The para-athlete who once won a medal for Singapore and now sells art on the streets of Kuala Lumpur
Dasuki Johari, a former para-athlete who once represented Singapore, now lives a solitary life in Kuala Lumpur working as a street artist. The article explores his transition from athletic success to his current struggles with poverty and isolation.
Why it matters
Highlights the often-overlooked challenges faced by retired athletes and the human stories behind urban poverty.
Nearly three decades after setting off with little more than a backpack and skateboard, Mr Dasuki Johari reflects on the choices he made that had him sleeping in mosques and working on prawning boats.
Street artist and former para-athlete Dasuki Johari drawing along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman near the Sogo shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Aug 27, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Ili Mansor)
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