Simple life less headache

Yusmadi’s got lots of drive
By LEE YUK PENG


KUALA LUMPUR: Most others would get their driving licence while awaiting their SPM results, but Mohd Yusmadi Yusof could not as he was just too busy making ends meet as a waiter to bother with driving lessons.

He needed the money to attend English classes at the British Council.

And he wasn't going to bother his parents for cash as the family was poor and there were seven children to look after.

Today, at 33, as the newly-elected Balik Pulau MP, Yusmadi still does not possess a driving licence, let alone own a car.


Driven politician: Fahda, who dropped off Yusmadi at Parliament House for the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, says he’s more into politics and books.

However, he can happily rely on his wife Fahda Nur Ahmad Kamar, a lawyer like himself, to drive him around.

On Monday, Fahda dropped him off for the swearing-in ceremony. On Tuesday, however, they had to park because Fahda was attending the opening of the 12th Malaysian Parliament by the King as Yusmadi's spouse.

If Fahda is unable to ferry him around, Yusmadi takes a taxi, bus or gets a ride from friends.

When the Balik Pulau boy returned to contest as the PKR candidate in his hometown, he had to rely on party workers and friends to take him around.

He caught the attention of the media when he rode a bicycle around Balik Pulau to campaign during the elections.

The International Islamic University law graduate says that on any normal day, his wife would drop off their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter at her mother’s before heading to work in a legal firm in Petaling Jaya Old Town.

Yusmadi either hitches a ride with friends or takes a taxi to work from their home in Gasing Indah.

“We stay near Pantai Dalam, and he has many friends among the squatters there. So, he has lots of friends willing to pick him up. One of his regular taxi drivers also lives there,” said Fahda.

“It is a case of different priorities,” explained Yusmadi, who got his L-licence in 2005.

He was unable to take the driving test as he went to the United States on a fellowship and the two-year licence lapsed.

“On days when he needs to rush, he will take a cab. On days when he can only afford to take the bus, he will do so. You must know how to budget-lah,” said Fahda.

“We lead a very simple life. I married him because he is the only mentally-stimulating man I met,” added Fahda, who described her husband as one who was more into politics and books than cars and video games.