This Malaysian Couple Used Their Wedding Day Savings To Give Back To Society

By Ammar Haziq  •  22 Jun 2020 in News

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The COVID-19 pandemic has held back many events, including the ‘big day’ for many lovebirds. Although the government has approved online marriages, most couples have opted to either postpone their wedding event or scale it down and practice social distancing.

While the pandemic seems to be raining on everyone’s parade, some are showing that kindness and selflessness goes a long way during these trying times.

One couple from George Town, Penang did something noble by giving back to society…

Pharmacist P. Seevaratham, 32 and his bride T. Thilageswary, 29, an engineer, originally planned a big wedding that was supposed to be held on 31 May, but instead opted for a small wedding ceremony with 20 family members in Ayer Itam, while using some of the savings to help the community, as reported by The Star.

The couple bought a laptop for M. Shakkthivel, a first-year software engineering student; and an orthotic walker for S. Kandiah, a former Penang Island City Council labourer who suffers from Charcot foot due to diabetes. Seevaratham’s family had also sponsored a motorised wheelchair for Kandiah two years ago.

“My brother gave me the idea of giving something back to society with the money that we had saved from the wedding. We would have spent close to RM80,000 if we had gone ahead with both the temple wedding and reception,” Seevaratham said.

Thilageswary said the two recipients they help were recommended by Malaysian Hindu Sagam, an organisation that carries out social and welfare activities for the community.

Before the MCO was enforced, everything was nearly done for the wedding preparations, including trosseau shopping in India. “The only thing we had left to do was send out the wedding invitations,” the groom said.

“Our families we worried about the disease, and after much deliberation and discussion, they decided to hold a simple ceremony,” Thilageswary said.

She also said they followed the SOP at their ceremony, such as checking temperature, preparing hand sanitiser and registering all the guests. Since there is a restriction in the number of guests, only the couple’s elder relatives attended the ceremony.

“It was important to seek their blessings,” the bride said.

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