PRODUCER and composer Edry Abdul Halim recently revealed an upsetting incident involving his autistic son, Emery, 17, who faced harsh treatment at a local restaurant.
The 48-year-old KRU member clarified that his intention wasn’t to shame anyone but to promote greater awareness and empathy for individuals with disabilities (OKU).
“I don’t want to punish or humiliate anyone, which is why I don’t want to disclose the restaurant’s name. My goal is to raise awareness and foster understanding about the challenges faced by this special community,” he said.
Recalling the incident, Edry expressed his frustration when his son was scolded and chased away for taking a drink.
“If a drink is taken, they could’ve inform me and it can be paid for. Was it necessary to call security as if we were causing major trouble? I even had to label my own child ‘crazy’ for them to get them to understand the situation. It’s really heartbreaking,” he said.
Edry contrasted this with a more compassionate experience abroad, recounting an encounter in Manchester.
“My son misbehaved on a tram, and I expected reprimand from a bystander. Instead, the man scolded us for being too harsh on a disabled child, reminding us to be more understanding. This highlights a stark difference in attitudes towards people with disabilities between foreign and Asian communities,” he said.
He lamented that societal biases often pushed Asian families to isolate disabled children due to fear of judgement.
Previously, Edry took to Instagram to urge the public to give special groups the space to lead normal lives and called for better treatment to help them integrate into society.
