PETALING JAYA: Please have faith that our doctors are doing their best to save everyone during this pandemic, regardless of age or social background, says MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong.

       He made the appeal following the deaths of his childhood friend Pu Liong, 75, and Pu’s wife a week earlier.

       “My friend Pu and his wife had been hospitalised since Sept 11 after testing positive for Covid-19,” he said.

       Pu had completed his vaccination a month earlier while his wife was not vaccinated due to her cancer.

       Unfortunately, Pu’s 80-year-old wife died at Hospital Sungai Buloh on Sept 26 while Pu passed away yesterday morning.

       Chong said he was aware that many, including close family members, had the idea that doctors chose to put more focus on treating younger and stronger patients, compared to weaker and older ones.

       “But this is wrong. I see that doctors try their best to do what they could to keep my friends alive, get them to be better and on the road to recovery from their illnesses,” he said.

       Chong, who is a Covid-19 survivor himself, said that after Pu’s wife passed away, Pu had told his family that he could no longer bear the suffering while being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), more so when he could no longer look towards having his wife as companion.

       “He was ready to give up and just leave. He did not see any hope but we told him that he must not give up, he must fight for the sake of his late wife and himself,” added Chong.

       After several rounds of conversation, Pu agreed to not give up and summoned every last bit of his energy to fight on.

       “Sadly, we got the news that he succumbed to his illness at about 5.30am today (yesterday),” Chong said, adding that it was very unfortunate that a person who tried so hard eventually succumbed to his illness.

       “But I guess in a way, he is in a better place now because he gets to be with his wife of 52 years,” he said.

       Chong said prior to this, both Pu and his wife were not allowed to see each other, even though they were warded in the same ward as doctors feared that the heightened emotional stress would hamper treatment.

       However, they were allowed to meet for a little while on Sept 21 for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

       “They spent about half an hour together and that was the last time they saw each other,” Chong said.

       Pu’s body will be released to his family once hospital procedures are completed.

       It is learnt that his burial can be managed by the family as he was medically certified to be out of the condition where he could spread Covid-19.