DPM HELPS DEAF GIRL GET EAR IMPLANT
Zahid and other caring people donate funds for surgery
SECURITY guard Ramlan Abdul Hamid only wanted his 2-year-old daughter, Batrisyia, who is diagnosed with a hearing problem since she was born, to lead a normal life.
Although the sole breadwinner had appealed to the public for help, Batrisyia is short of half of the required cost for her RM120,000 cochlear implant surgery. His wish for her to have the ability to hear and speak came true when Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stepped in to help the family yesterday.
During a meeting held at the Kuching International Airport here, Zahid handed over a donation for Batrisyia to undergo her surgery at Miri Hospital.
The undisclosed amount of the donation comprises personal contribution from Zahid, his wife, Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis, and caring people, including Piasau assemblyman Sebastian Ting.
“I learnt from Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting that he had launched a donation campaign to help raise funds for Ba- trisyia’s cost of operation.
“I was moved by the plea and, together with other benefactors, we decided to contribute to the fund,” Zahid said.
Present during the meeting were Ting, Ramlan and his wife, Alis Rama Affendi, 23.
“My daughter will soon lead a normal life. Thank you to the deputy prime minister and everyone who had helped us,” said Ramlan from Batu Niah in Miri.
Ting said a total of RM67,000 had been raised from the donation campaign launched in May.
“We hope the surgery could be conducted by the end of this month or early August,” said Ting, who is also the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party secretarygeneral.