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I was touched when I witnessed the dream of a little boy, Muhammad Afif Ikhwan's nine-year-old brother, who wanted to see me up close. A dream that may be small in our eyes, but big enough to move his grandmother Rosimah Mohammad to travel around the palm oil fields on a motorcycle to fulfill her grandson's wish. His little hand slipped through the gap in the audience and we shook hands and led him to the stage at Felda Palong Timur, Segamat recently. I didn't think that such a short moment would mean so much to Afif. Therefore, I request that he be visited and treated with respect. No matter how busy we are managing the country and facing various big challenges, we should never lose the courtesy to show kindness and humanity. I asked that Afif be given a bicycle. Hopefully our short meeting will be a piece of memories that ignites Afif's spirit to continue learning, working hard and later pouring out his devotion to his family, community and country.
Notes
Saya tersentuh tatkala menyaksikan impian seorang anak kecil iaitu adik Muhammad Afif Ikhwan yang berusia sembilan tahun yang mahu melihat saya dari dekat. Impian yang barangkali kecil pada pandangan kita, namun cukup besar untuk menggerakkan neneknya Rosimah Mohammad meredah ladang kelapa sawit dengan motosikal demi memenuhi hasrat cucunya itu. Tangan kecilnya menyelit di celah khalayak dan kami bersalaman dan membawanya ke pentas di Felda Palong Timur, Segamat baru-baru ini. Saya tidak menyangka bahawa detik yang begitu singkat itu membawa makna besar buat Afif. Justeru, saya meminta agar beliau diziarahi dan disantuni. Sesibuk mana pun kerja kita mengurus negara dan mendepani pelbagai tantangan besar, usah sesekali kita hilang ihsan untuk menyantuni dan mempamerkan kemanusiaan. Saya meminta agar Afif dihadiahkan sebuah basikal. Mudah-mudahan pertemuan singkat kami menjadi secarik kenangan yang menyala semangat kepada Afif untuk terus belajar, berusaha dan kelak menumpahkan bakti kepada keluarga, masyarakat serta negara.