PM Wong’s reply to child’s letter on being youngest

“Sometimes, she even sneaks into our room in the middle of the night and sleeps on our bed,” she said.

However, Sarah’s protest was not the reason the family decided not to have any more children.

Humairah and her husband, 41-year-old Khairul Azhar Mondzi, had decided early in their marriage to have only two children, after considering their work commitments as well as the challenges associated with pregnancy and childbirth.

Both Sarah and her older brother, Adam Raees Khairul Azhar, were delivered via emergency caesarean procedures.

Joked about having another child

Humairah said she often joked about the possibility of having another baby because Sarah would become emotional whenever the topic was brought up.

After the National Day Rally on Aug 23, she teased Sarah again by telling her that PM Wong wanted Singaporeans to have more children and that the Government would give families money to do so.

This time, Humairah said, Sarah cried and asked her how to spell “Lawrence”.

Humairah deliberately refused to help Sarah, joking that if PM Wong found out she had helped write the letter, Sarah’s request might not be approved.

Undeterred, Sarah took a sheet of foolscap paper belonging to her older brother and wrote the letter herself, Humairah said.

The following day, they went to Singapore Post outlet to buy a stamp, before Sarah put the letter into a postbox herself.

Humairah later emailed the Prime Minister’s Office to explain the backstory behind her daughter’s letter, but did not expect to receive a reply.

“I really didn’t expect to get a response at all. The fact that he replied, and on a Sunday night too, was amazing,” she said.

Does not plan to write back

Humairah said it was a special experience for her, as it was the first time her daughter had willingly sat down and written something on her own.

Usually, she said, it was difficult to persuade Sarah to do writing exercises.

She added that Sarah also does not plan to write back to PM Wong.

However, she hopes the experience might encourage Sarah to write again about other matters that she feels are important to her.

At home, Humairah said Sarah and her brother know PM Wong as “Singapore’s Big Daddy” because they do not yet fully understand the role of a prime minister.

For instance, after PM Wong advised limiting screen time for children during his National Day Rally speech last year, the couple would tell their children:

Although she does not plan to have any more children, Humairah said she felt the support measures announced during the National Day Rally would be helpful for families.

“I think these measures are more about supporting families who already want to have more children. The assistance ultimately helps ease some of the financial considerations that come with such a decision.

“Every family still has to make its own decision, assess its resources, circumstances, and capabilities, and make the decision that is most suitable for their family,” she said.

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