A father's sacrifice for his Olympian daughter

Pamg Joheng (right) and his daughter, Parcelia Renyelia, in front of their house
in Kota Samarahan. Last year, Pamg s daughter, Pandalela Rinong (insert), bought
her father a new Proton Exora to fetch her from the airport.
New Straits Times
Sunday, Aug 12, 2012
KUCHING - His father's words and his own tough life. Those were the things Pamg
Joheng drew upon to push him to sacrifice everything for his children.
And if Malaysia's new darling Pandelela Rinong drew even a little from her fathe
r's drive and sacrifice, those were the things that started her journey towards
Olympic bronze, a journey which by all indications, is far from over.
Pamg never went far in his studies. Knowing just how tough life was without educ
ation, he vowed his children would never experience what he went through during
his younger days. Staying close to his father's teaching, Pamg always reminded h
is children to plan ahead.
"My father used to tell me to plan two days ahead, so that we can live today," P
amg told the New Sunday Times.
It could be said that Pamg took his father's words and built on it. Instead of p
lanning two days ahead, he planned years ahead. It was 12 years ago, when Pandel
ela was 7, Pamg would take her and her elder brother, Pardika Indoma, 8, for div
ing lessons.
Despite earning only RM45 (S$17.95) a day, the contract worker knew he had to sa
crifice for his children's future.
So, Pamg would hop on his trusty old Yamaha 80 motorcycle to send the siblings f
or training at the Stampark swimming pool in town, even breaking traffic rules t
o ensure they didn't miss out.
"I wanted them to be somebody. I wanted them to be better than me and I am willi
ng to do everything for them," he said.
When only Pandelela was picked for the state diving team then, Pamg was devastat
ed. The state coach told him that only Pandelela had the physique of a diver and
her brother lacked that.
"I was very sad for my boy but I am happy for her at the same time. But at that
young age, she needed support. She will never go far if she is separated from he
r brother."
Again, Pamg did what he had to do for his children; he spoke to the coach to let
Pardika train together with the team, so that he could be close to his sister.
The coach agreed.
As his family grew bigger with the birth of his third daughter, Pici Parnia, 14
years ago, Pamg saved some money to buy a car. At that time, he could only affor
d a used Mitsubishi Trident to transport his family.
"It was nothing to shout about. It was a bit rusty, but it ferried us. Every tim
e I had to send Pandelela to the airport or to pick her up, I felt a little shy
coming with a car like that, but that was what I could afford then."
Homegrown M'sian teen wins historic diving bronze

For a man who went through hardship in life, Pamg had never once given up on his
children. Instead, he stayed close to them and gave them whatever support he co
uld.
His drive and support proved vital for Pandelela on Friday.
On the 10m platform, a poor first dive saw her starting off in 10th position. Bu
t Pandelela fought back and eventually earned the bronze.
In doing so, she became the first Malaysian woman to win an Olympic medal and al
so the first to win a medal other than badminton.
But before the final, Pandelela had a case of the jitters. Who could blame her,
especially when she had to compete against some of the best divers in the world?
It was the thought of her father that calmed her down.
"I told her to remember my teachings and that I will pray for her every hour unt
il she goes through her events. I also told her to shout out my name if it helps
her to feel better before her jump."
Pandelela did cry out his name, as she told her father on the phone when she won
the bronze medal.
That was the happiest telephone call for Pamg and his two younger daughters, Pic
i and Parcelia Renyelia that morning, after watching her on the podium live on t
elevision.
Pamg said the family could only talk to Pandelela through the telephone since sh
e became a national athlete. It was, he said, the highest price for the family t
o pay -- being apart from her.
"Over the past years, we have missed celebrating Gawai Dayak and Christmas with
her. It is a sad thing for us, but we understand that she has a strict training
regime to follow and we do not want to disturb that."
The only time Pandelela would be home with them was when there was an official e
vent. After that, she had to go back to Kuala Lumpur on the same day. The sports
council did sponsor flight tickets for Pamg and his wife, but he said the expen
ses of staying in Kuala Lumpur would be too much for him to bear.
"Let her be with her mother... I can always talk to her on the phone and drive h
er around when she comes back. It would be like the old days when she was home.
"I hope the sports council will give her some sort of leave so we can spend time
with her as a family. That is all I ask for," said Pamg.
Pamg no longer drives his old Mitsubishi Trident to pick Pandelela from the airp
ort. Last year, his daughter bought him a brand new silver Proton Exora to do th
at.