KLANG: Free prosthetic legs for the needy are still available, as 23 people including Malays and Indians have applied for free prosthetic legs while the joint organisers – five Chinese moral uplifting societies in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, known as De Jiao Hui, are targeting 70.

A second round of registration for free prosthetic legs will be open after the Chinese New Year.

Lim Hok Heng, Persatuan Memperbaiki Akhlak Che Kia Khor Kuala Lumpur Chairman and organising chairman of the free prosthetic leg project, said this is the first time the project is carried out with four other affiliate groups in Klang Valley, with technical support from their counterpart in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Yayasan Sosial Moral Sejati Surya Gemilang Ming Ya Shan Ge Jakarta, which has assisted more than 10,000 Indonesians with prosthetic legs, was present at Persatuan Kebajikan Che Sheng Khor Klang on Sunday to take measurements for the 23 applicants.

The Jakarta team will return home with the measurements to produce customised prosthetic legs at a factory.

They are scheduled to come back to Malaysia in March with the prosthetic legs ready for installation, Lim said.

The free prosthetic leg project is in line with the objective of De Jiao Hui, or Chinese moral uplifting society, to promote and uphold moral principles to achieve harmony and peace by practising human kindness, trustworthiness and mutual respect among people regardless of faith and religion.

Heng Hua Joo, the secretary of De Jiao Hui Sekinchan, said several members from Jakarta will check-in the customised prosthetic legs to save shipping cost when flying to Malaysia.

A customised prosthetic leg costs around RM2,000 in Indonesia, but could be over RM8,000 here, said Heng.

Collaboration with Indonesia has lowered the cost of production so that more needy people can benefit from the project, he said.

Those in need of prosthetic legs can contact De Jiao Hui in Klang 012-266 3395 or 019-218 2433, Sekinchan 017-293 8821, Kajang 012-207 9295, Kuala Lumpur 011-2369 1098 and Kepong 012-302 0303.