Wheelchairs for those in dire need of help

By CHRISTINA TAN
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

MALACCA: Good news for the disabled. Beautiful Gate Foundation is giving away 10 wheelchairs to those who could not afford to buy their own.

Foundation executive director Sia Siew Chin said applications for the wheelchairs has been opened for people in Malacca and Johor.

“The wheelchairs are donated by individuals to the foundation and I hope those who need them will contact us,” she said after announcing the opening of the foundation’s new centre for disabled people in southern region.

This was the fifth centre after Petaling Jaya (Selangor), Kepong (Kuala Lumpur), Kampar (Perak) and Seremban (Negri Sembilan).

Sia (centre) chatting with members from Petaling Jaya at the newly open centre for the disabled in Batu Berendam.

Earlier, Sia said she had received numerous calls from people in Malacca and Johor who were interested in the training provided by the foundation.

“We set up this centre eventually after two years of planning and we are open for registration for the disabled now,” said Sia.

The new centre is located in a single-storey corner house with three bedrooms in Taman Merdeka Jaya, Batu Berendam.

It can house eight people and accommodate about 30 people for daytime training programmes, she said.

Sia said the foundation spent RM12,500 to renovate the house, which was rent free.

The foundation also appealed for public donation for electrical items and furniture to operate the centre, she said, adding that items needed including refrigerator, washing machine, television, ceiling fans, wall exhaust fans, wall fans, microwave, rice cooker, slow cooker, single bed mattresses, computers, office equipment, chairs and tables.

Apart from training on surviving skills and self-development skills, Sia said the foundation planned to have computer classes for the disabled here.

She added that the foundation was also looking for full-time worker and volunteers for the new centre.

For donation, contact Willie Wong at 013-342 1071, the application for wheelchairs and training programmes call the centre at 06-282 7845.

Source : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/3/9/southneast/13586476&sec=southneast