My mom and dad.

Marthalena binti Saad hailed from Padang, Indonesia. She came to Malaysia and was a very bright student and social elite. Her parents were of Minang parentage, which makes her very well connected to the vast Minang society in Malaysia. Sheikh Muhamad Azmi bin Sheikh Shamsuddin was a poor boy from Kuantan, Pahang. He lived a harsh life when his mother passed away. When his father married another lady, he was treated worse than dirt. However that didn’t stop him from becoming an excellent sportsman and student.

It is obvious that both of them were far from being a perfect match. But cupid had its way. When both of them met in college, they immediately fell in love and got married. My dad, being the poor man he is, came to KL with no extra clothes and money. And my mom’s dad, being the compassionate guy he is, gave him clothes, fed him and a home to stay; just for the sake of her favourite daughter.

I’m the byproduct of their marriage and I’ve learnt so many things from both of them, despite their different backgrounds. My mom taught me to be kind and compassionate to the people around me and my dad taught me to be a man. A man that not only protects women, but also stands up on his own two feet. Although his methods were a tad harsh, I became the man I am today. As a counsellour, my mom also taught me to understand the human behaviour. She finds it very crucial for one to understand the hows and whys when dealing with a person.

Without them, I would never be the man I am today. And if they were still around, I would say I love them in the morning, in the day, and in the night. Because they deserve it. And no amount of love from me, can compare to their love for me.