By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Sept 30: “Karnival Orang Kurang Upaya Sarawak (KOKUS) 2019″ for the people with disabilities (PWD) will be held at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) from November 23 to 27.
Minister of Welfare, Community Well-being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said that more than 800 PWD from all over Sarawak will be taking part in this grand carnival that is organised by her ministry.
Fatimah explained that the event will have three components namely sports, abilympics and cultural talents.
“There are 11 sports which include swimming, athletes (track and field events), powerlifting, ten-pin bowling, badminton, ping pong, boccia, bocce, chess, lawn-ball and archery,” she said at a press conference for the carnival here today.
“Those taking part in the abilympics will compete in nine skills like drawings, flower arrangement, cooking, cake making/decorating, sewing, embroidery, photography, wood carving and data processing.
“For those taking part in cultural talents, they will compete in solo singing, solo instrumental and solo or group dancing,” said Fatimah who added that the three components were to be held simultaneously.
Fatimah said that the carnival is biennially, and the aim is to provide PWD with all the avenues and opportunities to be involved in healthy, productive and entertaining activities and competitions.
In sports, she told her Ministry had carried out talent identification and classification in search of new young athletes for Sarawak.
Fatimah revealed that so far, 220 PWD in the first half of 2019 were tested, classified and then exposed to competitions.
She said earlier this year; they had started an elite and a backup squad to ensure that Sarawak PWD athletes are constantly available and in training.
“There are 18 PWD athletes in the elite project and 65 athletes in the backup squad. These athletes are groomed to perform in national competitions and international tournaments.”
Fatimah also gave her assurance that the ministry will not overlook the excellent performances of PWD athletes as they will be exposed and compete in others countries such as China, Singapore, and Thailand. — DayakDaily
