Shared responsibility on disabled: Jainab
Published on: Saturday, November 28, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad said the government would always be sensitive to the needs and requirements of persons with disabilities.However, she said efforts to develop a disabled person requires the cooperation of all parties and should not be left entirely to the government to shoulder the responsibility. "In this context the effort to develop people with disabilities should no longer be an individual responsibility but a shared responsibility in the community."
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Jainab said for the record, as of October 2015 a total of 22,784 persons with disabilities have been registered throughout the State and of that total, 9,063 persons were registered in Kota Kinabalu."Therefore, I call on all levels of society to register their disabled children or disabled family members with the government through the Department of Welfare Services throughout the State in realising the government's efforts to bring people with disabilities into the community and thus exposing them to development opportunities.""More specialised attention on the building of self-confidence in people with disabilities is always a priority."Therefore, the government has provided various kinds of assistance such as Allowance for Employees with Disabilities (EPC), disability assistance for those not able to work, chronic and bedridden patients assistance and Artificial Limbs/Support assistance.
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"The government also has provided welfare institutions especially for people with disabilities."Among them are Kimanis Recovery and Training Complex for the Disabled which received the accreditation as a National Dual Training System (SLDN) training centre which allows trainees with disabilities who successfully complete the course to receive a Malaysian Skills Certificate.
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"The government also provides care centres for disabled children under 14 years of age which is the Children with Disabilities Kindergarten in Sembulan, Sandakan, Tawau, Kudat and Beaufort."She said this when opening the Disabled and Talent Time Carnival in conjunction with the State level Disabled Day Sabah 2015 event at Oceanus Waterfront Mall on Friday. Jainab said there would be many events held in conjunction with the International Day of People with Disability which falls on Dec 3 each year.She said the celebrations were intended to involve the whole community in the effort to uphold the rights of the disabled and also appreciate their contributions to the community in line with the International Day of People with Disability.Jainab said she was made to understand that about 500 people with disabilities and their escorts were attending the State level event."December 3 is a day that has great meaning for disabled people worldwide as the United Nations have declared this date as the International Day of People with Disability."In line with this the government has celebrated this day since 1994. The Disabled Day celebrations is also one of the manifestations of the commitment of the government to increase the potential value of self and respect for people with disabilities, who also contributed to the development of the country."I was informed that this year's Disabled Day celebration with the concept of carnival arts and culture has a variety of events such as the disabled talent contest in dancing and singing, colouring and painting contest, flower arrangement, decorated wheelchair and recycling fancy dress competition."Jainab said it was her hope that the Disabled Day celebrations would raise the spirits of the disabled to continue be successful in their lives."On this occasion I would also wish to appeal to people with disabilities to come forward to seize the opportunities that have been provided .Society should accept people with disabilities and trust them to do the same jobs just like normal people."I would also urge the private sector to come forward to assist the disabled in terms of giving them the opportunity to participate in skills training and employment opportunities."Rest assured that if they are given opportunities for training and jobs they would be employees who are productive and special. "Hopefully with our genuine desire to help people with disabilities, the creation of a harmonious society, a caring and progressive will be achieved."Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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