KUALA LUMPUR — National motocross icon Muhamad Habibullah Mohd Saleh, better known as Gabit, has finally received assistance from the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) for his cancer treatment, following months of uncertainty after the recurrence of his illness was revealed last year.
Yakeb Chairman Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail today confirmed that the board had unanimously agreed to approve motorsports athletes under its eligibility criteria, paving the way for the 34-year-old to receive support.
“He (Gabit) is currently undergoing follow-up treatment, and we will help facilitate appropriate assistance.
“If he receives treatment at a government hospital, Yakeb will bear the costs and provide additional incentives,” he said at the ‘Prihatin Sukan, Untukmu Jaguh’ programme at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Bernama reported.
The announcement comes eight months after Gabit publicly disclosed the return of his nasal cancer — just a year after he was declared cancer-free in 2023.
In November, the two-time SuperMoto Asia FIM champion shared emotional details of his diagnosis, including numbness in his face, vision impairment, and the need to undergo more chemotherapy.
At the time, he said he was in the process of registering as a Yakeb member but faced challenges with documentation.
Since his initial stage four diagnosis in 2021, Gabit had completed 18 chemotherapy sessions at the National Cancer Institute (IKN), which he had been self-funding.
Now officially on Yakeb’s assistance programme, Gabit’s treatment journey is expected to be less financially burdensome, offering renewed hope for the celebrated rider whose resilience continues to inspire the motorsports community. — July 4, 2025