KUCHING, Jan 5: The Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development is looking to empower more disabled people to excel in sports, vocational skills, arts and cultural events.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah believed that disabled people possess strong mentality and positive mindset to enable them to realise their full potential.
“We would like to empower our disabled people not only through education but also through sports activities. We know that many of them have potential and interests in this area (sports).
“We have various sports activities for our disabled people as well. We also would like to empower our disabled people who have the potential in the field of vocational skills.
“We would also like to empower our disabled people through arts and cultural events. We have some who are very talented in singing, dancing and even in poetry,” she said in her speech during the closing of the Second Malaysia Lions International English Chess Championship for the Disabled leg here today.
The chess competition was organised by the Lions Club Region 1.
Meanwhile, Fatimah disclosed the first Malaysia Lions International English Chess Competition was held in Kuching in March 2018.
Fatimah noted the Lions Club then continued to support the disabled people and allow them the opportunity to compete in international chess competitions by organising them.
She observed that the participants for the chess competition here involved those who were visually, physically and aurally impaired.
“I believe the Lions (Club) members as well as the public at large realise that though our athletes are disabled —they might not be able to see, they might not be able to hear, they might be physically disabled — but their mindset are as good as us (abled bodied) or even better.
“I always encourage our disabled athletes, never feel that you are less capable than others.
“You may be disabled in terms of your sight, your hearing, but your minds are as good as others and that is very important,” she emphasised.
Fatimah also said her ministry could work together with non-governmental organisations through the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes to help the disabled to live dignified lives and assist them to develop their potential.
She also disclosed that her ministry is tasked with the responsibility of taking care of the disabled and their education so that they will not left behind in their studies. — DayakDaily
