Compiled by OON JUN-YANG, C.ARUNO AND R.ARAVINTAN
THE extraordinary artistic talent of an autistic student from Sekolah Model Khas Bukit Jenun in Pendang, Kedah, captured public attention again after her artwork was selected to feature in a bank’s calendar, Utusan Malaysia reported.
Ainul Syeefa Zamrol’s animal-themed illustrations have been used in the bank’s calendar over the past three years.
Suraya Abdul Rahman, 54, said her 15-year-old daughter’s talent was discovered through drawings posted on social media.
“She was also given the opportunity to design a Hari Raya envelope illustration for a beverage company,” she added.
Suraya said Ainul Syeefa has produced over 300 artworks and frequently received invitations to participate in art exhibitions around the world, including in France, Japan and Indonesia.
Speaking about her art, Suraya said Ainul Syeefa often draws inspiration from fairy tales.
“Most recently, she has been working on a painting titled Puteri Lindungan Bulan. Each artwork can take up to three months to complete.
“I am giving Ainul Syeefa complete freedom to create, and so far her works have attracted a great deal of attention,” said Suraya, who is a teacher.
> Although physically weak due to old age, a retired policeman and his wife have shown remarkable compassion by raising three step-grandchildren, Kosmo! reported.
Mohd Zaki Lasim, 77, said he and his wife Rozinah Abu Bakar, 68, still care for their three step-grandchildren aged between four months and seven years.
Formerly a beekeeper, Mohd Zaki said they took up the task after his stepdaughter got a job in Gemas, over 60km from their home in Kampung Legong Ulu in Negri Sembilan.
“As long as we have breath, we will raise them,” he said.
Although Mohd Zaki suffers from kidney disease which has caused him to lose more than 40kg, he still sends his seven-year-old grandchild to school every day.
He said that he was worried about his grandchild’s need for a new hearing aid, as the old one is already damaged.
“The doctor said he has a hole in the heart, and can only hear about 60% to 65%,” he added.
Kampung Legong Ulu village safety and development committee chairman Saharudin Ahmad said the elected representative and relevant agencies have visited the family and efforts to help them are underway.
“I often see Mohd Zaki sending his grandchild to school, and once I learned about the family’s plight, I immediately raised the matter with the relevant parties,” he added.
(The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.)
