Malaysian couple who went viral for riding motorbike with sick baby on respirator get married

A Malaysian couple who went viral for taking a sick baby plugged into a breathing device on a motorbike to hospital have tied the knot after doubts were cast over their marital status.

Azlan Ishak said “let’s close the book on this and open a new one” after marrying Norhidayu Halim at an Islamic ceremony in Kedah state on Tuesday.

Azlan said he hoped Malaysians would “forget about the past”.

Azlan and his wife captured the nation’s attention after a photo of them and their 11-month-old child, who suffers from a chronic lung disease and relies on a respirator, was widely circulated on social media.

The family’s plight sparked an outpouring of donations and support, including from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“I was moved and surprised when I found out that our story had reached the knowledge of the prime minister, but we were also very sad because we were worried about being criticised by netizens,” Azlan said.

“We were worried that people would say all kinds of things, but I am also grateful to netizens who made us viral, they helped us.”

According to Norhidayu, her husband works as a helper at a fishing rig and they do not own a car, forcing them to take the baby to hospital on a motorcycle.

“Taking taxis is expensive and we can’t afford that,” she said.

Azlan received about 100,000 ringgit (US$21,256) in donations from the public, part of which he set aside to buy a used car from a dealer.

But the owner recognised Azlan was the father of the baby boy in the viral photo and gifted him a vehicle that he intended to buy.

Norhidayu said her son needed to wear a continuous positive airway pressure machine full-time and experienced difficulty breathing if the device was taken off.

She added the crowdfunded cash would be used to replace