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<\/p>\n(Tawau) Two sisters from Tawau, Sabah \u2014 16-year-old Nur Haziqah Hamizan Kong Binti Abdullah and her 11-year-old sister Nur Hazirah Kong Binti Hamizan Kong\u00a0 are both suffering from congenital hearing impairment. They are currently in urgent need of RM150,000 to undergo bilateral cochlear implant surgeries and related medical treatment. The family hopes that kind-hearted members of the public will lend their support to help the sisters regain complete hearing and experience the sounds of the world once again.<\/p>\n
Their father, Hamizan Kong Abdullah, a Chinese Muslim working as a machinery technician at a rubber plantation with a monthly income of approximately RM4,000, and his wife, Hasmi Binti Muharram, a housewife, are doing their best to provide for their three children \u2014 the two daughters with hearing impairment and their younger son, Hazim Uzair Kong Bin Hamizan Kong.<\/p>\n
Hamizan shared that several years ago, with assistance from generous donors and bank loans, both daughters successfully underwent unilateral cochlear implant surgeries. However, this was only the first step in their recovery journey, as their hearing abilities remain limited.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes they still cannot hear clearly and people need to repeat themselves two or three times before they understand. Since only one ear is functioning, it is still very difficult for them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the doctor who previously treated his daughters recently held a medical talk in East Malaysia, and he took the opportunity to consult the doctor regarding their current condition. According to the doctor, both girls have shown significant improvement after receiving the implants, especially the younger daughter, whose speech development has progressed remarkably. Nevertheless, their hearing ability is still not fully restored.<\/p>\n
\u201cI truly hope they can complete the bilateral cochlear implant surgeries so that their studies and future will not be affected,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Recalling the past, Hamizan said his eldest daughter\u2019s hearing problem was only discovered when she was about five or six years old. Initially, the couple enrolled her in a normal school, but after teachers noticed signs of hearing difficulties, they realised something was wrong. They later brought her to hospitals in Tawau and Kota Kinabalu for examinations and speech therapy, but surgery was not available at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cLater, when my younger daughter turned three, we discovered she had the same condition. It was heartbreaking for us as parents, but we could not give up on them.\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Determined to seek better treatment opportunities, the couple moved to Kuala Lumpur with their daughters to learn sign language, attend speech therapy, and undergo further assessments and treatment. As strangers in a new city, they had to start from scratch while bearing expensive living and medical costs.<\/p>\n
Hamizan said he had taken a RM150,000 bank loan to cover medical and living expenses. However, the amount was only sufficient for the eldest daughter\u2019s unilateral cochlear implant surgery, which cost more than RM100,000. Due to financial limitations, the younger daughter had to wait until additional funds were raised. Eventually, with public support, she too managed to undergo unilateral implantation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe doctor said it would be best to implant both ears, but we simply could not afford it. We could only proceed with one side so that they could at least hear something,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
While his wife and children stayed in Kuala Lumpur for treatment and rehabilitation, Hamizan remained in Tawau to work and support the family financially, frequently travelling between both locations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat period was extremely difficult, but for the sake of my children, I had to keep going,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He explained that by 2025, the family could no longer afford the monthly rental and living expenses in Kuala Lumpur, where rent ranged between RM1,200 and RM1,400 per month, forcing them to return to Tawau. Despite the hardship, he remains grateful that his daughters gained valuable knowledge and skills during their time in Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy younger daughter is now studying in a normal primary school, I worry that she may struggle academically, but I just want her to grow up like any other child,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Hamizan added that he does not know how long he will be around, but he hopes his daughters will one day become independent and no longer have to endure such hardships.<\/p>\n
He also mentioned that there is no history of hearing impairment in the family, and doctors have informed them that the condition only affects the daughters, while their son remains healthy.<\/p>\n
CCEP Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Yee Poh Yoon , said the goal of the bilateral cochlear implant surgeries is to provide the two sisters with a better quality of life and greater opportunities in education and learning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe elder sister is already 16 years old and will soon graduate, We hope that when she enters society in the future, she will be able to secure suitable employment and enjoy a better quality of life,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She explained that the family discovered the girls\u2019 hearing condition relatively late. The elder sister was only diagnosed after the age of five, while the younger sister was diagnosed after the age of two. As a result, the elder sister had already missed the critical period for language development, making speech and language learning more challenging.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the elder sister underwent unilateral cochlear implant surgery, their mother spent three years in Kuala Lumpur accompanying the girls for follow-up treatments, therapy sessions, and classes. Although the journey was extremely difficult, their progress has been encouraging,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
According to Yee, the younger sister\u2019s speech development and pronunciation are comparatively better, while the elder sister continues to face challenges in speech clarity due to delayed treatment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe sincerely hope the public will support these sisters in completing their bilateral cochlear implant surgeries so they can have better opportunities in education, communication, and daily life,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Alan Ong Teng Khoon and Jess Yee Lee Yun, committee members of the Pertubuhan Kebajikan Amal Shan Xin, also attended to express their concern and support.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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Two sisters from Tawau, Sabah \u2014 16-year-old Nur Haziqah Hamizan Kong Binti Abdullah and her 11-year-old sister Nur Hazirah Kong Binti Hamizan Kong\u00a0 are both suffering from congenital hearing impairment. They are currently in urgent need of RM150,000 to undergo bilateral cochlear implant surgeries and related medical treatment. The family hopes that kind-hearted members of the public will lend their support to help the sisters regain complete hearing and experience the sounds of the world once again.<\/p>\n