JOHOR BARU: NEARLY 1,000 guests including disabled persons, volunteers from “Program Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti” (PDK or Community-Based Rehabilitation programme) in Johor, and representatives from the state Welfare Department (JKM) and districts offices attended the 2014 Persons With Disabilities Day celebration which was held at a hotel here recently.
Guest of honour was Women, Family and Community Development secretary-general Datuk Sabariah Hassan. Also present were state JKM deputy director Datuk Daud Arbah, state reps and representatives from other departments.
Highlights of the event include presentation of awards to 12 recipients including disabled persons who excelled in academics, co-curriculum, and paralympics. Special awards were also given to exceptional PDK students, PDK families, employees and local government councils.
Certificates of appreciation were awarded to trainers and officials of the state contingent during the national-level Special Olympics championships held in Kuala Terengganu last May.
As Sabariah and other VIPs reached the main hall, a 20-member choir group from JKM’s Pontian district office sang Negara Ku, Bangsa Johor and Berlari Ke Puncak, the official song of JKM.
Daud said despite allocations and other government aids, it was everyone’s duty to help the disabled community which was considered an integral part of society.
“One of the main objectives of the celebration is to enable the disabled, including the visually and physically impaired, cherish joyous moments alongside their loved ones and community members by participating in various activities,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sabariah said the state had registered one of the highest number of disabled persons in the country.
“As at November this year, the figure stood at 41,957. Persons with learning disabilities and the physically disabled are the highest at 14,820 and 14,423, respectively, while the intellectually challenged, visually impaired, those with communication disorders, and other disabilities make up the rest,” she said.
Sabariah added that starting next year, allowance for working disabled persons (whose monthly earnings were less than RM1,200) would be increased from RM300 to RM350 and for those who were unemployed due to disabilities, the allowance would be increased from RM150 to RM200.
For Hafeez Fitri Shahrul Azam, receiving the outstanding academic award was a momentous occasion.
Initially, the 13-year-old pupil of SK Pasir Putih, Pasir Gudang, was a slow learner but he had worked his way to score 5As in the recent UPSR.
Another recipient, Siti Noor Iasah Mohamad Ariffin was all smiles after being presented the outstanding sports personality special award. The 25-year-old housewife’s achievements include winning gold and silver medals in the 2014 Asia Para Games held in Incheon, Korea.
For grandmother Jelima Abdullah, winning the outstanding PDK family award was not only a joyous occasion but it would also help improve the facilities at her PDK centre.
The 64-year-old, whose child is among the disabled persons at the centre, volunteered to provide the skilled activities to the trainees.
Hafeez and Siti Noor Iasah were among 10 recipients who were awarded RM1,000 and certificates of appreciation while Jelima received RM700 and a certificate of appreciation.
A dance performance by D’ Artistik and a special appearance by blind musician Mahadir Mustapha alongside vocalist Farahwahida Ismail, a JKM staff, kept the guests entertained at the luncheon.
