No help for former footballer V. Krishnasamy? Really?

Can the relevant authorities like FAM or the Football Association of Penang do something to alleviate (V.) Krishnasamy’s financial situation?

This was published in The Star's letters page today:

https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2019/04/19/former-national-footballer-in-need-of-help/

It is nice of Kok Foo Leong to voice concerns about his good friend and former national footballer V. Krishnasamy. That shows compassion and the desire to help a friend - a noble trait that must be applauded.

But Mr Kok, the FA of Malaysia (FAM) has provided financial assistance to Krishnasamy not too long ago.

Then FAM general-secretary (now president) Datuk Hamidin Amin had presented financial assistance to Krishnasamy on Feb 26, 2018. Read the full report here.

In fact, a month earlier (Jan 18, 2018) the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) visited Krishnasamy.

Berita Harian had then quoted Yakeb's general manager Zuhairi Abdul Manaf as saying:

"Hari ini Yakeb menghulurkan sumbangan awal RM500 dan beberapa bantuan susulan sedang dilakukan termasuk layak menerima bantuan RM2,500 sebagai pesakit luar dan kos perubatan bernilai RM20,000."

The same report also mentioned:

Katanya, pihaknya menghulurkan sedikit sumbangan sebagai tanda sokongan dan menjelaskan dakwaan mengenai Krisnasamy dilaporkan ditinggalkan di rumah orang tua yang menjadi tular sebelum ini adalah tidak benar.

This was also seen in a Utusan Malaysia report published on Jan 19, 2018:

Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan (Yakeb) menafikan penyebaran berita bekas pemain bola sepak skuad Olimpik negara, V. Krishnasamy ditinggalkan di sebuah rumah jagaan orang tua.

Pengurus Besarnya, Zuhairi Abdul Manaf berkata, siasatan oleh pihaknya mendapati Krishnasamy ,70, sebenarnya sedang mendapatkan rawatan akibat sakit kencing manis yang dihidapinya di sebuah pusat rawatan di Batu Maung di sini.

Ujar Zuhairi, ekoran penularan berita berkenaan telah memberi tekanan kepada anak -anak Krishnasamy yang dituduh tidak mempedulikan bapa mereka.

Now back to the letter that was published in The Star today. 

If I received such a letter, I would have sent it to the Penang bureau to get it verified. 

The thought of a former national footballer not getting help would certainly be a good read on the sports pages, if that was the case. And this would also verify claims if Krishnasamy is indeed staying in a nursing home or not. 

If what was written was not entirely accurate, I would have then informed Mr Kok over the phone and wish him speedy recovery. But that's just me lah ...