'Your words truly touched my heart': Brother of late Singaporean with cerebral palsy responds to letter from President Tharman“您的话语深深触动了我的心”：已故新加坡脑瘫患者的哥哥回应尚达曼总统的来信
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has sent a condolence letter to the brother of the late Gunaseelan, a Singaporean with cerebral palsy who died on Aug 29 from pneumonia.Gunaseelan, 42, was notably carried up Malaysia's Batu Caves by his brother during Thaipusam in 2025.His brother, Suresh Vanaz, 47, responded in a Facebook post on Friday (Sept 11) to President Tharman's letter, describing...
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has sent a condolence letter to the brother of the late Gunaseelan, a Singaporean with cerebral palsy who died on Aug 29 from pneumonia.
Gunaseelan, 42, was notably carried up Malaysia's Batu Caves by his brother during Thaipusam in 2025.
His brother, Suresh Vanaz, 47, responded in a Facebook post on Friday (Sept 11) to President Tharman's letter, describing it as one that is "very special and heartfelt".
"Thank you so much, Mr President, for taking the time to read about Seelan's life and the love and care that surrounded him," Suresh wrote.
"Your words truly touched my heart and mean so much to me and my beloved brother, and all our loved ones during this painful time."
In a photograph of the letter shared by Suresh, President Tharman commended him, stating that he had a "beautiful bond" with Gunaseelan.
"You stood by him and gave him not just security but warmth and dignity," the President said.
'Something I will always treasure'
Suresh said that Gunaseelan lived with disabilities, but never let it define him.
"He had a special way of winning people's hearts without even trying. Wherever Seelan went, he left behind a smile, a memory and a little piece of his beautiful soul."
Expressing his pride for his deceased brother, Suresh added: "To receive such kind words from our President is something I will always treasure.
"Thank you, Mr President, for remembering my brother and for acknowledging his beautiful journey."
His family told AsiaOne that Suresh has been "very devastated and broken" by his brother's death and will "take a lot of time" for him to heal.
khooyihang@asiaone.com
新加坡总统尚达曼向已故的古纳塞兰的兄弟致以慰问信。古纳塞兰是一名患有脑瘫的新加坡人，于8月29日因肺炎去世。
42岁的古纳塞兰（Gunaseelan）曾于2025年大宝森节期间被他的兄弟背上马来西亚的黑风洞，这在当时引起了轰动。
他的兄弟，47 岁的 Suresh Vanaz，于周五（9 月 11 日）在 Facebook 上发帖回应了 Tharman 总统的信，称其“非常特别，饱含深情”。
“总统先生，非常感谢您抽出时间了解西兰的一生以及他所感受到的爱与关怀，”苏雷什写道。
“您的话语深深触动了我的心，在这个痛苦的时刻，对我、我亲爱的弟弟以及所有爱我们的人都意义非凡。”
在 Suresh 分享的信件照片中，Tharman 总统称赞他，称他与 Gunaseelan 之间有着“美好的情谊”。
总统说：“你们一直支持他，不仅给了他安全感，还给了他温暖和尊严。”
“我会永远珍惜的东西”
苏雷什说，古纳塞兰虽然身有残疾，但他从未让残疾定义自己。
“他有一种不费吹灰之力就能赢得人心的神奇力量。无论西兰走到哪里，都会留下笑容、回忆和他美好灵魂的一小部分。”
苏雷什表达了对已故哥哥的自豪之情，并补充道：“能收到总统如此温暖的话语，我将永远珍藏。”
“总统先生，感谢您不忘我的哥哥，并认可他精彩的人生旅程。”
他的家人告诉AsiaOne，苏雷什因哥哥的去世而“非常悲痛欲绝”，需要“很长时间”才能走出伤痛。
khooyihang@asiaone.com