From right, Safari, Imran, Suriati, Alauyah and other Perkep and Seri Mengasih members celebrating the birthday of two students.
KOTA KINABALU: People with disabilities (OKU) should be registered with the relevant authorities in order to gain access to facilities and assistance provided by the government or with centres such as Seri Mengasih for their development.
Datuk Haji Mohd Safari Manan, chairman of the board of governors at Seri Mengasih Centre, said the centre was established in 1981 to train children with disability to become independent and have their place in society.
He pointed out that the children at Seri Mengasih Centre are known as OKUI, or disabled people with intellect, as it was just a matter of their physical growth not developing in tandem with their mental growth.
While normal children learn writing by mimicking the actions of others, OKUI needed to be taught how to pick up a pen first, he explained. At the centre, children are taught how to take care of themselves when they are young, such as bathing, toilet training, tying their shoe laces and so on. As they grow up, they are taught how to make handicrafts, baking and farming.
In the past, Safari said there had been no specific policy for OKUI. Now there are specific policies in place, including education for OKUI.
“I realized that when we manage, work and guide OKUI, we think that we are teaching them; we are the benefactors while they are the beneficiaries. After 30 years, I realize that I am the one who benefitted,” he said to members of the Police Family Association (Perkep) who visited the centre yesterday.
Perkep, led by its national chairperson, Puan Sri Suriati Md Sobri, visited the centre with the vice national chairperson, Puan Sri Imran Ibrahim, Perkep Sabah chairperson Datin Hjh Alauyah Mohamed and other Perkep members.
The more we give, the more we will benefit, Safari said.
“If anyone knows of any OKUI, ask them to register at the relevant authority in order to get access to facilities provided by the government, or centres like Seri Mengasih in order for us to assist them in their own development and future success.”
There are currently 120 students at the centre and 50 full-time staff. Another 17 students are joining the shelter’s training workshop in bakery, plantation, recycling and carpentry.
Present during the visit was chief executive officer of Seri Mengasih Centre, Ngo York Kong.