Lions Roar at the National Leprosy Control Centre

Date: 27th January 2013
Time: 9am - 12pm
Venue: National Leprosy Control Centre (NLCC) , Sungai Buloh

It is nearly a norm for the city folks to wake up a little late on Sunday morning and spends the rest of the day with family members. On January 27^th, 2013, Sunday, about nine in the morning, there were more than a hundred of people gathered at the new multi-purpose hall of the National Leprosy Control Centre [NLCC] in Sungai Buloh; they are all Lions and Leos. The very first time nearly forty Lions Clubs from District 308 B1 and B2 work together to have a joint programme in conjunction with the World Leprosy Day [always the last Sunday of January]; a great effort by the committee led by the Organising Chairperson, Lion Chu Tham Sang of LC of Taman Tun.

Food and some daily use items were among the goodies that distributed to each and every inmate in the NLCC, Chinese New Year song and Gangnam style dance were presented by Lions, Leos and young children of the Lions to cheer the aged and lonely inmates.

This programme is meaningful. Besides showing our care to the unfortunate inmates, we are reminding the people that NLCC has been a ‘safe paradise’ to so many leprosy patients and then ex leprosy patients. From keeping them away from the outside world, to providing a safe heaven that enable them to lead a new life; where they earn a decent living by selling their labour and agricultural products.

There were too many sad stories about the inmates; they were like us lived a normal life until being diagnosed leprosy. They were sent to the centre by force. Many of them were disowned by the families. They were sent in as young as twelve years old. There were students who excelled in academic performance had their dream dashed as they became leprosy patient.

Of the total 230ha leprosy settlement that set up in 1930, 78ha has been gazetted as national heritage in April 2011. It was originally named as Sungai Buloh Leprosy Settlement. It then changed to Sungai Buloh Leprosarium in 1965. In 1969, it has then become the National Leprosy Control Centre [NLCC]. It was a self-contained settlement; it had its own school, police force, places of worship, library, theatre, and even currency. 

Currency note used in the settlement (Shoba Mano, thestar.com 2007)

NLCC is one of the greatest humane programme in the world. It has put Malaysia in world health care history. At its peak [1960s], there were about 2000 inmates. Today there are about 200 fully recovered inmates. They have spent the most of their lives in NLCC, they find no other better place other than NLCC. A ninety-year old inmate Mdm Lee Saw Cheng said that, “Being 77 years here, I have gone through three governments, the British, the Japanese and the current one. During the Japanese Occupation, as the Japanese soldiers were scared of being infected, we were all saved; we were free from all the reported cruelties. My family members visit me occasionally and brought me out; I have seen the outside world. This is my place d. I have lived too long …”

This settlement of the unfortunate patients is getting popular as a nurseries centre rather than NLCC. From a place of stigma to a nursery with various colourful flowers and plants; it is always crowded during weekend and festive season. It is really a Valley of Hope!

The Lions’ visit has crowded the NLCC with care and love. My interaction with the inmates was rather enlightening. It makes me put in effort to find out more and of course to share with my family, especially my two teens.

While writing I contacted the co-author of the book “Valley of Hope”, Joyce Wong, who had grown up in the settlement as a child of leprosy patients. I would meet her in a very near future for further chat.