Dr Siti Hasmah wants companies to help with affordable accommodation

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 – Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali would like to see more companies provide affordable accommodation for families of hospital patients to ease their burden.

“All who have worked tirelessly towards this have my gratitude because it helps those who are ailing.

“Parents, too, should be thankful for people like them who are eager to help while you focus on getting your child well again,” she said during her speech at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Ronald McDonald House at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HTCM-UKM), today.

The wife of the Prime Minister added that she was pleased to be invited back after launching the home away from home in 1999.

“I’m now 93, I hope that when I am 103, I will be invited again,” she said.

Ronald McDonald House Charities president, Azmir Jaafar, said another facility for families who have to travel far from home to Kuala Lumpur will be built at a hospital in the capital once approval has been given by the Health Ministry and before the year is out.

This will make it the third Ronald McDonald House after a second was just opened at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, in June.

“The long-term plan is to have at least one Ronald McDonald House in the north and south of the country, as well as Sabah and Sarawak.

“We target to help the B40 group. For a place that is comfortable and where the amenities are complete, the price per night is merely RM5,” he said.

The first Ronald McDonald House till now has benefitted almost 1,300 families of paediatric patients, with almost RM6 million used for its construction and upkeep.  

-- BERNAMA