Pay more attention to requirements of individuals with disability, people told
SIBU: All members of society must always be mindful of the needs of people— particularly children— with physical and intellectual disabilities.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s wife, Datin Patinggi Datuk Jamilah Anu, stressed that although requiring special attention, people with disability must also be given the chance to live meaningful lives just like everybody else.
She stated this in launching the RM13- million ‘ Sheltered Workshop and Independent Living Training Home’ project for people with special needs here yesterday.
Jami lah, who represented Adenan in of ficiating at the ceremony, called for more donors to chip in funds as the building would need to be equipped with more facilities in times to come.
“Cong r atul at ions to the organising commit tee and Association for Children with Special Needs Sibu on this great project for people with special needs,” she said in launching the project at the premises of United Chinese Association (UCA) Sibu.
Jamilah also acknowledged other organisations such as the Agape Centre for their self less efforts in assisting individuals with special needs and their families.
“What you do is very much in line with what the chief minister has been stressing all this — how to help people who are poor and those disabled, in one way or another.”
She pointed out that Agape Centre was a good model of community service in Sarawak, with one-stop community-based, multi- disciplinary approach from medical and education professionals, as well as involvement of volunteers and community leaders to provide service for families and children with special needs.
Adding on, she said through such community- government partnership, many people and families had been benefitting from programmes and services provided by Agape Centre over the past 10 years.
She had also come to know about an adult vocational training programme being run here, but had not been able to expand due to space limitation.
Earlier, she concurred with KTS Group managing director Dato Henry Lau about ‘receiving blessings by helping those who are in need’.
Jamilah also highlighted the importance of having a team of committed people as having good facilities alone were insufficient.
“One must be willing to volunteer and sincere in assisting those in need. Any fund raised must reach the target group.” Towards this end, Jamilah hoped to see more generous donors like Henry.
Meanwhile, function’s organising chairman Assoc Prof Toh Teck Hock, in his opening remarks, said just before the Lunar New Year, he received a ‘big angpow’ – the confirmation of the building and launch of this special project which Association for Children with Special Needs Sibu (ACSNS) chairperson Kapitan Datuk Janet Lau and her committee had been planning for years.
“This morning (yesterday), we are here to observe a dream materialising, and formation of a new life. This is a dream of many young adults with special needs in Sibu, who represent three to five per cent of people in our community. It is also a dream that I would like to share with everybody here today,” Toh said.