The Star Malaysia

1MCA medical charity is here to care

Foundation welcomes donations from private sector to help the underprivi­leged

- By FATIMAH ZAINAL fatimah@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: With help from the private sector, 1MCA Medical Foundation continues to provide a lifeline for the less privileged.

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said much can be accomplish­ed when the private sector works together with the Government to serve the people.

“1MCA Medical Foundation has helped many patients to seek treatment not just at government hospitals but also at private institutio­ns.

“We give welfare aid to patients regardless of their race,” said Liow after launching the Optimax Eye Specialist Centre Sri Petaling branch yesterday.

At the event, the foundation received donations totalling RM450,000 from Optimax Healthcare Services, Nirvana Asia Group and Mah Sing Group.

They contribute­d RM300,000, RM100,000 and RM50,000 respective­ly.

“With the donations, more Malaysian patients are able to receive assistance.

“I would like to urge more private companies to donate to the foundation,” said Liow.

Since 2016, Optimax Eye Specialist Centre has worked with 1MCA Medical Foundation to provide treatment for 100 underprivi­leged cataract patients.

The centre, which has 11 branch- es nationwide and inhouse specialist­s, said Liow, could help fill the gaps in public hospitals, which lack specialist­s.

“We know that in terms of eye health services, we lack specialist­s in public hospitals.

“With private specialist­s such as Optimax increasing, this can help ease the burden of government hospitals,” he said.

The centre’s chief executive officer Sandy Tan said more than 120,000 patients have been treated from the time the place was set up in 1995.

“We also provide spectacles to underprivi­leged children and do eye check-ups for schools, orphanages and old folks’ homes,” said Tan.

Also present were Optimax Eye Specialist Centre executive chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Noor Abdul Rahim, its founder and managing director Datuk Tan Boon Hock, Nirvana Asia Group founder Tan Sri Kong Hon Kong, Mah Sing group managing director Tan Sri Leong Hoy Kum, Top Glove Corp Bhd executive chairman Tan Sri Dr Lim Wee Chai, Jia Teck Industries Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Seri Lee Sey Liang, The Store Corporatio­n Bhd group managing director Tan Sri Tang Yeam Soon and GCC Group director William Gan.

At the event, Optimax Healthcare Services also contribute­d RM50,000 to Yayasan Pendidikan Tzu-Chi Malaysia School Building Fund and another RM50,000 to Buddhist Tzu-Chi Merit Society Malaysia Dialysis Centre.

 ??  ?? Caring hearts: (From left) Lee, Mohamad Noor, Dr Lim, Tan, Liow, Kong, Leong, Tang and Gan.
Caring hearts: (From left) Lee, Mohamad Noor, Dr Lim, Tan, Liow, Kong, Leong, Tang and Gan.

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