The cry for another round of KWSP withdrawal continues, despite how the Ministry of Finance has made it clear that the option is off the table.
A taxi driver from Skudai, Johor, however, went the extra mile (literally) by walking over 300 KM just to see the King to talk about making another round of KWSP withdrawal possible. Noorazlan Ismail, a 49-year-old taxi driver said that he travelled on foot from the Skudai toll all the way to the National Palace, and it took him 6 days to reach his destination (March 28 to April 2).
“Many offered a lift but I said no”
He was allowed to enter the gates of the National Palace at 11:15 am yesterday, where he submitted a memorandum to the King. He was accompanied by Tasik Gelugor’s MP, Wan Saiful Wan Jan.
According to a clip shared by Astro Awani, Noorazlan said that he did not only receive a lot of support during his journey but also a lot of offers to give him a lift. He rejected it because that wasn’t part of the plan.
“If I wanted to reach earlier, I would’ve taken the bus, and I wanted the leaders to see this,” he explained.
He assured the media that he’s doing well physically & mentally, and there were only scratches on his feet after days of walking. He also said that he sought permission from his parents, wife, and kids prior to the journey.
“It was raining on 1 of the nights. I’ve never felt that kind of cold, but I braced through it. I really, really need the KWSP withdrawal to settle all the debts.”
Noorazlan did not manage to meet the King but surprisingly, he showed a yellow packet to the media and said that it was a gift from the Majesty.
“He either skipped fasting, or he’s just crazy”
His journey made headlines for the past few days, and while some people expressed gratitude for his effort, many Malaysians didn’t buy his story. Some netizens are baffled as to how he could manage to pull off the plan during Ramadhan under the scorching sun, not to mention the absence of his images traveling on foot.
“Traveling on foot in Ramadhan. He skipped fasting or he’s just crazy.”
“Where are the pictures of him walking?”
“Good acting. He’s fit for Tamil movies.”
“Did any of the reporters ask him to show the scratches on his feet? If not, they could’ve missed the chance to prove the man really walked over 300 km.”
“I don’t believe that he really walked all the way from Johor. The media would’ve gone after him like in Forrest Gump. He should’ve looked messy and untidy during the interview. But instead, he had a coat and a Songkok on. Cleanly trimmed. Don’t lie in Ramadhan.”
Contrary to popular belief, Noorazlan actually documented part of his journey on his TikTok account, which you can watch here.
At the time of writing (April 4), the National Palace has yet to release any statement in regard to this matter.
You can watch and listen to his statement here.
Pemandu teksi, Noorazlan Ismail yang berjalan kaki dari Skudai, Johor Bahru ke Istana Negara berkata pengeluaran KWSP penting untuknya bagi menyelesaikan hutang yang sedia ada. #AWANInews pic.twitter.com/PhRCLCsLJx
— ??Astro AWANI?? (@501Awani) April 3, 2023
Fellow Malaysians, do you think it’s possible for a man to travel 300 km on foot in 6 days? Will this finally soften PM10’s heart to allow another round of KWSP?
Also read: Some M’sians Apparently Had to Sell Their Kidney to Survive Since KWSP Withdrawal Isn’t Allowed
