BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

NINE special needs organisations (OKU) in the sultanate are in a process of uniting their associations under one council body, with the headquarters located in Kg Rimba, said the president of the National Association of the Deaf (OKP).

During the tahlil and Iftar ceremony at the Youth Centre in the capital yesterday, Hj Abdul Hakim Hj Mohd Yassin when interviewed by The Brunei Times said that there is a need to unite all the OKU association in the sultanate with the aim to give space for these associations to respond properly.

"By having the centre, it will allow us to strengthen the relationship amongst other association as well as its society," said Hj Abdul Hakim.

Nine of the OKU associations comprising of the Management of Autism Related Issues in Training, Education and Resources (Smarter), Al-Ameerah Association, Down Syndrome Association, the Centre for Children with Special Needs (KACA), the Brunei Darussalam National Association of the Blind (BDNAB), Special Olympics Brunei Darussalam (SOBD), Paraplegic and Physically Disabled Association (PAPDA) and the Learning Ladders.

“With the presence of this body, it will gather all the associations of 'Orang Kurang Upaya’ (OKU) as well as 'Orang Berkeperluan Khas' (OBK) under one roof. It will also ease our duty in upholding these societies,” said the president.

“By having a specific body and building for all OKU associations, it will also give us an opportunity to access facilities and equipment for the society as well as giving an efficient approach in maintaining and strengthening relationship with every association,” he added.

He went on to say that currently there are still waiting for the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to approve their proposal.

“InsyaAllah, we will get the approval within two months. After the approval we will start concentrating on the centre that will be provided by government in Kg Rimba.

“Every OKU association will construct their own building at the headquarter. After we are done with the move-in phase in future, we just hope that we will manage to overcome our usual problems in shortage of tutor for the OKU society,” he said.

More than 70 people were attended the yesterday’s tahlil and Iftar event comprising the member of OKP and their family members as well as its committee.

Currently, there are 155 members under OKP association. “We will take care of everyone in this association including their family, spouse and children. Even though they are already married, we still allow them to come to us and give them support especially in motivating and helping them to get a job.” The National Association of the Deaf (OKP) was established in 2009 dedicated in giving education and care to those with hearing impairment and is currently operating at the Youth Centre in the capital.

The Brunei Times