Deaf athletes deserve same treatment — Fatimah

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Fatimah (fifth right) looking at her t-shirt presented by Albert (fourth left) while SOPMA Secretariat members look on. — Photo by Wilfred Pilo

Fatimah (fifth right) looking at her t-shirt presented by Albert (fourth left) while SOPMA Secretariat members look on. — Photo by Wilfred Pilo

KUCHING: Athletes from Sarawak Deaf Sport Association will get the same treatment like athletes from any other sports organisation and no less.

Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said that these athlete deserve the same kind of treatment and be given same facilities like any other athletes and they would not be,sidelined.

“We want them to do well in sports like any other athlete and we will reward them like any athlete who makes the country proud,“ she said.

“These athletes are no different but are special therefore they should be treated the same as those who are normal athlete.“

Fatimah said this in a press conference after discussing with the committee members of the Sarawak Deaf Sport Association Secretariat on SOPMA (Sukan Orang Pekak Malaysia) Games to be held Sept 30 to Oct, during their courtesy call on her ministry here yesterday.

She revealed that the discussion was for the Sarawak SOPMA Secretariat here to put forward their budget to the state cabinet since it will be hosting the national level SOPMA XIX in Sarawak.

Fatimah said the cabinet will be looking into their budget proposal and “I am sure the state government and the chief minister are caring enough in looking into these matters”.

She added that Sarawak’s profile is raised in 2016 as the state’s calendar will be packed with national sporting events which it will host in the next couple of months.

“First it will be the Sukma XVIII in July,followed by the Paralympics in August and then SOPMA in Sept,” she further revealed.

Fatimah said the series of sporting events ensures that the state’s infrastructure and modern sport facilities are up to mark as hosts. She also revealed that the discussion was also on the launching of the National Level Mascot for SOPMA XIX and its Baton Run to be held on May 28 at MBKS.

Meanwhile, president of the Sarawak Deaf Sport Association Albert Wong Thong Chui thanked the state government for its support with a pledge to do well in SOPMA XIX.

Albert revealed that there will be 1,400 people involved which includes the athletes, (65 from 14 states) volunteers (150),technical officers (100),OC & Committee (50), Interpreter (50) and coaches and contingent officials nationwide.

He said Sarawak will be competing in football (men only), badminton (men, women),bowling (men, women) and athletics (men, women) and their target is in bowling (two gold and 2 silver) ,badminton ( 1 silver and 1 bronze), athletics (2 silver) and football (bronze).

Albert revealed that in SOPMA 2012 in Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak ended fourth with three gold and two silver and at SOPMA 2014 in Melaka was seventh with two gold, 5 silver and two bronze.

He said that SOPMA is important to scout for talented athletes to represent Malaysia in the international arena by following the system of Deaflympics Pyramid-Asia Pacific-Asean-SOPMA.

Albert hoped SOPMA XIX in Sarawak will make the state a role model in managing such sporting events and to foster closer rapport among deaf athletes in the country.