PETALING JAYA: In a heartwarming turn of events, lawyer Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar’s act of kindness towards a poor mother charged with shoplifting 25 years ago has brought two families of different religious backgrounds together.
Back in 1998, Ahmad Zaharil was a lawyer in his 30s. One day, he found himself alone in a courtroom after handling a case when a 50-something Malaysian-Indian woman, who worked as a cleaner, arrived in handcuffs accompanied by the police.
Moved by her distress, Ahmad Zaharil approached her and asked how she ended up in court. She explained that she had stolen a pencil box from a supermarket. The pencil box was meant as a gift for her 10-year-old son, who had become the top student in his class.
Feeling empathy for the poor mother and concerned about the well-being of her son if she were to be jailed, Ahmad Zaharil decided to intervene. He verified the truth of her story by contacting the boy’s school and speaking to the headmaster.
After confirming the boy’s academic achievement, Ahmad Zaharil returned to the courtroom to negotiate with the owner of the supermarket. He offered to pay double the price of the stolen pencil box and pleaded for the woman to be shown mercy. However, the supermarket proprietor insisted on proceeding with the case.
When the woman’s case came up in court, Ahmad Zaharil mitigated on her behalf. The magistrate discharged the mother after binding her over for a year on a good behaviour bond, taking into consideration the teacher’s testimony and weighing the case.
Before she left, Ahmad Zaharil and others present in the courtroom collected a sum of money and presented it to the woman as a gesture of support. However, he never saw her again.
This memorable incident remained with Ahmad Zaharil throughout his career. In 2018, while in court, he was approached by a man in his early 30s. To his surprise, the man revealed himself to be the son of the cleaner he had assisted 20 years ago in the pencil box case.
Overwhelmed with joy, Ahmad Zaharil and the young lawyer embraced. They continued to maintain a close relationship, with Ahmad Zaharil seeing the young lawyer as a son. They would visit each other during Deepavali and Hari Raya.
Reflecting on the incident, Ahmad Zaharil emphasized the importance of unity and harmony among Malaysians, regardless of their diverse backgrounds. Despite our differences, he believes that as a nation, we can live together as one big family.
This heartwarming story serves as a reminder of the impact of a single act of kindness and humanity, as it brought two families together in a bond that transcends religious and cultural differences.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
