Help them pay for artificial limbs

2008/07/17

Help them pay for artificial limbs


Email to friend Print article



(From left) Muhammad Nur Yasin Bachok, 20, Muhammad Farouq Md Hasim, 13, K. Thilagavathy, 19, and Rosnan Husin, 19, are appealing for donations.


KUALA LUMPUR: Just like other youngsters their age, they are full of dreams. But fate conspired to place obstacles in their way.

Thirteen-year-old Muhammad Farouq Md Hasim was born without a right hand.

K. Thilagavathy had a serious deformity above the right knee when she was born.

Rosnan Husin, 19, and Muhammad Nur Yasin Bachok, 20, lost their right legs in accidents.

Muhammad Farouq's mother, Jamiah Talip, said she and her husband could not afford to buy a RM5,500 artificial limb for their son.

She earns RM1,180 a month as a kindergarten teacher while her husband receives a government pension of RM700.

Since last year, they have had to pay a considerable sum for Muhammad Farouq's asthma medication. They have two other children.

Muhammad Farouq, from Malacca, said he wanted to become a computer expert.

Thilagavathy, who is taking a teaching course in her hometown in Kedah, said she needed a new limb as the present one had worn out.



A non-governmental organisation helps to pay for her course. She cannot afford the RM7,800 prosthetic limb.

Rosnan, from Negri Sembilan, also needs a prosthetic limb as his right leg was crushed in a motorcycle accident in January.

The former Kolej Yayasan Negri Sembilan student has a certificate in automotive engineering. He sat the exams a week after the accident.

"My plan now is to do a teaching course in automotive engineering."

Muhammad Nur Yasin, from Johor, needs RM6,800 for a prosthetic limb.

The sundry shop worker lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident two years ago.

He earns RM300 a month and he has to support his family. His mother is in hospital and his two siblings are schooling. His father gets a small government pension.

The four young people hope kind Malaysians will come forward and help them.

Make your cheque payable to the New Straits Times with the recipient's name written on the back.

Send it to The Cashier, Finance Department/Charity Unit, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, Balai Berita, 31 Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.