KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg today received a courtesy call from Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah and officials from the Sarawak Society for the Deaf (SSD).
The aim of the visit, which took place at the chief minister’s office at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here, was to introduce the staff of SSD as well as to explain the organisation’s objectives and roles.
Speaking of matters discussed during the visit, Fatimah said the chief minister had suggested for the deaf to participate in International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak’s (i-CATS) training programme.
“I believe this is a good suggestion because through the training provided at i-CATS, they can gain skills and obtain certification. Then, they would be able to obtain jobs in the field of their interest.
“This is because with the skills and certificate, it will be easier to get jobs. With that, the deaf will be able to work in the field in which they have potential and interest, and they can be more independent,” she said, adding that her ministry would discuss this further with i-CATS.
Another matter discussed, she said, was on payment rates for interpreters for their professional services.
“Our ministry will discuss this further and the formalities later on will be discussed with the State Secretary, so that what has been decided and agreed upon can be known by the public,” she said.
Fatimah said that the subject of sports was also discussed, namely the National Deaf Games (Sopma).
“Our hope is that our team will be able to improve their performance and achieve higher than third place, which was our previous achievement,” she said.
She urged all organisations including SSD which participate in sports events at the national and international level to continue training despite the Covid-19 pandemic – “Even though the competition is still quite far away, training needs to be done consistently.”
SSD now have over 300 members, comprising school children, young adults, and working adults who meet regularly on weekends at the society’s premises.
Most of its members who are of working age are gainfully employed, for instance at KFC outlets, rice-packing factories, bakeries, tailoring shops, hair salons, and so on. There are also some who are self-employed.
The Society’s vision is to be the bridge that connects the deaf and the hearing community through awareness activities and to allow equal access and opportunities to all areas of life within the deaf community.
Its mission is to ensure that welfare and support are provided to the increasing number of the deaf in Sarawak. It aims to train and promote supervisory skills to members and empower them to be self-confident, self-reliant, and self-sufficient.
