Leaping for joy on their birthdays
JOHOR BARU: S. Thetchana Moorthi will turn 60 today – and he will be celebrating with a party and by cutting a birthday cake, for the first time ever.

Abdul Razak Ahmad Ta, meanwhile, will turn 40, and he will be speaking on a live television show, also for the first time in his life.

The Leap Day babies are ready for a grand celebration as Feb 29 comes round again after four years.

Having been born on Leap Day, Thetchana has only had 14 birthdays before this and all of them were spent helping out at charity homes instead of having any typical celebration.

The businessman, who was born on Feb 29, 1964, said he had been marking his birthday every four years by donating to orphanages instead of having typical birthday parties with cakes and balloons.

“For me, that is the best way to make my birthday special and meaningful.

However, since I am turning 60 this year, my family and friends insisted that I have a proper celebration to mark the special day,” he said.

About 50 to 60 of his family members and close friends will be gathering at his house in Shah Alam this weekend.

“We decided to celebrate my birthday on Saturday so we would be able to spend more time together during the weekend.

“I do not know what the party will be like as my family members are making the preparations.

“I was told it would be a surprise.

“All I know is that I will be cutting a birthday cake for the first time in my life,” said the father of three.

Thetchana said he was thankful to his nephew S. Suresh, who had planned the whole celebration, and his children for their efforts in making his birthday special.

Abdul Razak was among a few people who were invited to talk about celebrating their birthdays on a Leap Day.

“This will be the first time I get to have such an experience, making this year’s birthday extra special for me.

“What will make my birthday extra special is that I will get to celebrate it with my family.

“They travelled all the way from Ipoh to my house in Kuala Lumpur last weekend to give me a surprise party,” said the executive of a private company.

Abdul Razak added that the last time he celebrated his birthday was in 2020, just a few days before the movement control order (MCO) came into effect.

“I still celebrate my birthday every year, but it will be a day before or after the actual date.

“However, every four years, I get to celebrate it on the day itself.

“Although my family celebrated my birthday earlier this year, it is still very special for me as they are all here to mark my birthday,” he said.
Leap Year
JOHOR BARU: S. Thetchana Moorthi will turn 60 today – and he will be celebrating with a party and by cutting a birthday cake, for the first time ever.