True friendships

"My friends are my estate"
- Emily Dickinson

Ah Kam, Jenny Pong's 'sister'

We met some new friends today. When I first arrived at Ms Pong's house, I saw Ms Ah Kam .She is one of Jenny Pong's best friend. Due to a fall when she was nine year old, her left hand is twisted out and she doesn’t use it . Her right foot is slightly stiff from the fall so she walks with a limp. Because of these physical handicaps, she can’t do much except collecting bottle, tins, and plastic containers and sell them to recycling factory. She makes little from such work. Pong’s family sometimes gives her vegetables they grow and share chicken or fish with her.

Every important moment of Pong's life, Ah Kam is there. She follows Pong to the hospital every time, and often comes to Pong's house to help. She could have used her time to collect more recycles, but she choose to give a hand to Pong.How many unselfish friends does one have in a life time?

Pong was so touched when Ah Kam took care of her sick mother in the hospital. 'At that time, I am also under treatment,so I could not do anything. It's awful to watch my own mother in pain but cant help. Ah Kam is just like my real sister.I am really lucky to have her around.'  

While listening to Pong and Ah Kam's little stories, a new face came in from the door. It was Harry Ho,Jenny's other friend. It's hard to tell that he is a physically challenged man if I did not see his cane. He is so passionate and kind! Harry lost his legs in an accident, and at the very beginning, he couldn't accept the fate. It took him 2 years to recover, physically and mentally. He then went to the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and met Ms Pong there.

Harry ' We are not disabled,we are special '

When Pong was still running the Perak Disabled Society, Harry gave her a lot of useful advice. He even gave support to Pong when there were rumors about her committing corruption. 

As years passes, Harry is always there for Pong. He comes to visit Pong whenever he has time. Recently, Pong told Harry about the idea of buying a new land, because the place where she lived now can be taken back by the owner any time. Harry then gave Pong information about lands and houses, he even told Pong to check if there is any policy which can help disabled people in straitened circumstances to buy lands. At that moment, I saw one's care demonstrated because of friendship. If Ah Kam is like a sister to Jenny Pong, Harry is like a mentor to her. 

Ms Pong emphasized more than one time about the importance of having good friends. Besides her supportive family, friends helped her survived from all the tragedies more than anything else.  I too can see, with my own eyes, that the warmth and support from her friends give Pong a glow on her cheeks. She is brave and optimistic because of all these blessings in her life