Pibakis short of RM2.2 mln to finish Lutong HQ

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Yii (sixth left) presenting the checque to Chiam.

MIRI: The building committee of Association of Parents with Special Children Miri (Pibakis) is still short of RM2.2 million to set up its new RM5-million centre in Lutong.

According to president Chiam Yun Chaw, the centre is currently 70 per cent completed.

“We sincerely hope that the public could help us to raise another RM2.2 million. At the moment, we are still using the premises the old Shell Quarters, which also house the local Community Rehabilitation Centre (PDK) for 220 children. It is very congested there,” he told The Borneo Post after the presentation of donation to Pibakis from Merbau Furniture Sdn Bhd here yesterday.

He said the new Pibakis building costs around RM3 million and was scheduled for completion in July this year, but the association needed more funding to furnish the centre.

“We hope that the centre would be operational by end of 2015.”

Earlier, Chiam received a cheque worth RM10,000 from Merbau Furniture director Yii Hiend Tak.

Yii said the donation was courtesy of a philanthropist, who wanted proceeds from recent sales of used furniture to be channelled for the Pibakis centre.

“We thanked both the owner of the furniture and the buyers for their contributions in helping the less fortunate such as children of PDK Miri, which is managed by Pibakis,” he said..

Meanwhile, Chiam pointed out that the new centre would be a platform to help train people with learning disabilities in a number of basic skills that would enable them to get jobs.

“Thus we are appealing for continued support from members of the public. Those wishing to donate to Pibakis can contact me at 016-8513373,” said Chiam.

Pibakis is a non-profit organisation that takes care of and caters for the welfare, health and future of special children and youths through PDK programmes.

There are many activities being held under the PDK such as Early Intervention Programme (EIP) for special children aged seven and below, Day Training Programme (DTP) that provides living skills, vocational and educational training to youths with disabilities; physiotherapy or occupational therapies as well as social and outdoor outings like swimming, bowling, badminton and bocce.