‘State needs to unearth more paralympic talents’
KUCHING: Sarawak has to produce more top paralympic athletes to represent the state in next year’s national Paralympic Games which will be hosted by the state to maintain its supremacy in the games.
Women, Welfare and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, Sarawak who made the call said the state had been the nation’s paralympics powerhouse having won the national Paralympic Games for 12 consecutive years.
“With the games coming to the state in 2016, we must work hard to seek talents in all the contested games,” Fatimah said at the state level Special Education 1 Malaysia Track and Field meet at Samarahan mini stadium yesterday.
On another matter, Fatimah reminded parents to give the same rights to their disabled children as their normal children.
“The Children Convention on Rights for People with Disabilities had outlined that children with disabilities had the rights to be given opportunity to participate in sporting events and they too, deserve their rights to live an active life and mingle with the community,” said Fatimah.
She added that the disabled child should enjoy freedom and be given education, and if their condition permitted must be allowed to have a job.
“Those who were disabled had their rights to make decision, socialise with their friends and be given protection and we normal people must step up and stand with them to fight for their rights,” she said.
She praised the committee for organizing the event, which would be a good platform to unearth more talents for the paralympics.
The meet which was participated by 17 contingents from all over the state was won by Kuching, followed by Sibu in second place and while Samarahan finished third.
Also present at the event were State Education Director Serina Sauni.
With the games coming to the state in 2016, we must work hard to seek talents in all the contested games. Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, Women, Welfare and Family Development Minister