Khairy pays tribute to gifted people
KUALA LUMPUR: Striped and brightlycoloured socks have become the norm for Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, 42, who is not afraid of pushing the limits when it comes to fashion.
But even by his standards, his mismatched socks yesterday — one yellow and another blue, black and brown — drew quizzical looks in the cabinet meeting.
“I love loud (coloured) socks. But today my loud socks are mismatched. Was I in a rush to get to cabinet this morning and couldn’t find a pair that matched? Is this a new OOTD (outfit of the day) thing?” he said on his Instagram account.
Khairy said his mismatched socks were a tribute to World Down’s Syndrome Day.
“It’s to remind people that things and people can be different, but also beautiful and amazing as they are. World Down’s Syndrome Day is about loving people as they are.”
He said the socks were also a tribute to his niece, Aisha, who has the disorder.
“But she has never let that get in the way of her dreams. She’s smart, beautiful, funny, active and has been a confident public speaker advocating for inclusive education where typical and atypical kids study together.
“She is a constant source of inspiration for me to make society more compassionate, to reduce barriers for people with different abilities to reach their full potential, and to ensure no child is ever left in a dark room, out of sight and out of mind. The measure of a society is how we treat those who need our care and compassion the most,” he said.