Volunteers assist the blind during the procession.
SIBU: Society of the Blind in Malaysia (SBM) hopes that Sibu will one day be a town that is friendly to the visually impaired.
As it is now, SBM president Mohammed Nazari Othman noted the town lacks facilities that make it easier for the blind to move around.
“It is important that we have such facilities to be made available here to create accessibility for the blind so we can move from one place to another in the town without many obstacles.
“The most basic of such facilities is traffic lights with audible signals and tactile pavement, but unfortunately we still do not have that in Sibu,” he said during the closing of the ‘White Cane Day’ celebration here yesterday.
Earlier, Nazari together with about 60 members of SBM Sarawak and volunteers, walked about two kilometres within the town area near Rajang Esplanade here in a procession to mark the celebration.
They were joined by political secretary to the chief minister Romeo Christopher Tegong, who represented Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health Dr Annuar Rapaee.
Romeo had his eyes blindfolded when he joined the procession.
On the procession, Nazari said it was to make the public aware of the needs of the disabled, particularly the visually impaired.
Meanwhile, Romeo said he would convey the message to Dr Annuar.
He commended the event as a good platform for those involved to share ideas for the betterment of the visually impaired.
SBM Sarawak branch chairman Isak Ngau was present.