TAWAU: All non-governmental organisation (NGOs) in Tawau have been urged to set up their own care centre for the disabled.
Welfare service director Ithong @ Etong Terang said the department and welfare associations could lend assistance to the NGOs to apply for annual grants from the state Community Service Council or from the federal Welfare Department to support their activities and programmes for such care centres.
Ithong stated this in his speech which was read by Tawau Children Protection Team chairman Ahmad Razalie Selabin when officiating the 2011 Chinese New Year celebration at the AOKAM Benevolent Centre, Jalan Kuhara here yesterday.
The event was organised by Tawau Children Protection Team and AOKAM Benevolent Deaf Centre.
He said the Government had set up a centre for the disabled in the federal Welfare Department and Parliament had passed an act specially for the disabled.
“The Welfare Department has set up registration counters for the disabled (OKU) throughout the state.
“According to statistics, the Welfare Department in Tawau has registered about 1,285 disabled people of various disabilities since 1963.
“After registration, the OKU will be given a card which categorises the disability. We also provide the OKU with assistance and an allowance,” he pointed out.
Ithong said that he would fully support the initiatives taken by the Tawau Children Protection Team which could be a rallying point to cooperate in the planning and organising of programmes benefitting the disabled groups.
Children from the Tawau Children Activity Centre, AOKAM Benevolent Deaf Centre, Sri Stella Disabled Children Centre and Felda Umas-Umas Community Cure Centre also participated in the celebration.
Also present were AOKAM Benevolent Deaf Centre chairman Dr Lo Vun Kong, Tawau member of parliament Datuk Chua Soon Bui, Sri Tanjung assemblyman Jimmy Wong, Datuk Chin Chee Syn and other invited guests.