KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: A 33-year-old police lance corporal had everything going for him -- a promising career and a happy marriage.

But David Duwin Kalong@Mohd Edwin Abdullah's world came crashing down two months ago when he was stricken with a kidney infection.

Edwin, who has been in the force for 11 years, experienced swelling of the body last December. He was admitted to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre where his condition was diagnosed.

His wife, Siti Rokiah Bairula, 29, had to quit her job at a boutique to care for her husband. The couple has exhausted their savings on medication, which costs RM5,200 per course of treatment.

"He needs six courses to control the infection," Siti Rokiah said yesterday, after accepting a RM10,000 cheque from Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Matlasa Hitam at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail station, where Edwin works in the armoury.

Matlasa said they received an appeal last week to help Edwin. He added that the donation was Puncak Niaga's way of showing their appreciation to the policemen who risk their lives to maintain public order and safety. -New Straits Times