Penang-born Delwin Cheah Wien Loong has seemingly made it a habit of exceeding anyone’s expectations of him, to the point where even the president of the United States has taken notice.
11 years old and autistic, Delwin is listed in the Malaysia Book of Records as the “Youngest Artist to Hold a Solo Visual Art Exhibition (Autism Spectrum Disorder)” and the US Record Setter’s “World Youngest Savant Artist (ASD) to hold a Solo Exhibition”.
His achievements in art had previously earned him and his family a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and now US president Obama has sent him a letter thanking him for his gift, a copy of his book of drawings, “I Can Draw”.
The Malaysian Insider reports that in the letter dated July 14, Obama wrote to Delwin that “the world needs young people like you who are trying hard in school, serving your community, and dreaming big dreams”.
Delwin’s parents, Lawrence Cheah and Erina Law, said they were surprised to learn that Obama had received a copy of their son’s book, and did not expect to receive a letter from the president.
“The book came out two years ago when Delwin had his first art exhibition,” she said.
Her husband Lawrence said they had no idea who gave the book to Obama.
“We are also trying to find out who is this person,” he said.
Cheah and Law have been trying to reach out to other parents of autistic children, reminding them to never give up, and advocating early detection and intervention to facilitate the proper teaching and training of autistic children to help them develop their talents.
Photo: Hasnoor Hussain / The Malaysian Insider
