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PERSONALITY
44 | FireFlyz
They said ‘ain’t nomountain
high enough’ and cancer
survivor
Melvin Tong
is a
testimony to the popular song
lyrics, conqueringMount
Kinabalu despite his disability.
The young entrepreneur applied
the same attitude towards his
career in business by getting
himself right back up after a
recent venture did not go as
planned. Stronger than ever,
Tong chats to
Fireflyz
about his
recent trip to Everest and his
newvacation rental service.
Meeting someone for the first time, how
would you introduce yourself?
“Hi, I’m Melvin. It is a pleasure meeting
you!” I would do this with a big smile,
while maintaining eye contact and a firm
handshake. I would then go on to say that
I am an entrepreneur in the property and
car rental business, a cancer survivor and
record holder.
How did you first get into business?
It was shortly after entering high school.
I remember burning CDs from my 2x
CD-RW drive and selling them to my
classmates. Being very tech savvy, I
taught myself how to build websites and
sell ad-space for my tech publications in
high school.
Did your disability get in your way when
you first started? Is it easier now?
Just like any other 17-year-old teenager,
my biggest fear was the impending SPM
exams. It was scarier than the cancer,
operations and amputation combined!
Even though losing my right leg before
my SPM was sudden, it did not stop me
from going through with it and then
going to college right after that.
My disability has never stopped me
from doing anything I want in my life. I
will not say life is easier then or now. It is
still full of challenges, but with a positive
attitude towards life, the only disability
is in the mind, not the physical.
Against
All Odds