Good Luck In Trying To Win Penang Ismail Sabri

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My cousin-brother was born and raised in Penang. With his lack of education background, at the age of 38, he only managed to secure a job as a general worker and cleaner in our beloved Pearl of the Orient.
In 2018, he fell on the streets and injured himself. As a diabetic patient, the injury later developed into gangrene. Following his doctor’s advice, a year later, he had his toes and part of his left foot removed. 
Unfortunately, while he was recovering, the doctor discovered that his right foot was also suffering from gangrene and recommended that my cousin have it removed as well. 
Poor chap, unable to imagine a future without both feet, got scared and rejected the doctor’s advice. To save his right foot from amputation, my cousin went against our family’s advice and opted for traditional medicine which promised to heal him without any surgical procedures.
More than one year down the road, he lost all his savings to alternative medicine.
To make matters worse, his marriage failed and my cousin’s only remaining parent, his mother who was his strongest supporter, also passed away. 
Penang chief minister Chow Kon YeowNo longer able to survive on painkillers alone, he finally decided to end his misery. He agreed to have his other foot amputated at the hospital.
Unfortunately, the gangrene on his right foot by then had developed up to his knee. 
Giving up on life, he agreed to have his right leg amputated at the end of last year.
Recovery was a hard process for him. As relatives, we helped where we could. We crowdfunded his recovery process in a wonderful hospice home where help and support were available while his brother's rented home was renovated to ease his movement and help him function better.
By the middle of this year, my cousin began moving slowly with a prosthetic leg and a pair of shoes specially made for him, courtesy of his kind employers. But to get him back to his routine as an independent, working adult, was difficult.
My cousin needed a suitable motorcycle which would enable him to function like a member of the community and no longer be the burden he thinks he is.
But to purchase a motorcycle wasn't easy as everyone in the family had already tirelessly helped him financially in so many ways.
Caring leadership
As a last resort, a simple letter was emailed to the Penang chief minister’s office, requesting help.
I kid you not, within one week of the email, my cousin received a phone call enquiring about his condition and within the next few days, he was visited by representatives from the chief minister’s office. 
My cousin received his motorcycle just a few weeks later and had since resumed working.
Knowing he is cared for by his state government and that his wellbeing matters has been a great boost for my cousin. He thought he had lost everything but now he has bounced back to make something out of himself.
As a family, we cannot thank the Penang state government enough for being the kind of government the people love. This is one of the many reasons I love Penang. It is home like none other.
In Penang, everyone is family. From the leaders to ordinary men walking in the streets, we are all a family. This is the real Malaysian Family.
Recently, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced BN’s aspirations to win back the hearts of Penang citizens in the upcoming general election. I wish him luck, for I know he needs rockets full of it.
The truth is, our oceans may be blue in Penang, but the colour of our spirit is red and white. 
BN could actually learn a lot about the Malaysian Family concept and the spirit of togetherness from Penang DAP. - Mkini
 FA ABDUL is a multi-award-winning playwright and director in the local performing arts scene, a published author, television scriptwriter, media trainer, and mother. Her ultimate mission in life is to live out of a small suitcase.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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