Eliminate Prejudice, Persons with Disabilities Are Not a Burden : Sultan Nazrin

IPOH: The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, decreed that society must eliminate prejudice against persons with disabilities and no longer view them as a burden.

His Royal Highness decreed that every individual who has suffered injury or loss of ability possesses experience, skills, and knowledge and can still contribute to society and the nation.

“They must not be marginalised and looked down upon as a burden. They are part of the larger family of Malaysian society.

“Appreciate that every individual has value, talent, dignity, and potential. What they need is support, access, training, opportunities, and trust,” His Royal Highness decreed.

His Royal Highness said this when officiating the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) Neuro-Robotic and Cybernics Rehabilitation Centre in Bandar Meru Raya here on Tuesday.

Also in attendance were the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa, and the Raja DiHilir of Perak, Raja Iskandar Dzurkarnain Sultan Idris Shah.

Also present were the Menteri Besar of Perak, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, and the Minister of Human Resources, Datuk Seri R. Ramanan.

On the occasion of the event, His Royal Highness was pleased to name the centre as the Perkeso Sultan Nazrin Shah Rehabilitation Centre.

In his decree, Sultan Nazrin also emphasised that a nation’s progress should not be measured solely through physical development or high economic growth figures but also by its ability to uphold and preserve human dignity.

Therefore, His Royal Highness expressed hope that more private sector entities would step forward to offer corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes in collaboration with rehabilitation centres, including providing vocational training and employment opportunities to the group concerned.

“The initiative pioneered by Perkeso in forging collaboration with 7-Eleven to provide post-treatment work training programmes with the potential of being offered employment is a strategic approach.

“Society has a responsibility to come forward and also assist Perkeso’s efforts by opening up appropriate space and opportunities for those who have completed rehabilitation treatment to live independently,” His Royal Highness decreed.

Meanwhile, His Royal Highness said that the existence of the Neuro-Robotic and Cybernetics Rehabilitation Centre should be seen as a symbol that the nation values every life, worker, and family and gives a second chance to build a dignified future.

His Royal Highness decreed that the rehabilitation centre is not merely a complex equipped with modern and sophisticated equipment but is further enhanced with the expertise of professionals from various fields, including occupational and vocational therapy, as well as psychological support within an integrated ecosystem.

“For a stroke patient, this centre may be a place to help them learn to move their limbs again. For a worker who has suffered a nerve injury, this centre rebuilds physical and mental strength.

“For someone who has suffered a traumatic brain injury, this centre retrains memory, speech, and self-confidence… and for their families, this centre can be a place to shine a light of hope,” His Royal Highness decreed.

Sinar Harian