A heartfelt duit raya gesture by two children moved PM Anwar Ibrahim, who later visited them and returned the kindness with gifts.
KUALA TERENGGANU: The sincerity of two siblings who presented duit raya to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday touched the nation’s leader, who returned the gesture with gifts on Tuesday (April 14).
Aesha Khadeeja Anuar, 10, said she and her younger brother, Uwais AlQorni, 8, did not expect their spontaneous act upon seeing the Prime Minister about to board a plane at Sultan Mahmud Airport in Kuala Nerus last night to be reciprocated, creating a deeply meaningful memory for them.
“At first, my brother, my mother (Liza Fazilah Abdul Hamid, 49) and I were on our way home after Quran lessons. When we reached a traffic light junction, we saw a police escort accompanying the Prime Minister’s convoy heading towards Kuala Nerus, so I asked my mother to follow them until we arrived at the airport.
“When we saw the Prime Minister at the airport, we quickly took our school allowance, put it into envelopes and gave it to him because it is the month of Syawal, so I wanted to give duit raya. I gave RM5 while my brother gave RM2,” she told reporters after receiving contributions and duit raya from Anwar at their home here on Tuesday.
The contributions, in the form of duit raya and a tablet from Anwar, were presented by Terengganu Federal Development Director (ICU JPM) Datuk Abdul Kahar Abdul Latif.
Aesha Khadeeja said she and her brother also hope to visit Anwar at his office in Putrajaya one day and wish to bring keropok lekor as a gift for the national leader.
The eldest of the two siblings added that the Prime Minister has always been close to her heart as they share a similar name with her father, Anuar Rashid.
Earlier, Anwar, in a post on his Facebook page, uploaded a one-minute and 23-second video showing Aesha Khadeeja and Uwais AlQorni handing him envelopes of duit raya from outside the airport gate.
In the caption, Anwar said he was touched by the sincerity of the two children in offering duit raya, describing it as a gesture of affection that humbles the soul.
“I see it as a symbol of togetherness among the people regardless of age, strengthening one another as we face current challenges. Seeing these faces evokes a sense of tenderness and compassion. Our responsibility is to ensure every Malaysian child is raised with love, proper education and equal opportunities.
“May Uwais and Aesha grow into a knowledgeable and well-mannered generation, bringing goodness to their family and the nation,” he said.
Yesterday, Anwar made a one-day visit to Terengganu, attending various programmes including officiating the National Quran Recitation and Memorisation Assembly (1447H) at the Indoor Stadium Arena, State Sports Complex in Gong Badak, Kuala Nerus.
