A SINGLE mother was all smiles when RM55,000 was raised for her six-year-old son, who could now be able to undergo surgery to correct his congenital heart condition.

Loh Sally, 34, who works as a cashier in a pub, said her son Chng Yu Chuan was suffering from a condition known as ventricular septal defect (VSD).

She said that with her monthly RM750 salary, she would not have been able to save enough money for the operation which would be conducted on Sept 14 at a local private hospital in Penang.

“I had earlier asked for the help of a friend who then approached the MCA Bukit Gelugor division for assistance,” she said.

Division chairman Datuk Koay Kar Huah presented Loh with a RM15,000 cheque at a restaurant in Island Park on Saturday.

He said after hearing of her plight, the division approached a Chinese daily, Kwong Wah Yit Poh, to help set up a fund.

“The paper then highlighted her plight on July 29, and RM40,000 was raised. The remaining RM15,000 was raised by several Penang Teong Guan committees,” he said.

“Although Loh is from Jelutong, and not from my constituency, MCA will not hesitate to help those in need. The moment we got to know about her plight, we immediately set out to raise money for her,” he said.

The Teong Guan committees which helped raise the funds were from Wayton Phase III, Majestic Heights, Taman Lone Pine, Taman Tembaga Jaya and Taman Hijau Ta Shan Kong.

Koay said the operation would only cost RM30,000 but the rest of the money collected would be used for the boy’s follow-up treatment and medication.

Teong Guan Hungry Ghost Festival deputy chairman Loke Poh Chye said there was a need to raise funds for Chinese schools, and it was important for the community to support this noble cause.

“We hope to help raise RM1mil for the building fund of SRJK (C) Pai Chai in Batu Ferringhi,” he said.

“There are many Chinese schools that need more classrooms, newer buildings and financial help.

“We should focus on that,” he added.

-The Star-