KOTA SAMARAHAN: A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was inked yesterday by the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).
It was meant to open the door to numerous strategic partnerships between the two organisations.
Yesterday’s signing which took place at Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman (DeTar PUTRA) in UNIMAS was aimed at a strategic cooperation to offer rehabilitation and employment services to the Sarawak community.
PERKESO was represented by Mohammed Azman Aziz and Executive Director of Tun Abdul Razak PERKESO Rehabilitation Centre, Datuk Dr Hafez Hussain while UNIMAS was represented by itsVice Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi and Director of UNIMAS Teaching Hospital and Medical Centre, Professor Dr Ehfa Bujang Safawi.
Cooperation through this MOU will support the efforts of both parties to provide and extend rehabilitation programmes and facilities in the states through the provision of these facilities at the UNIMAS Teaching Hospital.
“The initiative is expected to benefit the local community, especially PERKESO contributors to get rehabilitation treatment at the UNIMAS campus.
“In addition, the signing of this MOU will also pioneer bilateral collaboration in research and learning aspects, aiming to improve the skills and knowledge of members in fields such as medicine, rehabilitation, neurological intervention, mental health, allied health skills, robotics, vocational training, safety and health, disability management, Return To Work (RTW) programmes and employment service programmes.
“I believe that the selection of UNIMAS as a strategic partner of PERKESO is a right step and in line with the objective of ‘no Malaysian is left behind’ in the protection of social security, where rehabilitation services are provided across ethnic diversity in the community in Sarawak,” Mohammed Azman said.
Meanwhile, Kadim pointed out that with this collaboration, contributors have the opportunity to undergo rehabilitation treatment at the UNIMAS Rehabilitation Centre comfortably, in addition to its location close to Kuching, Samarahan and Serian.
“This is in line with the government’s desire to raise the standard of healthcare for all citizens and protect workers’ rights in this nation.
“This rehabilitation service is an ongoing project that aims to establish a social security culture in which all employers register with PERKESO out of a sense of duty and recognition of how crucial it is to protect their employees,” he added.
He continued by saying that even though the MOU has not yet been formally implemented, eight PERKESO contributors have benefited from medical services at UNIMAS, including stroke rehabilitation, speech therapy, musculoskeletal rehab, and care for a patient who is in need of a prosthetic arm.
