The Miri Ability Service Association (Masa) has been called to carry out more relevant living skills training to its members and open more opportunities for them to earn income.
In making this call, Minister of Transport Sarawak Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said having relevant living skills would help the members improve their living standards.
Masa is a non-profit nongovernmental organisation (NGO) set up to help raise the standard of living of individuals with disabilities (PwDs) in Miri through the establishment of a barrier-free community.
“I think for Masa members who have problems in movement, you should learn living skills related to hand-work.
“I will support Masa in regards to it providing more living skills training to the members.
“Having such skills would help the members to stand on their own feet, and generate their own income,” Lee, who is Senadin assemblyman, said in his speech at the soft opening ceremony of Masa’s new premises in Lambir near here yesterday.
Lee said he had been channelling help to the NGO since its establishment in 2018.
“I commend this association, under the good leadership of its chairman Boon Foo Ping, who strives to help improve the quality of life for its members.
“I also take this opportunity to thank the public for continuing to help Masa in highlighting the needs of the PwDs. Their caring spirit is instrumental in this cause.
“The government does provide welfare assistance, but assistance alone is not sufficient.
“Therefore, continuous support from the public is necessary,” he said.
Later, Lee announced an allocation of RM20,000 from his Minor Rural Project (MRP) grant for Masa.
Present with the minister yesterday were Deputy Minister I of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Senadin branch secretary Councillor Jeffery Phang.
The Borneo Post
