KOTA BARU: Eager to start his schooling session today, Year One pupil Abdul Hakim Saifuddin Zulkifli woke up at 3am.
Hakim, 7, who has suffered from cerebral palsy since birth, bathed and put on his school uniform before being persuaded by his mother, Siti Fatimah Nurul Naim Hussin, 45, to go back to sleep as it was still early in the morning.
Siti said the youngest of her five children was very excited to go to school and had been asking when the school session would start since two weeks ago.
"This morning, Hakim woke up at 3am before bathing and putting on his school uniform, and I told him to go back to sleep because it was still too early for school.
"However, at 5am, Hakim woke up again and woke me before the two of us and four other children got ready to go to school," she said when met at Sekolah Kebangsaan Ismail Petra 1, here.
Siti said Hakim was a sociable child and when he was studying in kindergarten, he rarely missed attending kindergarten despite health problems.
Hakim's demeanour, as he moved around in a toy car in the classroom on the first day of school today, attracted the attention of many.
The child was seen mingling comfortably with other friends and even participated in fun activities organised on the first day of school.
Siti said that Hakim's legs were bent and short, causing him to be unable to walk normally and only move with the help of his hands when at home.
For now, she said, her son uses a toy car to move around at school while waiting for the specially-ordered wheelchair, expected to arrive in about two weeks.
"Hakim is a very active child and loves playing football, and before the specially ordered wheelchair arrives for him, he uses this toy car to facilitate his movement.
"I am very grateful to the school for providing facilities for my child, including PWD-friendly pathways, building low sinks in the canteen, and toilets with handrails," she said.
