Kelantan Man Achieves His Carpentry Dream After Losing Both Legs
He is now the lead carpenter at the Kelantan Disabled Rehabilitation Centre in Bachok.
By Aleya Natasha Mohd Ali — 19 Nov 2024, 04:41 PM
Sulaiman Setapa, 65, lost both his legs in a train accident 40 years ago, but that did not stop him from pursuing his passion for carpentry.
Today, he serves as the lead carpenter at the Kelantan Disabled Rehabilitation Centre (Proka) in Bachok
According to Sinar Harian, Sulaiman lost his legs while travelling by train from Tanah Merah to his village in Bertam, Gua Musang when he was 16 years old.
"I was standing at the door because the train was just seconds away from stopping at the station.
"The incident happened so fast. I suddenly felt dizzy and fell onto the tracks before both my legs were run over by the moving train," he told reporters when met at the Proka centre recently.
Sulaiman was then admitted to the hospital and had to undergo surgery to remove the parts of his legs below the knee that were crushed by the train.
According to him, his youthful spirit and determination pushed him to be independent and continue living.
After the incident, Sulaiman joined his friends working at Proka as a carpenter in 1987, and later on was appointed to be the lead carpenter at the centre
"I learned the basics of carpentry here, and now I share my knowledge with 42 other disabled individuals here to help them generate income," said the carpenter of 37 years.
They craft various types of furniture at Proka, all in which are well-loved and ordered by customers from all over the country.
"We are all skilled in carpentry and can make furniture including cabinets, beds, bookshelves, and more, using quality materials based on customer preferences," he added.
Sulaiman admitted it was not easy to get to where he is now, but he is grateful that his efforts have paid off.
