Malaysian boy enters record books with amazing memory for world currencies
Published on: Sun, Jul 27, 2025
By: Bernama Text Size: Devakshean poses with the British World Records and Malaysia Book of Records certificates he received on Sunday. – fotoBERNAMA SEREMBAN: Who would have thought that at just six years old, a boy named D. Devakshean could make history with his extraordinary ability to identify 65 currencies from various countries in a single minute. Thanks to this unique skill, his name has been recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for the achievement of 'Most Foreign Currencies Identified by a Child in One Minute'. His mother, G. Devamalar, 37, from Negeri Sembilan, said her son began showing interest in national flags when he was just one year old, and could already accurately identify and name the Malaysian flag. 'From an early age, we could see his extraordinary abilities. When we showed him pictures or flags, he remembered them quickly. So, from there, we started training him, and at the age of two, he set a record by identifying over 200 countries and cities. 'His memory is truly exceptional—whatever we show him, he can remember. Not only flags and currency values but much more—he picks things up quickly,' she told reporters after a certificate of recognition was presented by MBR representative V. Menaga to Devakshean here today. Devamalar said she and her husband, A. Devakumaran, 41, have always supported their only child's interests and development. She also said it took about a month of preparation to train Devakshean before applying for MBR recognition this year. 'My son loves watching YouTube. So, we uploaded content such as lists of foreign currencies and the like to YouTube, and he learned on his own through that platform. He rarely plays—he enjoys reading books and learning on his own. That's just his nature. We've never forced him—it's his passion,' she said. Devamalar also hoped her son's extraordinary achievement would open doors to more opportunities, including possibly entering the Guinness World Records, and uncovering other potential areas that could be nurtured in the future. 'Not many people know him yet. I hope that through media coverage, more people will learn about him and he will have opportunities to go further,' she said. Meanwhile, Devakshean, who was born on Sept 10, 2019, said he loves the Malaysian flag as well as Mathematics, English, and Science, and aspires to become a firefighter. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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