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Malaysian minister pays tribute to World Down Syndrome Day with mismatched socks

Malaysian minister pays tribute to World Down Syndrome Day with mismatched socks

Petaling Jaya - Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin came with mismatched socks to the Cabinet meeting but it was not a wardrobe malfunction.

"Was I in a rush to get to Cabinet this morning (March 21) and couldn’t find a pair that matched? Is this a new OOTD (outfit of the day) thing? No.

"My mismatched socks today are a tribute to World Down Syndrome Day," he said in an Instagram post on Wednesday (March 21).

Khairy said that World Down Syndrome Day, which falls on March 21, is about loving people as they are.

"It's to remind people that things and people can be different but also beautiful and amazing as they are," he said.

Khairy said that his mismatched socks were also in honour of his niece Aisha, who has Down Syndrome.

"She is smart, beautiful, funny, active and has been a confident public speaker advocating inclusive education where typical and atypical kids study together," he said.

"She is a constant source of inspiration for me to make society more compassionate, to reduce barriers for people with different abilities to reach their full potential, and to ensure no child is ever left behind in a dark room, out of sight and out of mind," said Khairy.

He also praised his sister and Aisha's mother, Kak Hana, for raising her daughter as a single mother.

"I remember once asking her, if she had the power to change things, would she change Aisha so that she didn't have Down Syndrome.

"My sister said: 'No way would I change anything. Because if I did, she would no longer be my amazing Aisha.'," recalled Khairy.

"Happy World Down Syndrome Day. Come as you are. As you were," he said.

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