KUCHING: The International Counselling Association Malaysia (PERKAMA) is prepared to work with any organisation to improve counselling skills in the country.
Perkama president Datuk Dr Abdul Halim Hussin said with the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) accepting the Malaysian invitation to establish the Asean Counselling Network (ASCON), it will help cement closer ties and collaboration among counsellors and mental health practitioners in the region.
“PERKAMA anticipates that issues of psychological well-being will be on the rise in the coming years and our united efforts will be very important in facing this challenge.
“I am glad to announce that the first steps were taken earlier today at a meeting of representatives from the counselling associations from Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei Darussalam, as well as Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.
“This declaration of the formation of ASCON in Kuching will mark the next level of collaboration and solidarity in ASEAN counselling,”Abdul Halim said this in his welcoming speech during the International Counselling Convention (ICC) 2022 dinner held at a hotel here, on Wednesday (Nov 2).
Some 525 presenters and participants participated in the convention where practicing counsellors, teachers, administrators, health workers and helpers from various countries attended.
Themed ‘Standing Alone Together: Managing the Paradox’, the convention saw collaboration between four organisations, namely Perkama, International Association for Counselling (IAC), the Sarawak government and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg officiated at the dinner. Among those present were State Secretary Datuk Amar Abu Bakar Marzuki, Unimas Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kadim Suaidi and ICA president Prof Dr William Borgen.
