LANGKAWI: Children with special needs (OKU) should not be prevented from socialising, said Kedah state assembly deputy speaker Juhari Bulat.
Speaking at a corporate social responsibility event for OKU and their families yesterday, Juhari said it was sad to know of families that kept their OKU children away from the society at large.
“Existing laws that affect people with special needs will have to be reviewed for actions to be taken against families who hide and keep them away from the society,” he said at the event which was organised by PKB Hotel Management and Services Sdn Bhd and the Langkawi Association of Parents with Special Needs Children.
Juhari said such provisions were stringent measures which would take away the stigma and embarrassment of having a child or a family member who is an OKU.
About 120 special needs children and their family members attended the event which was one of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. The company is a subsidiary of Permodalan Kedah Bhd.
Juhari, who is also the company chairman and Ayer Hangat assemblyman, said the event provided a platform for parents and families of special needs children in the island to share their experiences.
Motivation and therapy talks on caring for such children were among the activities held during the day-long ceremony held at Adya Hotel Langkawi. – Bernama
