The unsung Malaysian hero

Norman Fernandez

Oct 24, 07 5:26pm

In between the hoopla and the moolah of our angkasawan, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor’s trip to space and back, spare a thought for S Krishnamoorthy.

Krishnamoorthy who? Yes, for many this name would not ring a bell. That’s not surprising since the man of the hour and hero of the nation is Dr Sheikh Muszaphar.

Now for those who do not know Krishnamoorthy, he was the 19-year-old Malaysian who helped save passengers from the Seagull Express 2, which caught fire near Tioman Island on Oct 13.

One survivor, Ng Soon Tiong, 41, recounted how he saw Krisnamoorthy selflessly handing out life jackets to other passengers and helping children off the burning ferry. He also said that Krishnamoorthy repeatedly dived into the water to pull others to safety.

Ng went on praised him by saying “many of the passengers are alive today because of him. We are greatly indebted to him”.

I can understand the nation leaders are over the moon with Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor’s history making and it is only natural to expect that accolades and honorifics would soon follow suit.

In the meantime and once the euphoria and the cooing over Dr Sheikh Muszaphar’s historic space vovage is over, would the national leaders also do the decent thing by equally recognising the selfless heroism of Krishnamoorthy who is truly a towering Malaysian we all can be proud of?

I watched Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi having a video conference with Dr Sheikh Muszaphar.

I am sure Krishnamoothy would be pleased to get a ‘terima kasih’ phone call from the prime minister too.