FINDING one's calling is easy, compared with getting your loved ones to support it.

This was the dilemma faced by Dr Kenny Lee.

When Lee gave up the comfort and promises of the big city to serve the indigenous people of Long Lama, Sarawak, he did not do it for money or recognition.

He simply did it because it was the right thing to do.

"My parents were in shocked when I told them of my plans," said the 30-year-old from Kajang.
"They didn't even know where Sabah and Sarawak was then."

Their shock was understandable though as Lee came from a poor family and is the eldest of three siblings, the two other being sisters.

As the oldest son, much was expected of Lee, who furthered his studies in Britain with some help from his relatives.

While in Britain, Lee was inspired by the spirit of humanity that he saw in his lecturers and friends, who would give up months at a time to conduct relief work in Third World countries.

After returning to Malaysia, while many of his friends went to work in hospitals in the major cities, Lee put action to his convictions and applied to work in the rural areas instead.

"But it was after I received the AYA award that my family accepted my decision to serve the less fortunate.

"And that was truly priceless."

Besides winning the approval of his loved ones, the awards paved the way for Lee to become one of the spokesmen for Proton when it launched the new Saga model.

"I was featured in television advertisements and also given a car and some money."

It was also at Long Lama that Lee met local Kayan nurse Jenny Lahai Jok, who is now his wife.

Lee has no plans to leave Long Lama and is talking about using some of his money to help build schools for the Orang Asli there.

"Not all of us can be Mother Theresa and we can't expect people to live in shacks to save the environment.

"But if we can contribute just 10 per cent of our energy, time and finances to help the poor, the world will definitely be a better place to live in."