Blind army officer never loses sight of life

Prolific writer: Kol Syed Othman, who lost his sight 36 years ago, has written 10 books on the history of the Armed Forces. The Star/Asia News Network

KUALA LUMPUR—He lost his sight 27 days after getting married when he triggered a Communist booby trap while on an operation in the jungles of Sadao, southern Thailand in August 1979.

But this did not deter Kol Syed Othman Syed Omar one bit, as he went on to get a PhD and write 10 books on the history of the Malaysian Armed Forces after his recovery. He never regained his sight.

The 62-year-old retiree, who stays with his wife in Sungai Siput, says he enjoys spending time playing with his five grandchildren.

“I only saw my wife for 27 days before that moment changed my life forever.

“I was patroling the jungle in Sadao on an operation to trace the Communists when I triggered the booby trap which took my sight away,” he said when met at an event to commemorate in­jured personnel in conjunction with the Armed Forces’ 82nd anniversary.

Kol Syed Othman said he had to learn everything all over again after losing his sight.

“I had to learn how to read and write in Braille, and how to go about living my life,” he said.

The father of five said the Armed Forces was very supportive of its injured personnel but other agencies should also pay more attention to personnel who were injured while on duty.

Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Jen Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said he was pleased to know that their welfare was good and some of them had even started their own businesses.

“The question most of them asked me however was when they would get a pension revision,” he said, adding that the Government already knew about this and hopefully once the economy stabilises, would look into it.