KUCHING: Badan Amal Kasih Sayang Malaysia (Bakasa) yesterday donated 30 wheelchairs to the Datuk Amar Hajah Juma’ani Welfare Centre at Jalan Kulas here.
Bakasa president Tengku Puteri Seri Teja Pahang Tengku Datuk Muhaini Sultan Ahmad Shah said the association had now spread its wings to Borneo and Sarawak was selected to be the first recipient of the wheelchair donations.
“Thus far, we have presented more than 720 wheelchairs to individuals, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and mosques in Malaya since this project was launched on April 20 this year,” she revealed.
“I feel that the donations of these wheelchairs to this organisation under Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang (the chief minister’s wife) are indeed the right choice.”
Muhaini hoped the donations would assist the centre in fulfilling its role in prioritising community development.
She explained that the wheelchairs were due to the generous donations of individuals and corporate bodies.
The initiative aimed to give hope to individuals facing mobility challenges so they could go about their daily lives freely as well as help the less fortunate in need of wheelchairs.
Muhaini remarked that though she had visited various community-based rehabilitation centres in Malaya, she found the Datuk Amar Hajah Juma’ani Welfare Centre “different”.
“This is very impressive. I shall bring this back to Malaya and tell them about it.”
During her speech at the presentation ceremony, she explained that Bakasa aimed to provide opportunities and a better living environment to less fortunate children.
“No children should be left out even if they have disabilities. They should be encouraged and supported as they can also contribute to society as much as any other child,” she emphasised.
“We have also developed an innovation centre to allow children to explore the field of science, technology, and innovation. Children should be encouraged to develop their ideas and interests in creative fields — they should experiment.
“I believe that children who are given a chance to cultivate their potential will become assets to the nation in the future,” said Muhaini.
She hoped that this good rapport between Bakasa and the Datuk Amar Hajah Juma’ani Welfare Centre would continue in order to assist the less fortunate.
The children from the centre welcomed the visitors with a dance. The visitors also toured the facility. Muhaini signed the visitor log book as well.
A briefing on the Datuk Amar Hajah Juma’ani Welfare Centre and its activities was presented by Petra Jaya Welfare Association (PKPJ) deputy chairwoman and Sri Satok Community-Based Rehabilitation Centre (PDK) chairwoman Datuk Dr Munirah Hassan.
She explained that the welfare centre encompassed two community care centres — PDK Sri Satok for children with physical or non-physical disabilities and the Old Folks Activity Centre (Pawe).
Also present were Juma’ani after whom the centre is named, Bakasa treasurer Datuk Rozana Khalid, Bakasa committee member Datuk Dr Zainul Azizan Zainul Aziz and other exco members of Bakasa.
