KUCHING: The Sarawak government remains committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities (OKU) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as able-bodied members of society.
Through its Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Ministry, various initiatives have been carried out to promote the full, effective, and inclusive participation of OKUs in the community.
Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah noted that all parties should take into account the rights and interests of disabled people, in keeping with the theme of Sarawak OKU Day 2022, ‘Sarawak Inclusive For All’.
“Disabled persons in Sarawak have the right to education, employment, healthcare, transportation, rehabilitation, recreational sports, talents and arts, banking, and other facilities that contribute to their overall wellbeing.”
She said this when officiating at the state-level OKU Day Celebration and Para Sukma Appreciation Ceremonial 2022 here on Thursday (Dec 1).
“There are a total of 44,541 disabled persons registered with the Welfare Department under the Disabled Persons Information System (SMOKU) so far.”
As such, she urged guardians or parents to register any disabled children in their care with the Welfare Department.
“There are many benefits that can actually be obtained. When your name is already on the radar of the department, one will not be excluded from getting information or assistance that can be used by the OKU group.”
On the same note, she said one of the Sarawak government’s efforts to ensure inclusion in the community was through the involvement of OKUs in official events.
“Any event organised by the ministry will ensure that there is a representative from the Deaf Association to help with sign language.
“So that whatever happens in the event, the deaf community will also have access to it and benefit from it.
“We will not be a developed country if there are people in our community who feel they are left out.”
Fatimah then highlighted the accomplishments of Sarawakian Para athletes when presenting the awards for Para Sukma 2022, Deaflympics 2022, and Special Olympics Malaysia 2022.
She said Sarawak managed to get 50 gold, 47 silver, and 49 bronze in the Para Sukma despite being the runners-up overall, defeated by Sabah.
Despite this, she pointed out that Sarawak’s accomplishments were still commendable because Sarawak Para athletes set eight new records throughout the national championship.
Meanwhile, five Special Olympics (SO) athletes from Sarawak have been chosen through the Special Olympics (SO) Malaysia 2022 to represent Malaysia at the World SO Summer Games in Berlin, Germany in June 2023.
Fatimah also commended the performance of two female deaf athletes from Sarawak who represented Malaysia at the KL Deaflympics recently, and took home gold in the team category.
