Reading about the plight of cancer-stricken Muhammad Danish Maarif, who has a special love for Lego and a desire to visit Legoland in Johor, William Cheah knew in his heart that he wanted to do something extra to help.
He wanted to bring financial aid to the boy’s family after learning of the family’s living conditions in Kuala Selangor.
Posting a message on Facebook yesterday about Danish and the dilapidated home he lived in with his family, Cheah said: “To make it even more difficult for this family, Danish’s mum is also suffering from third stage breast cancer and will soon undergo treatment. In short, they truly need help.”
So after receiving an invite to the Perdana Suite at the Sepang F1 Grand Prix event on Sunday, Cheah did not hesitate to put his plan into action.
“The plan was simple. I got a small (piece of) cardboard, pasted some photos of Danish with a message of Malaysians being there for him. And I wanted the PM to sign on it,” Cheah said, adding that he had informed the project coordinator for “Legoland For Danish” Wan Shahriza Wan Ab Rahman about his plan beforehand.
“From the moment the PM walked in, there were tons of people wanting to see him. I was disappointed to be honest. Didn’t think I could make it.
“But, since I was already there, I just made a request to one of his protocol people, asking him to let the PM know that there was this ‘Cina Apek’ who wanted him to sign something for a dying boy,” Cheah wrote matter-of-factly.
The little nudge helped, as Prime Minister Najib Razak turned to Cheah just before making for the exit, patiently listened to his plan of sending a message of support to Danish and graciously consented to do the necessary.
“I told the PM of my intention to raise (awareness of) Danish’s plight to all Malaysians. He asked me what was needed. I told him just a short message from him. To boost up the boy’s spirit. He (Najib) carried the board to the nearest table and he signed it.
Touched by the PM’s heartfelt gesture, Cheah was all praises for Najib’s selfless act. “He could have just walked on,” Cheah said, expressing how happy he was that Najib agreed to sign the message for Danish.
Cheah said that shortly after, all the Olympics and Paralympics medal winners there followed suit and gamely lined up to dedicate messages of hope to the dying boy.
“Malaysian heroes who could have just decided to ignore me and my request. But they have heart in abundance. And they showed that again today.”
Cheah admitted that he did not know whether the messages of support, and the funds raised along the way would be enough to help Danish and his family, but said that he was positive the gesture would make a difference to their lives in some way.
“I don’t know where it may go from here or whether we will be on time to help them.
“What I do know is that the President of the Association of Chinese Chambers of Commerce also asked for my card and told me he would call me to see what he can do. And a number of people asked me how they could help.
“So if you’re willing to take that extra mile for Danish, this is it,” Cheah said.
Appealing to more Malaysians to step forward and contribute financially towards the cost of house repairs and to help both cancer-stricken mother and son, Cheah gave details of Danish’s father’s bank account number in the same Facebook post.
Here’s wishing more caring Malaysians will make the gesture, however small, to help alleviate the pain this family is going through and make the rest of their lives as comfortable as possible.