This Father’s Day, we take a look at the lessons and laughs that Malaysian personalities had to celebrate or endure.
Fathers are often a source of joy and comfort, and they can be a valuable source of knowledge amd wisdom as well.
Let’s take a look at what these father figures have to say and teach their children this Father’s Day.
1. Altimet
Lesson:
I always tell my son, “Your number one job is to be everything you can to be a better person than I am. My number one job is to do everything I can to help you achieve that.”
Laugh:
My son went thru a really jealous phase when he was around 2-years-old, and always fought for the attention of my wife and wouldn’t even let me near here. He would also try to outdo me whenever I helped her with something. You really had to be there to be there to see it.
2. ND Lala
Malaysian singer, TV host and actor Dato’ Amir Amzah Salleh, better known as ND Lala – father of Shila Amzah.
Lessons:
“Trust your hopes, not your fears.” That’s what I advised Shila when I encouraged her to move to China and pursue her dreams.
Laugh:
When Shila was 9-years-old, we were having a family dinner at the Taman Melawati food court. At the time she complained that her front tooth was about to fall out. I felt it and though shaky, thought it would be fine. After we were done with dinner, her two brothers kept laughing… Turns out she swallowed her tooth along with the soft bones of the stingray we ordered!
3. Kavin Jay
Lesson:
My dad was a hard worker. All throughout he had worked many different jobs; he was a machinist, at one point he was a tennis coach, then an English teacher. Basically he did what he could to ensure a better future for his family. I didn’t realise it at the time, but looking back, I now know.
Laugh:
I was once caught by my mum watching an R-rated movie. The title of it was Sorority Girls and the Creature from Hell. So to punish me, my dad made me watch it in front of them. My mum asked me, ‘ how could you do this?’ and my dad retorted, ‘what’re you talking about, the creature from hell isn’t even out yet.’ I was 14-years-old at the time, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
4. Alicia Amin
Lesson:
My dad always ensured two practices. One, to always ask if you don’t understand something, and not to take ‘No’ for an answer.
Laugh:
As I grew up, my dad would always ask, ‘how old are you?’ So, when I was 12, he would ask for 12 reasons why I want a certain birthday gift. As I grew older, I learnt to use his trick against him! When he wanted me to do more tedious tasks, I would in turn ask him, ‘how old he was?’ Then I’d ask for the specific number of reasons for me to do what he wanted me to. So like, 43 reasons for me to go to piano class.
5. Josh Kua
Lesson:
My dad taught me to finish whatever I start. And so whenever I commit to something, I make sure to see it through to the end. Thus I’m unlikely to say yes to anything unless I’m really sure I’d go through with it. This also makes me intolerant to flakey behaviour and situations where people give up halfway, after agreeing or committing to something.
Laugh:
My dad taught me another important lesson. He taught me how to save toilet paper by folding it… I won’t go into details, but it has definitely been put to good use this year!
6. Patricia Knudsen
Lesson:
My dad inspired me to be hardworking but still understand how important family is. He is an amazing man who took care of me and my two younger sisters since I was 12, and gave us good advice when we needed it.
Laugh:
I remember my dad had to come pick me up from my first-ever party where I got drunk. He just slung me over his shoulder, carried me up to bed then tucked me in.
7. HanSen lee
Lesson:
One of the most important lessons my dad taught me was how to be prudent with my money and be a responsible adult. He showed by example what it took to be a provider and how to lead a modest yet fulfilling life.
Laugh:
I remember the times when my dad would call me up all the time for “tech support” and the questions he asked would make me feel like laughing and crying simultaneously. Well, at least now he has discovered the joys of downloading mp3s (the not so legal way) Welcome to the late ’90s dad!
8. Alister Yoong
Lesson:
“Right pedal is go, left pedal is stop.”
Laugh:
My dad likes to play a game where he guesses how long he can go once the petrol light comes on. He once misjudged it on our way to Pulau Pangkor and we ended up getting stuck by the side of the highway!
9. Timothy Tiah
Lesson:
I tell my kids that it’s important to treat everyone around you like they’re important. And more often than not they would reciprocate it, and the payoff will be worth it.
Laugh:
My daughter once misspelled a card she wrote for my birthday card once. Instead of ‘I love you daddy’ she wrote ‘I love you baddy,’ so now the whole family calls me baddy.
(All photos courtesy of respective personalities)
