GEORGE TOWN: A traditional Chinese painting drawn by a Penang MCA leader has raised RM45,044 for the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) medical school.
Cheah Chin Woon (pic), who is Penang MCA social movement bureau head, said he managed to raise the amount in eight days from April 23 to April 30.
He said people from all walks of life contributed to the cause soon after he uploaded the painting on the Penang MCA website, adding that the painting would be hung at the UTAR medical school in the future.
“I am touched by the good public response. When I bought char kuey teow, the seller gave me a RM2 discount and asked me to channel the amount to the fund-raising activity.
“He told me he also wanted to chip in for the cause. His gesture means a lot to us,” said Cheah.
It was earlier reported that Cheah had wanted to use his talent to raise awareness on environmental issues and to collect funds for the UTAR medical school at the same time.
It was his first try at painting shan shui hua, a style of traditional Chinese painting that involves or depicts scenery or natural landscapes, using a brush and ink rather than more conventional paints.
Cheah said he drew inspiration from the garbage-filled drain linking to Sungai Pinang, which is said to be among the dirtiest rivers in the country.
He used flowers and pandan leaves as well as water from the drain to bring colours into the painting.
“The total funds collected will be directly banked into the UTAR medical school education foundation.
“The foundation is mainly for medical purposes to train up more doctors.
“It will be a meaningful charity event to raise awareness on environmental issues,” he said after presenting a mock cheque to Penang MCA chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng during a simple ceremony recently.
On April 14, in an effort to raise awareness about keeping rivers clean, Cheah jumped into the drain linking to Sungai Pinang.
He waded through the black water with a net in hand to collect floating bottles, plastic bags and other waste.
He spent about 30 minutes wading through the river while other MCA members helped him haul up the trash.
