AS MALAYSIANS rejoice in the double miracle that brought life anew to 14-year-old Tee Hui Yi, I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to each and everyone who played a role in this incredible Malaysian story.
Our heartfelt thanks to the 34-member Institut Jantung Negara team led by chief cardiothoracic surgeon Datuk Dr Mohd Azhari Yakub who worked tirelessly and professionally to make all this possible.
Despite having to perform a second operation so soon after the first donor heart was rejected, the team rose to the occasion. Malaysians could see for themselves how, despite the fatigue, the faces of these individuals were aglow with passion and compassion as they met the press to update the nation.
And we also have the unsung heroes: the paramedics, drivers, the RMAF, the police, staff from the blood bank and Institute of Medical Research (IMR), operating theatre staff, the pilots, the lab assistants, the telephonists, and staff from Ipoh Hospital and Johor Baru Hospital.
The operation would not be successful without the support of these individuals. It was a truly Malaysian team in the spirit of Rakyat Malaysia!
In these few days, I am sure all Malaysians from every race and religion were united in spirit and in prayer for Hui Yi and each and everyone connected to her case. We were surely also united for the parents of two wonderful Malaysians – one a 15-year-old Malay boy from Sitiawan, Perak, and the other, 20-year-old Chin Yoon Keong, from Johor Baru – who willingly surrendered their sons’ hearts to Hui Yi.
I believe that the words of the father of the Malay boy from Sitiawan said it all: “My son was God’s gift to me. Now it is time to return the gift to God.”
These are poignant words that remind us that “Belief in God” is the first principle of our Rukunegara and that all Malaysians, because of this belief, will instinctively, and without any prejudice, reach out to help one another.
Our diversity is our strength. Indeed when I look at the predominantly Malay team at IJN, I am also reminded that this is the holy month of Ramadan and despite the fasting of the faithful, this team gave its best to Hui Yi.
As we continue to pray for the recovery of Hui Yi and also the 39-year-old lung patient who benefited from the Ipoh boy’s gift as well, let us remind ourselves that we are indeed blessed to have so many talented and caring people in our midst. This is the real Malaysia where every act transcends race and religion and reaffirms the fact that all human beings are the same.
Finally, I wish to take this opportunity to wish our Muslim friends who were involved in this heart-warming exercise a Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.
Yours sincerely,
Ong Ka Ting
This article was originally published in theStar Online.
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