Hii examines Ashraf’s spine. Ashraf will have the first of his six spinal implant operations in April.
MIRI: SK Sayed Othman Primary 3 pupil Ashraf Ikhwan Haikal Iswandy will receive assistance for his six spinal implant operations.
United People’s Party (UPP) Piasau chairman Datuk Hii King Chiong said Ashraf’s first operation in April costing RM12,500 would be born by the Miri Hospital Medical Social Work Unit, while his father would pay RM300.
“I’ve promised to help Ashraf and appeal to other corporate bodies to come and assist this boy, who is currently depending on a wheelchair to go and sit in the classroom,” Hii said yesterday after visiting the school to check on the completed construction of teachers’ toilets, which he funded last November.
The UPP northern region coordinator said Ashraf’s family had tried to seek assistance from the relevant authorities but only the hospital and school have agreed to help.
He explained that Ashraf requires the surgeries involving posterior instrumentation, decompression and fusion.
Hii said he would contribute to the nine-year-old’s subsequent operations as well as collect funds for him.
“I pity Ashraf, who is very keen to study now in Primary 3, and hope the operations will go well as expected by the doctor,” he said.
Meanwhile, SK Sayed Othman headmaster Juhaili Junaidi thanked Hii and UPP for constructing the two teachers’ toilets and promised to help Ashraf with his operations.
He called on more corporate figures to follow Hii’s example and help schools and children striving to get an education.
Parent-teacher association chairman Rushdi Abdul Rani said parents and teachers are happy that the teachers now have proper toilet facilities.
“We thank Majulah Miri Group, UPP Piasau and Datuk Hii King Chiong for his generosity in helping the school and we welcome good Samaritans to assist the school to shine,” he said.