Blind musician Alfred Ho has long been a familiar voice to Malaysians.
Known for his heartfelt renditions of songs by the likes of Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard, as well as country and western classics, Ho has been entertaining audiences since the 1970s.
But at 75, the veteran performer finds himself facing a major hurdle: raising funds for a critical heart procedure.
“Sometime in May, I found myself not feeling so well. I would feel extremely tired just climbing the stairs,” he told FMT Lifestyle.
A medical examination earlier this month revealed the severity of his condition. Doctors discovered three blockages in his arteries and recommended that two stents be inserted.
The procedure, scheduled for Sept 23 at University Malaya Medical Centre, will cost him around RM15,000, a sum that is beyond his means.
Ho’s story is one of resilience. Struck blind after a bout of measles at age three, he taught himself to sing, play the guitar, harmonica, and even yodel.
His big break came in 1971 when he appeared on RTM’s “Bakat TV”, marking the start of a lifelong career in music.
Ho became a crowd favourite, not just for his warm personality but also for his versatility, being able to sing in multiple languages.
In 2017, he even made it on “Asia’s Got Talent”, receiving three “yes” votes from the judges. He was, however, later dismissed from the show.
Still, his love for music has kept him going. “Music is in my blood, so I’ll definitely continue for as long as I can,” he said.
“In fact, at the moment, I also have some hearing problems. There was a time my hearing was so bad, I told people I wanted to give up. But now it has improved a bit, enough for me to still listen to music.
“So for as long as I can, I will continue, because I love music.”
Ho busks once a week at Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park in Kuala Lumpur, performing every Sunday afternoon. He admits he doesn’t make much – “maybe around RM100 on a good day”.
Music remains his only source of income. His wife, who works as a clinic assistant, helps keep things afloat in their modest home in Kuchai Lama.
But with the unexpected cost of the surgery, the couple is struggling to make ends meet. To make matters more difficult, Ho is not eligible for a Socso pension.
“If I need money, I want to work for it. I don’t want it for free,” he said.
True to his word, Ho has tried raising money by selling his own music.
“During the pandemic, when I had nothing to do, I recorded over 20 albums in a year, each with around 20-30 songs,” he shared.
“I recorded CDs, but nowadays I realise nobody has CD players. So that’s become a problem.”
Some of the album titles include “Alfred Sings the Timeless Hits”, “Alfred Remembers the Mandarin Oldies”, and “Alfred Goes Country”.
“I recorded the kinds of songs that are rare, especially ones you can’t find very easily in the market,” he added.
With sales dwindling and without the means to digitise his collection, Ho is now appealing to the public for help to raise the funds he urgently needs.
Contributions can be made to Alfred Ho, Public Bank account 6396 641 515. For further enquiries, kindly contact 012-346 1232.
