KOTA KINABALU: Every human being has his or her own diverse abilities and talents, even for a disabled person (OKU). Kua Boon Seong, 33, became the first to reach the peak of Mount Kinabalu in two hours amongst the 76 participants who took part in a climb, themed ‘Climb for a Better Tomorrow’ organized by the Rotary Club of Bandar Utama.
It was Kua’s third time scaling the mountain.
Kua, who has autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), proved that even an OKU has his or her own strengths. In this case, Kua’s physical stamina and determination enabled him to withstand the harsh weather conditions during the climb, thereby beating other participants to become the first person in the team to reach the peak and descend from Mount Kinabalu.
The Rotary Club is even planning on getting Kua into the Malaysia Book of Records with him climbing non-stop from Timpohon Gate right up to the summit of Mount Kinabalu.
This is the fourth time that the Rotary Club of Bandar Utama organized the Mount Kinabalu climb, the first was in January 2011, involving 60 climbers. The second climb was in October 2011, joined by 114 climbers, including 18 OKUs of which four were blind. The third climb took place in July last year, involving 80 participants, including Raja Muda Selangor and 20 trainees from Montfort Youth.
This year, a total of 76 people took part in the climb, including seven OKUs and 10 single mothers, who all flew from Peninsular Malaysia to Kota Kinabalu on October 11.
President of the Rotary Club of Bandar Utama, Judy Chong, said the objectives of the climb this year was to create awareness and raise funds for a new building for the Handicapped and Disabled Children’s Association of Klang Selangor as well as to allow single mothers to discover their abilities. Six of the seven OKUs from the Handicapped and Disabled Children’s Association of Klang Selangor took part in the event.
The OKU participants were Kua, Ngoh Kok Meng (slow learner), 18, Devary A/L Tatiya (Down’s Syndrome), 23, Yugarajan Naidu Dharmaraj (slow learner), 27, Abirami A/P Rengasamy (slow learner), 28, Yong Pei Yee (autistic), 13 and Renee Chan Tian Rui (William’s Syndrome), 16. The Rotary Club sponsored the expenses of the OKU and caretakers in Sabah.
The Rotary Club also engaged Segi University to sponsor RM200,000 in the form of full scholarships for young single parents to study at the university. The scholarships could essentially benefit four to five single parents.
“Single parents need to discover their own ability to survive in this harsh environment. So we engaged Segi University… the climb is not just for yourself (single mothers), but for all single parents in Malaysia who have the chance to receive the scholarship,” Chong said in an interview here yesterday.
On the performance of the OKUs during the climb, Chong said they were very disciplined and never complained. In fact, Chong pointed out that the OKUs performed better than the normal participants of the group.
“We started training since June this year by hiking every week in Kuala Lumpur, the OKUs always came on time. They are so good,” she gushed.
The group made the ascent on October 12 to Laban Rata and continued their journey to the summit the next day. All OKUs made it to Laban Rata and three of them reached Low’s Peak.
“The first person to reach the summit was an OKU (Kua),” Chong said. In spite of the rain and wind blowing at 110 kilometres an hour, Kua persevered.
“He never complained about the cold, the heat of muscle pain.”
For all the OKU participants, the climb gave them a sense of achievement, particularly when they received their certificates.
“There was this Chinese girl, Yong Pei Yee, she was so happy to come here because she has never flown (on an airplane) before. And she reached Laban Rata.”
Meanwhile, the Handicapped and Disabled Children’s Association of Klang Selangor founder and chairman Morgun A/L Nadesan said the charity home was currently renting a building for RM2,500 a month to house over 70 disabled people, aged six to 30 years old.
The association is planning to build a 6,000 square foot double storey building, which will cost RM1 million.
“The development has been approved, and we are starting to raise funds now,” Morgun said.
The association relies on public donations and yearly government grants to run the home.
Morgun pointed out that many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) only take in children with Down’s Syndroms because they were easier to take care of.
On the other hand, the Handicapped and Disabled Children’s Association of Klang Selangor accepts disabled people who suffer from ADHD, autism, Down’s Syndrome and cerebral palsy.
As a case in point, four children with cerebral palsy in East Malaysia, two from Sabah and two from Kuching, had to be sent to The Handicapped and Disabled Children’s Association of Klang Selangor to be taken care of.
The in-house residents at the association are abandoned children or come from the lower income group, Morgun said, adding that the majority of them were Chinese.
Morgun also urged parents who sent their children to the association to take the initiative to visit their children and check on their progress.
Sadly, some never show up for 10 years, including Kua’s parents, who have abandoned him for a decade.
Speaking of Kua, Morgun said he never followed instructions, but he is a leader.
When he puts his mind to a task, Kua will be focused on getting it done.
However, Morgun said that Kua gets frustrated or emotional easily. Once, Morgun asked him not to wander off too far as he might hurt himself.
“He got angry with me and did not speak to me for three days,” Morgun said jokingly. Kua, seemingly knowing that Morgun was referring to him, laughed happily in response.
Chong said the climb was a humbling experience to the normal participants who acknowledged that OKUs have their own diverse abilities and talents.
“When normal people see that Kua is better than them, and that they are losing out physically, it makes them respect him (Kua) a bit and teach them to be humble,” Chong added.
Also taking part in the climb were staff from Segi University, Wholesome Life, Poh Kong and Tuck Sun Logistics Group.