KUCHING: A young Iban boy never imagined that one day his life would be in complete darkness. At the age of 10, he lost his sight.
Despite this, he found a new path in life, and his journey was filled with challenges and growth. This is the story of Maoh Janting, who continues to find fulfilment in his dual roles as a teacher and masseur.
He is also still very passionate about chess, a hobby he once pursued competitively.
The Early Years: An Unexpected Turn
Maoh was born in Song, Sarawak. Growing up as an Iban, he was an active child, curious and full of energy.
But life took an unexpected turn when he was in Primary 4. A high fever struck him, and due to this, he lost his vision.
For an entire year after losing his sight, Maoh was devastated and stayed home.
“After I lost my vision, I felt down and just stayed at home for around one year.
“Thankfully, somebody told my father there is a blind school in Kuching,” he said. Indeed, fate had other plans for Maoh.
“So, my father sent me to Kuching in 1980. This is where my journey as a blind person began,” he said.
Embracing Blindness
At 11 years old, Maoh found himself in Primary 1 again, this time learning Braille and adapting to life as a blind student.
“At that time, no blind students went to the school, so I had to take Primary 1 again when I was 12 years old.
“After that, when I was 18 years old, I went to SMK Batu Lintang to continue my Form 1 there. Just imagine, at 18 years old in Form 1,” he said.
It was a tough journey for Maoh as he found himself repeating examinations.
“I felt very sad at that time because I failed my Sijil Rendah Pelajaran (SRP); it is like Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) during our time.
“In 1990, when I was 20 years old, I retook the SRP. I failed and repeated the exam as a private candidate,” he said.
He said only after that he passed with flying colours where he obtained Grade A.
“Then, I applied to continue my education up to Form 4. At 22 years old, I was in Form 4.
“Later, when I was 23 years old, I continued my Form 5. Again, I failed my Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM),” he said.
He said despite failing in the exam, it did not deter him from retaking the exam as a private again.
“Fortunately, at the age of 24, I passed the exam with Grade A. I have 23 aggregates and 5 credits,” he said.
A New Beginning
After completing his schooling, Maoh moved to Kuala Lumpur, where he worked as a salesman selling snacks and chocolates door-to-door.
It was a challenging job, and after some time, Maoh realized that this path was not sustainable for him.
Determined to find something more fulfilling, he decided to pursue a different path.
“I could not sustain with door-to-door sales. So, I tried to apply for a job and worked with the insurance adjuster and surveyor company in 1998,” he said.
He recalled that it was former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who was the Education Minister then in 1998, who opened opportunities for the blind.
“There, I applied for teacher’s training where I attended a special teacher training institute. I have had my teacher training and obtained a diploma in Special Education.
“Later, I was then posted to Kuching in 2001. Then, in 2008, I continued my degree, also in Special Education,” said Maoh, who also speaks fluent English.
Life of Dual Roles: Teacher and Masseur
In 1997, Maoh began his journey as a masseur.
He attended short-term courses to learn the art of massage, a profession that would allow him to use his hands and intuition to help others.
Over the years, he continued to refine his skills, attending additional courses whenever possible. Today, with over 27 years of experience, Maoh is working part-time with Life Blind Masseur (LBM) at Emart Batu Kawa.
While massage is a significant part of Maoh’s life, he is also a dedicated teacher at SK Pendidikan Khas in Kuching, where he teaches moral studies, Bahasa Melayu, and physical education (PJK) to blind children.
His mornings are spent in the classroom, guiding and mentoring young students who, like him, are navigating life without sight.
On weekends and evenings, when he is not teaching, Maoh can be found at Emart Batu Kawa, providing massage therapy to clients.
“Despite being blind, I find joy in my work. I am very happy to meet new people and friends.
“I feel happy too because I have a lot of people and friends supporting me. Even the Sarawak government is very supportive of people like us,” he said.
He said his work is not just a job but also a way to give back to the community.
Continuing to Inspire
At 54 years old, Maoh shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to teach, to massage, and to inspire those around him.
Despite all the challenges, he hopes that his story continues to give hope to the lives of many out there, especially those facing difficulties or hardship in life.
“I hope everybody who sees or reads the news, does drop by at LBM at Emart Batu Kawa. Come and support us.
“We have nine workers – even men and two ladies. All of them are well-trained, and some of them have more than 10 years of experience,” he said.
Message of Hope
When asked about the challenges he has faced throughout his life, Maoh speaks in a calm and composed manner.
“Yes, losing sight was difficult, but don’t give up.
“For parents who have children who are blind. Support them, especially if they are facing disabilities,” he said.
He encouraged parents of blind children to send them to special schools, where they can receive the education and support they need.
“There is Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pendidikan Khas in Matang Jaya, then after primary school, for secondary school, they can go to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Matang Jaya.
“After Form 5 or Form 6, students are encouraged to further their studies at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), or any other universities,” he said.
He also said that the Sarawak Society for the Blind plays an important role in empowering visually impaired individuals by offering various skill development programs.
“At the Society, there are courses like massage, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), orientation, and mobility,” said Maoh, who is also a member of the Sarawak OKU Skills Development Association (SOSDA).
