39,321 visually impaired in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: The Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt called upon the people to help the government extend assistance and funding to people with disabilities while Sabah recuperates from its inherited poor financial situation.
Wong said the government intended to build the infrastructure needed by the disabled in the state.
“I have been made to understand that allocation is hard to get for the disabled. I have found out that my ministry has extended help but it is not enough. So I hope the people, communities can extend assistance and funding to the group that needs these important necessities,” he said.
Wong said the government had extended RM10,000 and the ministry would study and consider all applications for funding from the state government.
“I, as minister, would definitely want to give what is needed and give more assistance,” he said.
“We are looking into that and our Chief Minister is also a very concerned person. He also raised this issue asking me to give assistance to the disabled and poor people,” added Wong at the 9th national level International White Cane Day celebration at Padang Merdeka here yesterday.
The White Cane has become one of the symbols of the ability of the blind to be independent and symbol of public education on the blind and their lives.
The event that is celebrated for the first time in Sabah also celebrated the abilities of the blind, the successes they have achieved among the society.
More or less 500 people, involving the visually impaired from throughout the country, participated in the event.
“Up to today, 39,321 visually impaired have been recorded as registered with the Social Welfare Department Sabah,” he said.
“Even though the total is far lesser compared to the estimated numbers issued by the World Health Organization, we need to realize that the total will continually increase.
“This increase has not only been driven by cases of accident and health complications, but the aging society trend has also caused an increase of individuals experiencing visual disability,” he added.
Wong said the number of people with other disabilities, such as deaf, blind and learning disabilities, had increased.
“This situation is a sign for us all, as a government, organizations for the disabled and other parties to think about an integrated support system for people with disabilities that is more complex today and in the future,” he added.
The event was organized by the Society of Blind Malaysia (SBM) and Social Welfare Department Sabah.
SBM Sabah, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Kedah, Sarawak, Perak, Johor, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Terengganu and Melaka, and SK Bantayan, Special Education School Tuaran and Putatan and volunteer heads participated in the program.