Bagan MCA touched by vendor’s plight

NEWSPAPER vendor Koh Yin Cheng, who has been suffering from ‘wobbling knees’ for the past seven years, badly requires knee replacement surgery on both knees.

The 54-year-old, who limps as he walks to sell newspapers daily on Jalan Raja Uda in Penang has been finding it hard to raise funds for his surgery.

Bagan MCA division Youth chief David Chua responded to his plight by sourcing RM14,000 from the 1Malaysia MCA Medical Fund for Koh’s surgery.

Chua said a private hospital had initially proposed to perform Koh’s surgery at the cost of RM40,000.

“But after I took him for a full medical check-up at the Seberang Jaya Hospital, we found out that the surgery could be done there for free.

“He only needs to pay for the equipment used in the surgery that cost RM14,000,” he said after MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai presented Koh a cheque for RM14,000 for the surgery at a restaurant on Jalan Raja Uda recently.

■For your op: Liow (in red) discussing with Koh (second right) while presenting the 1Malaysia MCA Medical Fund cheque to him. With them are (from right) Chua, Bagan MCA division chairman Lee Chee They and his deputy Sum Yoo Keong.

Chua said Koh, who lived in a rented flat in Pangsapuri Mawar, off Jalan Raja Uda, was a familiar face in the area, as he had been selling papers there for more than 10 years.

He said that Koh, who was married with three daughters aged 24, 17 and 13, earned about RM1,000 a month.

“I will help Koh fix an appointment with the hospital to have the surgery done soon,” he said.

Koh said he was grateful to MCA and Chua for helping him.

“I do not know what was the actual cause of the injuries to my knees.

“But, I am looking forward to being able to walk properly, just the way I used to in the past,” he said.


The Star MetroWednesday February 1, 2012