Television sports newscaster Ras Adiba Radzi who became paralysed recently has replied to the criticism levelled against her for seeking public donation to undergo treatment and described the allegation that she was faking her paralysis as 'slanderous'.

In an emotional three-page letter faxed to malaysiakini from her family home in Kuala Lumpur today, Ras Adiba said she is still trying to accept her fate and adjust to life as a paraplegic.

She also explained her illness and the treatment that she is undergoing at the Mayne Health Lady Davidson Hospital in Sydney, Australia.

Ras Adiba, who suddenly became paralysed from the waist down two months ago, said she was "totally shocked and appalled" over the accusation that she was faking her ailment.

"Why would I jeorpadise my career, my life and the good name of my family to do such a thing? I am an eligible, intelligent, talented poetic singer, a creative poet and a successful sports commentator and news reader and life has never been so good!

"Hence, it's totally a surprise that most of the articles written about me are questioning the fact that I am ill," she said.

Legal action

Ras Adiba said she considered taking legal action against those who questioned her illness but felt it would be more appropriate to explain "her side of the story" before making any decisions.

She also referred to a report in the English tabloid Malay Mail that quoted Pantai Medical Centre (PMC) executive officer Kalamhamidi Abu Bakar as saying that the hospital had no role in advising her to undergo treatment in Australia.

She said Kalamhamidi is not her doctor and is not privy to her medical status, adding that there were communications between her doctors in PMC and Sydney before she was referred to the Napean Kingswood Hospital in Sydney.

On the Malaysia Orthopaedics Association's statement that she could have received treatment locally, Ras Adiba said she did not seek treatment here because what she needed was not normal surgery but to have her spinal cord simulator implants assessed.

She also clarified that the donation she received was not RM390,000 as reported by the media, as certain parties failed to fulfill their pledge to donate. According to Ras Adiba, the amount was "over RM300,000" but she did not reveal the actual figure.

She reiterated that she will contribute an unspecified amount to needy people and added that she will also embark on a campaign to raise awareness about disabled people.

'What good is the money'

Ras Adiba also hoped that Malaysians will try and understand the pain and suffering she is going through.

"I ask you, what good is all the money in the world when I can't even move, feel my legs and don't know when I need to go to the toilet. I am incontinent and am wearing diapers!

"Since I can't feel my bottom half, I have to always check my lower limbs for cuts and bruises just in case they become septic," she lamented.

When contacted later, Ras Adiba's niece Norazlina Ariff said her aunty plans to return home by Aug 31 in time for the Merdeka (Independence Day) celebration.

"She wants so much to celebrate Merdeka at home. She will be giving a press conference to the media as soon as she gets home," said Norazlina.

Following her sudden paralysis, Ras Adiba was admitted to PMC in Kuala Lumpur where she was told that her condition could be due to a spine operation conducted in Australia earlier after a car accident.

She later told the media that she needed a corrective surgery which would cost her about RM300,000 and sought public donation. She managed to raise RM393,000 within a week and was flown to Australia.

However, Napean's pain medicine consultant Dr S R Sundaraj later announced that surgery was not needed and had instead arranged for her to undergo extensive physiotherapy and rehabilitation treatments in Sydney.

Expensive treatment

In an interview with malaysiakini via SMS (short messaging service) on July 30 , Ras Adiba when was asked on the status of the donation, replied: "Correction: I have done my implant surgical procedure, which is a technical surgery that checks on my titanium positioning.

"About fund: Rehab is as costly. I will help the medically in need people when I come home. Thanks and my love to all Malaysians," she added.

However, the Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association president Dr K S Sivananthan said later that the facilities for surgery and rehabilitation programmes for spine patients are not only available in many local hospitals and medical centres but is also inexpensive.