Dutch Lady Malaysia Fetes Cyclist Azizul And Mum In London

DUTCH LADY MALAYSIA FETES CYCLIST AZIZUL AND MUM IN LONDON

London, 6 August 2012 – The last time housewife Selamiah Yong saw her son Azizul Awang was in April this year. So it was a much appreciated gesture when dairy giant Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad (Dutch Lady Malaysia) saw to it that she gets to meet and spend time with the national cyclist during one of his most important sports events –the London 2012 Olympics.

To make their meeting more meaningful, Dutch Lady Malaysia feted both mum and son at a simple Buka Puasa gathering at Tukdin Flavours of Malaysia restaurant located in Paddington, London last Sunday (6 August 2012).

Team Dutch Lady Malaysia with Hartini Lamin dan Selamiah Yong (seated L-R) while they waited for Azizul to arrive after his racE

“We stay in touch constantly via telephone and SMS messages, and I religiously keep tabs of his condition and movement via news and sports officials. But the chance of meeting him in person, and spending time for at least one Buka Puasa gathering is beyond words,” said the 48-year old Dungun, Terengganu native.

The crowd that gathered at the gathering included Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) representative Datuk Naim Mohamed, fellow cyclist Fatehah Mustapa, diving sensation Pandelela Rinong’s mother Hartini Lamin, various media representative covering the London Olympics, and Dutch Lady Malaysia’s World Milk Day contest winners Nurul Hidayah Jafri and Ong Hooi Chuen.

Hosting the dinner was Dutch Lady Malaysia Marketing Manager Ms. Kaur Virik and Brand Manager Ms Ho Hui Hui. Also invited to it were some London-based Malaysians and fans and supporters of Team Malaysia at the Olympics Games.

Everyone turned teary-eyed when Azizul arrived at the venue, salam and hugged his mum hours after his quarter finals sprint event earlier in the day.

“I am doing my very best. I am confident and focused on my sport. But this feeling of having my mum here in London, watching me compete, and just knowing she is constantly praying for me is beyond words,” said Azizul.

He recorded his gratitude to Dutch Lady Malaysia for bringing his mother to one of his most important sports events ever, and for taking care of her during her short stay in London.

“My mum told me that she had gone to see some tourist spots here like Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, Westminster Abbey and others and that she has had a lot of fun so far. I told her to take lots of photos and to share it with me when I see her during the Hari Raya celebrations at the end of the month. But I also know that she had been thinking of me and keeping tabs of my performance too,” shared Azizul who by then still had the Men’s Keirin finals to compete in on Tuesday (7 Aug 2012).

With just days to go until the Olympics closing, Dutch Lady Malaysia captured the homely festivities of the Malaysian Buka Puasa for the benefit of Malaysian athletes participating in the London 2012 Olympics, and their mothers, in London.

“Dutch Lady Malaysia wants to pay tribute to the athletes’ mothers for having nurtured and raised our Olympic athletes, by bringing them to London so that they may watch their children compete live at the Olympics Games. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the mothers and they will be able to be with our athletes throughout their stay in London to provide the much needed support.

“At the end of the day, with or without a medal, our athletes have given their all. Their mothers have been with them in a very long journey, nurturing them and raising to them become what they are today. And we want to complement that mother-child journey all the way here in London,” said Ramjeet.

This is the first trip to London for Selamiah.

“Coming from a small village, I never dreamt it was possible to see London and watch Azizul perform live at one of the most prestigious sports events in his life. I am so proud of him. Also this London experience is something else. I am being interviewed and photographed and treated like a queen. I feel like a celebrity,” said Puan Selamiah holding Azizul close. She was interviewed by Media Prime London correspondence Haliza Hashim Doyle and Malaysian TV host Aishah Sinclair besides representatives from other TV channels and newspapers.

Also present at the festivities were the two providential winners Ong Hooi Chuen, 39 and Nurul Hidayah, 25, who had bagged the trip to London during the recent World Milk Day celebrations organised by Dutch Lady Malaysia. The two ladies were also given a chance to watch the Malaysian contingent in action at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Early this year, to reinforce the importance of nutrition through sports, Dutch Lady Malaysia had collaborated with the Olympic Council of Malaysia to endorse the 4 athletes –Azizul Awang, Pandelela Rinong, Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon from the Malaysian contingent –to the London 2012 Olympic Games. The partnership was to emphasise the importance of nutrition by sharing stories that illustrate how an early start with good nutrition plays a vital role in the building of one’s success, through the perspectives of the athletes and their mothers.

“We hope that this break fast event will bring a sense of home and ignite the Malaysian spirit in the athletes as they get to feel their mothers’ and their country’s love and support for them. We want them to know that we appreciate all their sacrifices in bringing glory to the country. Go Malaysia, Go!” said Ramjeet at the closing of the dinner.

Dutch Lady Malaysia recently broke the Guinness World Record during their World Milk Day celebrations after collecting 10,130 “Go Malaysia, Go!” nationwide cheers which were also weaved into a specially penned song by local award winning celebrity, Faizal Tahir; all in support of the athletes.

Selamiah with TV celebrity Haliza Hashim Doyle

Selamiah (seated, left) with Azizul (seated right) and Hartini and Ramjeet