Khoo Ah Guat
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Title: The Bungalow of Chinese “New Village”
Title (Original Language): 新村大屋
Year: 2017
Words in the Drawing: “This is the bungalow owned by the rich people. It is a double storey house. Sometimes, I hire the tyrant car, driven by 792 (nickname of one of the patients) to buy some fruits, wanton and noodle soup from the wet market. The fee is around RM20 ++ per round trip. Don’t you think the fee is high? But I rarely hire the tyrant car. Whenever I pass by the Chinese “New Village”, I see the bungalows. I guess this kind of bungalow costs more than RM1 million. I know I am not capable. Hence, I have never thought of staying in this kind of bungalow. In fact, I am fine to stay in the ward. The government provides us two meals and two tea breaks daily. I have been contented with these. Our lunch time is at 12.15pm and our dinner is served at 5.30pm. We are served with fish and chicken alternately. There are vegetables everyday but without soup. Our tea breaks are at 8.30am and 2.30pm. We are served with bread, coffee or tea. Whenever Pak Nang, my ward mate at my opposite bed switches on her television, I am able to watch it clearly from my bed. My ward mates at the last two beds from my left also have television. Once they switch on their televisions, I can also watch them clearly from my bed. Hence, even though I don’t own a television, it is still fine for me. I feel so contented with what I have, thanks God! I think everyone here is kind and I have a lot of friends here. The nurses and the staff here are very kind to us. I am so satisfied, thanks God!”
Size: 17.5cm X 15.2cm
Location: The Valley of Hope Story Gallery
Owner: Khoo Ah Guat
Copyright: Khoo Ah Guat
Title: Two Oranges
Title (Original Language): 两粒橙
Year: 2017
Words in the Drawing: “I love to eat apples and I don’t really like oranges because oranges are sourer. However, we are always served with oranges and bananas in the ward. I think may be the oranges and bananas are cheaper than apples. Thanks Lord, Thanks God, luckily my molars are strong, I still can chew apples. Previously my front teeth were still in good condition, but in my 50s, they exfoliated. It was not painful at all. The front teeth just got loose. It is the symptom of aging. I find it troublesome to fix dentures. Until now, I still haven’t fixed dentures yet. Please don’t think that I love to eat softer food or liquid food since I don’t have front teeth. In fact, I really hate to eat porridge. I would like to thank my lord for safeguarding my molars. I am 79 years old now and I can still eat solid food. I have no problem at all to eat apples and chicken. I am grateful that I can still stay alive until today. The Bible states that we must be contented, if a person is never satisfied, you will never be contented even if you are able to conquer the world. I listen to the God’s direction and faith. I stay alive as long as Jesus wants me to. I wish my molars are always in good condition so that I can keep eating and I am always grateful.”
Size: 17.5cm X 15.2cm
Location: The Valley of Hope Story Gallery
Owner: Khoo Ah Guat
Copyright: Khoo Ah Guat
Title: The Parrot
Title (Original Language): 鹦鹉
Year: 2017
Words in the Drawing: “This parrot was drawn by my friend and I only help to paint it. I like parrot. When I was young, I had seen parrots flying here and there in the sky. Now they are hard to be seen. I had ever seen rainbow in my 20s. That time, I stayed at chalet, No. 131. I had seen very beautiful rainbow before. I recall the colours of rainbow when I see the parrot’s nice feather. I haven’t seen beautiful rainbow for a long time. Do you know how to say rainbow in Chinese? I hate crow most. People said it is unlucky to see crow. According to Chinese superstitious taboo, if you see there are many crows around, it means someone is going to die soon. In fact, parrot is not good either because it likes to eat chicks, I feel that it is ‘scary”. Now as I recall, in fact, I also don’t like parrot. I like sparrows. They don’t disturb people and they are not noisy, so I like sparrow most. ”
Size: 17.5cm X 15.2cm
Location: The Valley of Hope Story Gallery
Owner: Khoo Ah Guat
Copyright: Khoo Ah Guat
Title: Happy Flower
Title (Original Language): 开心花
Year: 2017
Words in the Drawing: “I was taught by the art teacher to draw this flower that day but I have forgotten to ask her the name of the flower. After seeing the flower, I feel very happy. Hence, I call this flower as ‘Happy Flower’. Jesus teaches us to be happy all the time, the Bible also states that we shouldn’t be worried, whenever someone has difficulties, if we can afford to offer help, just help. I think the principles taught in the Bible are correct. After becoming a Christian, I feel relieved. My life is full of happiness. My church friend fetches me to the church at the old folk home of the “New Village” to listen to the pastor. We sing hymns and read Bible. There are about 20 over church members and our worship service starts from 8.30am and ends at about 10am to 11am. We receive Holy Communion twice a month. I donate to the church whenever there is worship service, thanks Lord!”
Size: 17.5cm X 15.2cm
Location: The Valley of Hope Story Gallery
Owner: Khoo Ah Guat
Copyright: Khoo Ah Guat
Title: Jesus' Light
Title (Original Language): 耶稣的光
Year: 2017
Words in the Drawing: “I think roses are the most beautiful but it is too hard to draw them. Next time, I would like to get the art teacher to teach me to draw roses. There are red, yellow and white roses. My favourite is yellow rose. Last time, when I stayed at the chalet, I saw many residents at the settlement growing roses. Many outsiders bought from them. I think the flower at the centre of this drawing is rose and the purple colour at the side is Jesus’ light. I came from Malacca, I was adopted since I was a kid. My adoptive father raised pigs and my adoptive mother was a rubber tapper. I have one elder brother and two elder sisters. I am the youngest in the family. When I was young, I stayed in Malacca but my adoptive parents didn’t send me to school. I was doing nothing at home. I suffered from leprosy at the age of 11. I was transferred from Malacca Hospital to Sungai Buloh, accompanied by the hospital attendant. My adoptive mother only told me that I was not their biological child before I was admitted. That time, I didn’t know anything and I wasn’t sad too. As I am just their adopted child, my whole family has neither visited me nor contacted me after I was admitted. As I recall, after being admitted here, finally I had the chance to study in the school. The doctor arranged for me to stay in the children’s ward. There were more than 20 children staying together in the children’s ward. That time, we didn’t have pocket money. There was an association in the settlement, called Ng Fook Thong that paid usRM30 as pocket money monthly. How excited I was! When we studied at school, we were taught to read the Bible and sing hymns by pastors from outside. Hence, I have become Christian since I was 12 years old. Do you know that my Christian name is Rose? The pastor named me Rose when I was baptized at the age of 12. However, not many people here know my Christian name. All of them used to call me Ah Guat. Only some of my church members call me Rose. I love rose very much and I prefer others to call me Rose. But I think I look ugly and do not match the Rose, ha..ha..!"
Size: 17.5cm X 15.2cm
Location: The Valley of Hope Story Gallery
Owner: Khoo Ah Guat
Copyright: Khoo Ah Guat