Girl born with no arms excited to start schooling

HULU TERENGGANU - Despite being born with no arms and just one leg, Nur Damia Irsalina Daeng Malis was very enthusiastic to become a Year One pupil.

The 7-year-old, who started school at SK Kuala Telemong yesterday, was seen trying on her uniform repeatedly and practised writing with her right foot at home.

The girl, from Kampung Lubuk Batu here, was born with just stumps where her arms and left leg should be. Even the functional right leg has only three toes, two of which she uses to write.

She moved around on an electric wheelchair and was very happy when her father, Dr Daing Malis Abd Kahar, 43, and mother, Rosnaini Mohamad, 35, sent her to school yesterday.

"I am very excited to start schooling. Although I have disabilities and am not like other kids, I want to prove that I can be independent and successful," said Nur Damia, who cited Australian motivational expert Nick Vujicic, who suffered a similar disability, as her idol.

Rosnaini said her daughter had been flipping through her school text books, and preparing her stationery since Tuesday. Yesterday, she woke up early.

"As a mother, I am very happy to see how spirited she is. She never lets her disability stop her from living a normal life like other kids," said Rosnaini, who had taken time off from work for the next six months to ensure her daughter's schooling went smoothly.