Management and Science University (MSU) had the pleasure of meeting Kiivhern Selvarajah, a student pursuing his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at International Medical School. A dedicated medical student with a strong passion for basketball, Kiivhern shared his inspiring journey with us. Here's what we learned from him.
When did you first start practising basketball?
I first started playing basketball when I was around nine years old. I picked it up as a casual evening activity as it just something fun to do. I went to a Chinese school where basketball was the main sport, so that naturally influenced me.
One of the reasons I was selected for the school team was my height. I was considered tall for my age. That’s how my basketball journey began. From there, I progressed from casual play to semi-professional and eventually professional basketball.
What makes basketball unique compared to other sports?
What makes basketball unique is that it requires both quick thinking and strong teamwork. Many other sports are great too, but a lot of them focus more on individual skills.
In basketball, you can’t win alone. It’s fast-paced and intense, so you need to adapt quickly and constantly adjust your strategy. This dynamic aspect, combined with the importance of teamwork, makes it truly special.
Just like in real life, especially in working life, teamwork is a key to success and basketball really teaches you that.
Why did you choose basketball?
Funny enough, I initially wanted to be a football player. Football, as you know, is one of the biggest sports in the world. When I was in Standard 4, around eight or nine years old, I joined a football team near my Chinese school. I even attended a few sessions and really fell in love with the game.
But one day, I got tackled badly. My father, who was watching from the sidelines, got worried. He told me that football was too dangerous for someone my age and encouraged me to look for a safer sport.
During recess at school, I saw my friends playing basketball. Being the active and slightly mischievous kid I was, I joined them. From there, I got more and more into basketball.
My height gave me an advantage, and I soon started competing in school tournaments, including the Mini Olympics Malaysia. That’s how basketball became my main sport.
Tell us about your experience as an MSU student-athlete.
Over the past five years, I’ve represented MSU in several competitions against other universities and local teams. We participated in tournaments like the University College Basketball Championship (UCBC).
What made my MSU experience special was that I wasn’t just a player, I was also the team captain and coach.
Most of our players weren’t Chinese, which is rare in Malaysia where basketball is typically dominated by Chinese players.
Leading a non-Chinese team into predominantly Chinese tournaments was a big challenge, and honestly, we didn’t expect too much.
But to my surprise, we exceeded expectations. We fought hard, and even in the games we lost, we lost with pride.
I’m incredibly proud of my team, my MSU boys.
Who is your favourite basketball idol?
It must be LeBron James. He’s a familiar name to everyone, and for good reason.
Firstly, his work ethic is unbelievable. Even at 40, he’s still dominating the NBA, thanks to his discipline and relentless hard work.
Secondly, I admire his leadership skills. If you follow basketball, you’d know he’s played for teams like the Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He doesn’t just play, he leads by example. He respects his coaches and managers, and despite being a superstar, he lifts his teammates up and helps turn them into stars too.
That’s what makes LeBron James so special to me.
How do you balance your time?
Balancing basketball and medical school is tough, especially as a medical student.
In the early years, Year 1 and Year 2, it was still manageable. I played basketball almost every day. But once hospital attachments began, it got much harder. Between clinical work, monthly exams, professional exams, and assignments, it became exhausting.
Even so, I’ve always loved medicine.
Becoming a doctor has been my goal since I was young, for myself and for my family.
At the same time, basketball is my passion. I couldn’t imagine giving up either. So, I planned my time carefully. After classes and hospital work, I’d dedicate my evenings to basketball, playing from 8–10 PM or 9–11 PM.
That’s how I kept myself active and kept improving.
What is your biggest career priority?
This is a hard question for me. But if I had to choose, I’d say becoming a doctor. The medical field offers a secure and meaningful future. You grow, you help others, and yes, the income is more stable.
Basketball will always be my passion, but in Malaysia, it’s tough to make a living from it, unlike in the NBA, where one season’s salary can support someone for a year.
Still, I believe it’s possible to pursue both.If you truly believe in yourself, why not? It’s really up to the individual.
With enough passion and discipline, you can make space for both dreams.
Watch the video here!
Management and Science University (MSU) had the pleasure of meeting Kiivhern Selvarajah, a student pursuing his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at International Medical School. A dedicated medical student with a strong passion for basketball, Kiivhern shared his inspiring journey with us. Here's what we learned from him.
When did you first start practising basketball?
I first started playing basketball when I was around nine years old. I picked it up as a casual evening activity as it just something fun to do. I went to a Chinese school where basketball was the main sport, so that naturally influenced me.
One of the reasons I was selected for the school team was my height. I was considered tall for my age. That’s how my basketball journey began. From there, I progressed from casual play to semi-professional and eventually professional basketball.
What makes basketball unique compared to other sports?
What makes basketball unique is that it requires both quick thinking and strong teamwork. Many other sports are great too, but a lot of them focus more on individual skills.
In basketball, you can’t win alone. It’s fast-paced and intense, so you need to adapt quickly and constantly adjust your strategy. This dynamic aspect, combined with the importance of teamwork, makes it truly special.
Just like in real life, especially in working life, teamwork is a key to success and basketball really teaches you that.
Why did you choose basketball?
Funny enough, I initially wanted to be a football player. Football, as you know, is one of the biggest sports in the world. When I was in Standard 4, around eight or nine years old, I joined a football team near my Chinese school. I even attended a few sessions and really fell in love with the game.
But one day, I got tackled badly. My father, who was watching from the sidelines, got worried. He told me that football was too dangerous for someone my age and encouraged me to look for a safer sport.
During recess at school, I saw my friends playing basketball. Being the active and slightly mischievous kid I was, I joined them. From there, I got more and more into basketball.
My height gave me an advantage, and I soon started competing in school tournaments, including the Mini Olympics Malaysia. That’s how basketball became my main sport.
Tell us about your experience as an MSU student-athlete.
Over the past five years, I’ve represented MSU in several competitions against other universities and local teams. We participated in tournaments like the University College Basketball Championship (UCBC).
What made my MSU experience special was that I wasn’t just a player, I was also the team captain and coach.
Most of our players weren’t Chinese, which is rare in Malaysia where basketball is typically dominated by Chinese players.
Leading a non-Chinese team into predominantly Chinese tournaments was a big challenge, and honestly, we didn’t expect too much.
But to my surprise, we exceeded expectations. We fought hard, and even in the games we lost, we lost with pride.
I’m incredibly proud of my team, my MSU boys.
Who is your favourite basketball idol?
It must be LeBron James. He’s a familiar name to everyone, and for good reason.
Firstly, his work ethic is unbelievable. Even at 40, he’s still dominating the NBA, thanks to his discipline and relentless hard work.
Secondly, I admire his leadership skills. If you follow basketball, you’d know he’s played for teams like the Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He doesn’t just play, he leads by example. He respects his coaches and managers, and despite being a superstar, he lifts his teammates up and helps turn them into stars too.
That’s what makes LeBron James so special to me.
How do you balance your time?
Balancing basketball and medical school is tough, especially as a medical student.
In the early years, Year 1 and Year 2, it was still manageable. I played basketball almost every day. But once hospital attachments began, it got much harder. Between clinical work, monthly exams, professional exams, and assignments, it became exhausting.
Even so, I’ve always loved medicine.
Becoming a doctor has been my goal since I was young, for myself and for my family.
At the same time, basketball is my passion. I couldn’t imagine giving up either. So, I planned my time carefully. After classes and hospital work, I’d dedicate my evenings to basketball, playing from 8–10 PM or 9–11 PM.
That’s how I kept myself active and kept improving.
What is your biggest career priority?
This is a hard question for me. But if I had to choose, I’d say becoming a doctor. The medical field offers a secure and meaningful future. You grow, you help others, and yes, the income is more stable.
Basketball will always be my passion, but in Malaysia, it’s tough to make a living from it, unlike in the NBA, where one season’s salary can support someone for a year.
Still, I believe it’s possible to pursue both.If you truly believe in yourself, why not? It’s really up to the individual.
With enough passion and discipline, you can make space for both dreams.
Watch the video here!