GEORGE TOWN: Penang MCA has raised RM1mil over the past month for the national 1MCA Medical Foundation.

State MCA chief Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, who announced this, said the amount was significant as it would be used to treat the poor who were suffering from acute ailments.

“The MCA has raised RM10mil so far for the fund and we expect to spend RM5mil within the year. As such, we need to keep the funds rolling,” she said, adding that the funds were not meant for long-term treatment of chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension.

The Tourism Minister, who is an MCA vice-president, was speaking to reporters after a fund-raising dinner organised by the Penang MCA on Saturday in aid of the foundation.

On Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz’s distasteful remarks against the MCA, Dr Ng said the party was not going to waste its time and energy on the issue.

She said Nazri and everybody had the right to their own opinion but the most important to the MCA were that of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“Our Prime Minister has said that this is the time for us to get ready to face the Opposition for the general election. He said this is not the time to fight among ourselves,” Dr Ng added.