Space hero Faiz hurt by robber

KUALA LUMPUR: Angkasawan Maj Dr Faiz Khaleed has, over the past few months, been labelled a hero by the Malaysian public. Yesterday, he showed just what sort of a hero he really is.

Dr Faiz was slashed on his left arm when he came to the aid of a friend who was being robbed in front of his house in Taman Mawar, Cheras, at 2am. He is now recuperating at the Gleneagles Medical Centre.On seeing his friend being mugged by two men armed with parang, one of whom had the weapon to the friend's neck, Dr Faiz tried to shift their attention to himself instead. The ploy worked.Although he managed to throw a few punches and kicks at the robbers, he was slashed.It is believed that the barking of a neighbour's dog and the opening of an automatic gate caused the assailants to panic and they fled clutching only a piece of costume jewellery belonging to one of Dr Faiz's friends.

His mother, Maznah Mohamed, said her son had just returned from a late supper with a few friends when the two robbers approached him."At first, my son, who had just returned from a holiday in Zurich last Monday, thought the two men were neighbours. "He was surprised when they came near him and took out a parang each."At that juncture, the men pushed Dr Faiz aside and one of them put his parang to the friend's throat. That was when Dr Faiz acted."

Present at the medical centre were Dr Faiz's father, Khaleed Abdullah, and Angkasawan programme director Col Dr Zulkeffli Mat Jusoh. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Jamaludin Jarjis earlier visited Dr Faiz at the hospital. Jamaludin said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had been informed about the incident. It is learnt Dr Faiz has lodged a report.