 years ago, he answered, saying: "I won't say that I've failed. I've found my art."

His advice to anyone thinking of abandoning a conventional career or moving somewhere new in search of a different life is less romantic.

Plan ahead, he said, build a financial safety net, and be prepared to work hard.

"Then, if you think you have it in you to work hard, go and chase your dream."