Happy day for Yong Peng’s oldest voter
Wee and team pay special visit to 102-year-old and family
YONG PENG: At the age of 102, Wong Yang Chen still stands strong and goes about his daily life without needing much help at his home in Jalan Kit Siong here.
Apart from hearing problems, the retired farmer appeared relatively healthy and is known to be the oldest voter in this district.
The youngest of his nine children, Wong Choon Bee, 62, described her father as “a strong-willed person who has a great passion for farming and gardening”.
“Till this day, he insists on looking after his vegetable farm in the backyard and the garden at the front porch.
“He loves plants and feels agitated when we disallow him from going to the farm without supervision.
“So, we try our best to keep an eye on his activities,” she said yesterday.
MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong brought cheer to the Wong family when he paid a special visit to their home in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year.
Accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Jessica Lim Hai Ean, the Ayer Hitam MP shared a light moment with Yang Chen and his family after presenting them ang pow and Mandarin oranges.
Choon Bee said the family was touched by Dr Wee and his team’s warm gestures.
“He (my father) looks very happy,” she said.
Earlier, Dr Wee also presented ang pow and Mandarin oranges to 27 patients with kidney failure during a function organised by his service centre and the Yong Peng Lions Club.
Besides Chinese New Year, his centre, along with non-governmental organisations, has helped more than 1,000 needy people during Hari Raya and Deepavali.
“We have been doing this for the past 14 years.
“We do not turn away anyone who asks for our help,” Dr Wee said, adding that besides helping the poor, they also helped to raise funds for those suffering from chronic illnesses.
He added that the number of dialysis patients in his constituency had been increasing each year and that plans were afoot to set up a big dialysis centre.
“We have one now in my area, which can handle 12 patients daily. However, it’s not enough,” he said, adding that dialysis patients needed to undergo treatment at least three times a week.
Dr Wee said that those undergoing dialysis at such subsidised centres needed to only pay about RM130 a visit, compared with RM250 at private centres.