Ailing former cop moved by kindness

BY V. CHANDRASEKARAN

SUNGAI PETANI: Donations have poured in for former policeman A. Sundara Saygaran after his plight was publicised in The Star on Thursday. 

Many caring people nationwide pledged financial support to ease his burden and one of them was a Good Samaritan from Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Abdul Ghani Abdullah. 

Abdul Ghani, the director of Asia Space Dotcom Sdn Bhd, sent a cash cheque for RM3,000 to help Sundara settle his rental arrears. 

“My family is really touched by Abdul Ghani's timely donation as the landlord recently asked me to settle rental arrears of about RM3,000 by Tuesday or move out. 

Sundra, assisted by Ranjeet Singh, reading our Abdul Ghani's letter as Ratha Bai holds the RM3,000 cheque.

“Abdul Ghani also sent a note to say he will foot the monthly rental from now on. We are really touched by his generosity,” said Sundara, 47. 

“I feel sad when there is so much world-class development in our country, and we have people like Sundara and his family suffering. 

“I hope my small contribution of RM3,000 can immediately settle the outstanding rent and hope Sundara and family will stay on (in the rented house),” Abdul Ghani said in the note read out by an emotional Sundara when met at his house in Padang Temusu near here yesterday. 

Sundara, jobless and married with three children, was rendered unfit for work after a spinal cord injury at his workplace in November 1999. 

He and his family members were even forced to survive on instant noodles for lunch and dinner because of their dire financial straits.  

Sungai Petani Timur MIC branch chairman Ranjeet Singh, who highlighted Sundara’s plight, delivered Abdul Ghani's donation to Sundara yesterday. 

Sundara has three children – Kavinishwar, eight, Deepa Subaashini, 14, and Ashvini, 18, – and wife S. Ratha Bai, 45, an asthmatic patient who works as a canteen helper earning RM10 daily. 

Sundara, who resigned from the police force in 1984, joined a factory in November 1999. He underwent an operation on his spinal cord on Feb 24, 2000. He can only walk now with the help of a walking stick. 

Socso, which gave him RM10 daily following the injury, abruptly stopped the aid on Aug 25, 2001. Since then, all his attempts to secure financial aid from various quarters failed.  

Besides Abdul Ghani, other people have also pledged to help. Some said they would pay for the education of Sundara’s children while some would to send food to the family and offer free medical check-ups. 

Those who wish to help Sundara can send their donations to Ranjeet Singh's MIC branch office at No. 299, 9/2A, Jalan Zamrud, Taman Sinar Intan, 08000 Sungai Petani, or call the MIC branch chairman at 019-551 7527 for details.