More focus on needs of people with disabilities — Jainab
KOTA KINABALU: The government will focus more on providing special needs to people with disabilities next year.
Sabah Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid was commenting on 2018 Budget, which was tabled on Friday, which also emphasized on the needs of disabled people, nationwide.
Jainab said she had discussed with Kota Kinabalu Wheelchair Association (Peroda) chairman Fariz A Rani on the needs of the disabled people and found out that there were special needs required by disabled people.
She was met during the WalkWheelathon 2017 program yesterday held at Likas Bay here.
The program, which was organized by Sabah Community Service Council (MPMS) and Peroda, was held for the fifth time since 2013, and was themed ‘Wheels on Fire’.
Jainab, who is also the MPMS president, said they would take up issues of the special needs of the disabled people in order to improve the facilities for them through the various agencies.
“They also need the same facilities or space as ordinary people such as sports, recreational spaces and disabled peoplefriendly facilities.
“So, we are going to gather issues of the disabled and improve through laws and Acts by involving various related ministries to address the problems which are unfriendly towards the disabled people,” she said.
Meanwhile at the event, Fariz said the program was aimed to get interactions between the disabled and the public.
“In this event, we (Peroda) will be putting the medals on the participants. Thus, the public will feel closer to us and they will know what we really need, such as disabled-friendly facilities,” he said.
About 1,500 people, including the disabled and the public, participated in the event.
Meanwhile, the flag-off for the WalkWheelathon was led by a state legislative assembly’s wife, Datin Seri Panglima Nuraini Habib Kadir and Jainab.