Materia Medica Malaysiana

Two More Pre-Schools For Visually Impaired

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) will build a pre-school for the visually impaired each in Klang and Kota Baharu, bringing to five the total number in the country, MAB president Prof Datuk Ismail Md Salleh said.

The existing pre-schools are in Kuala Lumpur (at Jalan Batu and at the MAB centre on Jalan Tun Sambanthan) and in Penang, built under the Assistance to Blind Children (ABC) programme.

Ismail said besides the new pre-schools, the association plans to build more such facilities to meet the increasing demand.

He was speaking after the launch of the ABC programme by Yayasan Budi Penyayang (Penyayang) chairman Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, who is also the Prime Minister's wife.

Penyayang donated RM100,000 to the programme.

The Klang pre-school is expected to open early next year, while the Kota Baharu one is still in the planning stage, he said.

Of 215,000 disabled Malaysians, 10 per cent are not getting the proper education because of their parents' lack of concern, he said.

"In Malaysia, facilities for the disabled are not a problem, but many parents are ignorant or unwilling to send their special children to get help," he said.

Earlier, Endon in her address said Malaysia was on par with developed countries in the provision of facilities for special people including educational opportunities, vocational training and care centres.