KUALA LUMPUR — Former national junior hockey player Mohamad Asmawi Zaidi, who recently went viral for aimlessly wandering around Taman Kerang in Kuantan, has been found and will soon be reunited with his family in Kemaman.
Asmawi, now 36, once donned the national Under-16 jersey and began playing hockey as early as age 12.
He left the sport around the age of 25, choosing to return to his hometown and step away from professional play.
Terengganu Hockey Association president Mohd Fikri Harun confirmed that he and several officials had been searching for Asmawi since a video of him behaving erratically in public surfaced online.
They eventually located him, who was barefoot and clad only in long trousers, sleeping on a bare floor, looking frail and disoriented.
“Physically, he appears thin and weak. Mawi didn’t even realise we were there, despite having known us from his time in the association,” said Mohd Fikri told Bernama.
“We didn’t want to approach him too aggressively out of fear he might flee, which could complicate arrangements with the Social Welfare Department to bring him home to Kemaman.”
Mohd Fikri said the association intends to take Asmawi to the hospital for treatment by a specialist and urged the public to pray for his recovery.
“His family told us Mawi has been struggling with mental health issues for some time and frequently experiences hallucinations,” he added.
“They’ve tried various ways to help, but his condition has remained difficult to manage.” — May 11, 2025