A special soft spot

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The passion to help others empowers Kapitan Datin Janet Lau to reach out to children and adults with special needs

STAY HEALTHY: Lau (centre) with fellow Lions members launching the 8th Golden Child Family & Outing Community Project at Sungei Aup Jubilee Park.

THE ability to care for and share with others is the greatest gift of life.

Social worker, Kapitan Datin Janet Lau, has been adhering to this philosophy as a devoted non-governmental organisation (NGO) volunteer, a businesswoman and wife of a politician.

Driven by the desire to succeed, she always makes sure she gives whatever she does 100 per cent – be it for the political fraternity or in the social milieu.

Since the demise of her husband, former Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew in April, 2010, she has been keeping a low profile in public but working very hard behind the scene to help children with special needs.

In fact, it’s her passion to do charity work through voluntarism in humanitarian NGOs that has given her the strength and spirit to reach out to the disadvantaged, the challenged and the needy.

“People might not understand the meaning of getting self-satisfaction unless they have personally experienced it − the excitement and joy of watching special needs children standing on their own feet and becoming  independent,” she told thesundaypost.

As Association for Children with Special Needs Sibu (ACSNS) chairman and SUPP Sibu Wanita president, she takes her tasks in her stride.

Handling both jobs simultaneously is not easy but Lau is used to it – her adroit juggling of responsibilities makes her work seem light.

Speaking at the recent launching of the 8th Golden Child  Family & Outing Community Project, organised by Lions Club of Sibu Seduan, she re-assured the special needs children present that they will always be cared for.

“Because you are born special, you will forever remain a golden child not only in the eyes of your parents but also in the eyes of the caring members of society.”

She went on to say all human beings needed a normal life and special needs children were no exceptions.

“Enjoy your life to the full, stay healthy and we will continue to provide all the assistance you need.”

It was vintage Lau − unassuming, gracious, magnanimous  and always caring towards children with special needs.

Determined and indefatigable in fighting to give these children a better life, she feels blessed to have been bestowed with the gift to fulfill her mission.

“It’s something that comes naturally − like a divine calling to continue my work in providing love and care for handicapped children.”

Lau’s involvement with the NGOs started after she joined the Lions Club in the early 1970’s. Since then, she has been helping many people with their problems − financial, social or domestic.

For now, her dream is to see the 2.1-acre of land, allocated to the Agape Centre in Sibu by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, developed into a shelter workplace and an independent living home for special needs adults in order to ease the congestion at the present centre.

The new premises will be a workshop for young special needs adults to do things like laundry, woodcarving, bakery, flower arrangement, basket weaving and many other types of jobs.

The concept, according to Lau, is to enable these young adults to make a living by selling their products. It is a community where young special needs adults can live and work under supervision.

“It is said the centre will be the first of its kind in the country if everything works out well,” she said.

Most children with special needs need shelter and because they might not have been skillfully trained in school, it’s always possible they could lack the required skills when they start working. Those capable will, therefore, do more while the less capable will do less.

Independence the key

“The key here is independence. We don’t want these special needs adults to depend on social welfare or their parents forever. Of course, nothing is easy and despite all the efforts, these adults will still need the support to enable them to live a quality life.”

Lau said the plan to come up with the shelter had been set in motion, and she hoped the corporate sector will chip in with more financial support.

“We hope to complete the centre as soon as possible so that the growing number of special needs adults will have a proper place to do their jobs.”

She is confident the Agape Centre will be able to obtain adequate financial assistance as the people in Sibu have a history of supporting charities.

“In fact, 80 per cent of the people contributed voluntarily to the development of Agape Centre. We didn’t have to persuade them. They came to the Centre, saw the development and willingly donated for a good cause. We are, indeed, grateful to these generous donors and sponsors.”

Lau always subscribes to the philosophy that the good you do comes back to you and the evil you do remains with you.

“Therefore, the more blessed a person is, the more he or she should help special needs children. These children can read your mind. Sometimes, all it takes is doing something simple and personal to show them you care. You learn to respond to them and they learn to respond to you and once they open their hearts to you, it’s smooth sailing.”

Political commitments

Despite her active involvement in NGOs, Lau still finds time for her political commitments.

As SUPP Sibu Wanita chief since 1994, her leadership prowess speaks for itself. She also helmed the Sarawak SUPP Central Wanita for three terms − from 2000 to 2008.

All her political duties, she revealed, paled against those of her social work.

“To me, the important thing is that I see and feel the need to offer my service to people with special needs. When I see children recovering − the same children who cannot sit or stand − I feel really blessed and this is what spurs me to work even harder for them.”

As coordinator of the One-Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC), she assured the needs of women in the Central Region would be properly taken care of.

She promises to fight for the day when women will have their rights recognised and that men and women will have equality.

Women, she noted, still accounted for the majority of domestic violence victims. In 2010, the total of domestic abuse cases was 174. Of that, women of different ages accounted for 157 of the victims.

“The OSCC helps create awareness of women’s rights so that women will not be perceived as property to be used, owned and handled by their spouses. Women also have their rights and we need to stand up and be counted.”

Lau said increasing universal recognition of women’s rights had given birth to International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8 every year.

On the political front, she pointed out that she would continue as Sibu SUPP Wanita chief and as a kapitan.

Asked whether she intended to quit politics and go full time into social work, she said she would leave it to destiny.

“As Supp Wanita chief of Sibu, I will continue to discharge my duties responsibly. Anything beyond that, I leave it to destiny. I’m also grateful to the people who continue to put their trust in my leadership and I will not fail them if they need my help.”

Asked if she would continue the legacy of her late husband, she said she would take one step at a time.

“It’s hard to compare like that but I will ensure his dreams are fulfilled, especially on the schools re-development project.”

Lau is proud people now realise the work of her late husband has contributed to the growth of Sibu town.

“When he was around, people always criticised his work. Still, it’s better late than never − and it’s good people now acknowledge his numerous contributions to the development of Sibu town.”