KUCHING: Exciting new initiatives aimed at promoting inclusivity and diversity in society are being rolled out by the Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Ministry.
According to its minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, among these initiatives is the state’s commitment to supporting children with disabilities.
“In our state-owned preschool which is Sedidik, we have introduced sign language among our kindergarten children,” she said in her speech during the 10th anniversary of Sarawak Deaf Sports Association (SSDeaf) at Imperial hotel yesterday.
“I am delighted to share that our programme of inviting preschool children from Sedidik to sing the national and state anthems in sign language at every major event organised by the ministry is ongoing. As far as I know, we are the first state in the whole of Malaysia to do so.”
Fatimah, who is also Dalat assemblywoman, also announced an open-door policy in the state’s kindergarten, meaning that no child would be turned away from the facility because of their disabilities.
“Everyone is welcomed, and this is an inclusive policy practised by our government starting from preschool,” she said.
The ministry’s inclusive policy from a young age is intended to create a generation of empathetic citizens who acknowledge the differences in disabilities as a part of a bigger community, and it is one of the policies to ensure that children grow up to become compassionate individuals who respect people with disabilities and their diverse abilities.
Also present were Malaysian Deaf Sports Association president Ong Shin Ruenn, Sarawak Sports Deaf Association (SSDA) Albert Wong Tuong Chui, Asean deaf sports federation Kamarzaman Harun and Persatuan Sukan dan Rekreasi Orang Kurang Upaya Negeri Sarawak (PESRON) president Matthew Chin Hiong Choi.
