Shopping trip brings priceless joy
Father of boys with deformities has not seen them so happy for a long time
MELAKA: Three brothers born with facial deformities were all smiles when a businessman took them and their sisters for a back-toschool shopping spree.
The brothers, R. Jabesh, 11, Joshua, eight, and seven-year-old Jackson accompanied by Rachel, six, and Sarah, five, spent almost an hour choosing what they wanted at a shop in Ayer Leleh here.
The Shore’s Oceanarium CEO Chew Chert Fong not only settled the bill but also paid the school and kindergarten fees for the siblings.
Their father K. Ramakrishnan, 37, said it has been a long time since his children smiled with such joy.
“At first my sons refused to visit the shop because they were afraid of being teased by other kids who often call them aliens.
“But the outing turned out to be a happy occasion because the shop’s owner and staff were so friendly,” he said.
Ramakrishnan said other children are usually fearful when they see his sons, and they usually avoid public places where there are other kids.
“Seeing my sons’ deformities for the first time can be difficult for other children, so I don’t blame them,” he said.
Ramakrishnan, who has eight children – five boys and three girls – aged between one month and 11 years, thanked Chew for helping his family.
His four oldest sons were born with facial deformities but are otherwise normal children.
His 55-year-old father-in-law as well as three children on his wife’s side of the family were also born with these deformities, said Ramakrishnan.
On Sunday, The Star reported that Ramakrishnan from Banda Hilir was unhappy after a stranger uploaded pictures of Jabesh and Joshua without his permission.
The individual had claimed that the boys were residents of a welfare home where they were abused.
Ramakrishnan and his two sons were selling snacks to visitors at the Portuguese Settlement on Christmas Day when someone took their pictures.
He claimed the individual had enticed his sons with gifts.
Ramakrishnan said the 53-yearold female caretaker of the welfare home actually helped his family before by providing financial assistance.
He also apologised to the caretaker, who had lodged a police report, after being accused by NGOs of exploiting his children.