Living with Dyslexia in Malaysia

My name is Suet, a happily married lady with a very supportive husband staying in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. We have 2 school-going children.

We have an Indonesian maid who has been with us for 6 years,  2 dogs, birds, chickens, Koi and goldfishes. No more of the punky guinea pigs anymore (All died of old age). Photo below of maid washing figs (moh fah khor) to be made into fig jam.  I planted  3 fig trees outside my garden.

We are surrounded by numerous luscious organic plants and trees. More than 20 fruit trees, vegetables and herbal plants are found in my garden.

Photos of fruits & flowers from my garden

In 1998, I volunteered to write the Minutes for one of CETDEM’s 2 days’ Organic Conference.  From that meeting, I was  ‘initiated’ into the world of organic farming – meeting and chatting with the farmers, retailers, Ministry and MARDI participants. After this conference, I signed  up for CETDEM’s  2 days’ weekend organic course at Rimbun Dahan and never looked back.

I believe I am one of the very few organic kitchen gardeners in the city that does her own composting.  I have 2 large compost bins (courtesy from my ever supportive husband – his machine crates from Italy) and all my kitchen waste and leaves from my garden and surroundings are used to make the compost. 

On top of using the chicken dung as fertilisers for my plants, I also make my own liquid fertilisers like fish amino acids and fruit and vegetable peelings.

I am a great supporter of the organic movement and will help Ms Tan(well-known as the mother of Organic Farming here) wherever I can in promoting the organic movement.

In 2001, I found out that my son has a learning disorder.    STAR published my article titled “Children with reading problems” in March 2003 .

When my article was published, there were so many phone calls for the following 2 weeks that I had to take my phone off the hook for a few hours each day otherwise I would not have any rest. I am glad that my article has created lots of awareness amongst parents on dyslexia as there were not many articles written by parents then.

My son is presently in the Dyslexia Programme which was launched in June 2004. There are currently  30 schools earmarked with this Dyslexia Programme.

I am also the Secretary for my Residents Association and a Volunteer Librarian at a neighbouring temple.

All these activities keep me busy besides having to take care of hubby and the kids, not forgetting the 3 dogs, the birds, chickens and  fishes.  Then having to shoo away uninvited guests like the squirrels, iguanas, rats, etc…… not forgetting the humans who will conveniently take the fruits of my labour outside my garden. Sigh! that’s life….

Well, at least  I am helping to green the earth and reduce waste through my organic ways.