PENANG, Wed: three month old Lekeraj Sathasivam needs heart surgery urgently to live, and his parents have to raise RM10,000 to meet the medical expenses.

Lekeraj, born on Nov 22, has been diagnosed with congenital heart disease and is scheduled to undergo surgery at the Penang Adventist Hospital in mid March.

His father, Sathasivam Rajagopal, 48, is a technician at Penang Water Supply Corporation (PWSC) earning about RM1,000 a month.

Sathasivam’s wife, Balwaat Kaur, 37, is unemployed. They also have a 10-year-old daughter.

The surgery is estimated to cost RM20,000. About RM10,000 has been raised from various sources.

Sathasivam said any excess in donations would be used to fund other heart patients to be determined by the Malaysian Hindu Sangam Penang Council.

Crossed cheques can be made payable to Malaysia Hindu Sangam with "Lekeraj Medical Fund" written on the blank side and sent to the Treasurer, Malaysian Hindu Sangam Penang State Council, 50 Lorong Bunga Raya, 11700 Bukit Gelugor, Penang.