Disabled Community Celebrate National Day In Their Own Unique Ways, In Full Patriotic Spirit - MFB Chairman

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Every year, the disabled, including those who are visually impaired, celebrate the National Day with high patriotic and nationalistic spirit in their own unique ways, says Silatur Rahim Dahman, chairman and chief executive officer of the Malaysian Foundation for the Blind (MFB).

"Disabled individuals, whether visually impaired or in other categories, are not left out in feeling the patriotic spirit during the National Day.

"For example, the visually impaired will sing patriotic songs to feel the sentiment of the day," he said while appearing as a guest on Bernama TV's ‘Ruang Bicara’ programme today.

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For this year's celebration, Silatur Rahim said MFB would provide the visually impaired the opportunity to hoist the Jalur Gemilang at the foundation's building, in addition to being supplied with flags to hang at their homes.

"In addition, we usually hold a patriotic song competition on the eve of National Day. This way, the visually impaired can participate in National Day programmes in their own way because it is quite challenging and risky to bring them to public places," he said, while expressing hope that the organisers of this year's National Day celebration would involve the disabled community in the parade.

Meanwhile, Dr Mohd Norazmi Nordin, Senior Lecturer in Special Education at the Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), said that the disabled were also exposed to the spirit of patriotism from their school days, and the cooperation received during National Day celebrations is very encouraging.

However, he acknowledged that there were challenges for the group in expressing their love for the country during the National Day celebrations.

"The challenge, for example, for the blind, lies in their mobility during activities. If we organise events to celebrate (the National Day), bringing them to these events can be difficult. Sometimes, activities have to be held in one place only," he said.

-- BERNAMA