He said treatment for rare diseases was expensive and the families of patients usually could not afford it, he said after handing over contributions to Saffiyya Aisyah Sahrul Asyraf Sharuddin, a six-year-old who has had rare muscle cancer since she was four.

Noor Azmi said the government would provide assistance if it received reports of patients who could not pay for their treatment. “The cost includes medicines which are expensive and difficult to get,” he said.

Saffiyya Aisyah’s mother, housewife Syamimi Athirah Sanusi, 30, said she and her family would try to fulfil the wishes of her only child, who is a terminal patient.

Saffiyya Aisyah’s wish to play in the snow will be taken up by the northern region Cancer Children’s Friends Association. Its president, Maznah Tayib, said they would arrange a trip to i-City in Selangor this month.

The girl’s mother said we (the family) “accept it as fated that my daughter has six months to live”. She said Saffiyya Aisyah had already undergone two operations.