SINGAPORE: A family doctor has won an award for going the
extra mile to be a good neighbour to others.
Dr Kong Kum Leng, who runs a clinic at Marine Parade, was nominated
by his neighbours for The Good Neighbour Award.
It was presented by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong at the Marine
Parade Town Carnival on Sunday.
Dr Kong may not be a resident of Marine Parade, but he has been the
neighbourhood's doctor for 35 years.
Since then, the 65-year-old has been a good listening ear to many
residents there.
This caring doctor also makes house calls for patients who can't
make a visit to his clinic.
He even provides medical services to those who are less fortunate
at low cost or even for free.
Dr Kong recalls a story of one of his patients.
"There's a lady, she was very sick and she came to see me at about
12:15pm before lunch. I talked to her and she started crying. I
said, 'Have you eaten your lunch?' She said, 'No, I have no money
to eat.' So she opened her wallet to show me and I found that she
had only $2 in her wallet. I said, 'Ma'am, you don't pay me. This
is done on a very goodwill by me and there's no charge. With the $2
you go and have a simple bowl of noodles'."
His graciousness is so well-known that his neighbours at Marine
Parade nominated him for the Good Neighbour Award.
One of them is 41-year-old Edmond Lim who has been a patient of Dr
Kong for 10 years. He said: "He's a very down-to-earth person and a
very warm physician. In fact I get to know him more when I was in
grassroots, where he spent a lot of time and also efforts looking
after my low-income residents in the rental blocks. He's been
showing a lot of kindness towards the elderly as well as the less
fortunate residents."
The Good Neighbour Award aims to recognise residents who have shown
acts of kindness and contributed in promoting graciousness, harmony
and cohesion in the HDB community.
- 938LIVE
