Latest news with #MalaysianAssociationfortheBlind
The Star
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
24 Malaysian OKUs to showcase their skills at MAB's Entrepreneurs Day event
Blind crafter Saravanan Velayuthan is adept at weaving and basic woodworking, and has been using his crafting skills to eke out a living for the last 25 years. The 54-year old's specialty lies in making nylon-woven footstools, stools and tables. "Weaving isn't difficult. Anything is easy if you have the interest," says the affable Saravanan during an interview at the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur recently. Despite being blind and living with Marfan syndrome, Saravanan has spent 25 years perfecting his craft. Photo: The Star/Sheela Chandran There, he was completing a few woven stools, all of which will be displayed at MAB's Entrepreneurs Day, taking place from May 31 - June 1 (10.30am - 4.30pm) at MAB, KL. The objectives of the event include enhancing entrepreneurship and employability among persons with disabilities (OKU) and boosting their confidence to compete in the open market. A total of 24 entrepreneurs – from the visually impaired, physically disabled, deaf and those with intellectual disabilities – will be taking part in the event. Many items will be on sale, including handcrafted and homemade products made by the OKU individuals such as handicrafts, food, beverages, snacks, light meals, accessories and personal care products. And let's not forget Saravanan's woven stools, made using different weaving techniques like checkered weave, diagonal weave and honeycomb weave. Events like these mean a lot to the disabled community as they offer a chance to showcase their talents and earn some extra income. Often, this group of individuals isn't given the opportunity to shine due to a lack of support or exposure. Saravanan's stools are reasonably priced, ranging from RM130 to RM160 each. It takes him about two days to weave the design and make a stool. "About 98% of the work is handmade. Everything is done by my hands except for the thermo-treated meranti wood. This wood undergoes a heating process, making it stronger. I live in Shah Alam, and my son has to drive me to Kajang, Selangor to buy the wood from a sawmill factory," says Johor-born Saravanan, adding that one roll of nylon thread costs about RM15. Each handcrafted stool takes Saravanan two days to complete, using different weaving techniques. Photo: The Star/Sheela Chandran Yet some of his customers complain that the stools are too expensive. "Many people tend to bargain and ask for a cheaper price. It takes time to make the stool and complete the weaving, and I am blind," says Saravanan, who uses counting methods and his tactile skills to guide him through the weaving process. Saravanan also has Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects connective tissues. The disorder caused him to have problems with his eyes, which eventually led to blindness in his late 20s. Prior to that, he worked as a lorry driver, and he says he is blessed to have been able to see the face of his youngest daughter until she was five. After becoming blind, he signed up for a crafting course offered by MAB. From there, he eventually worked as a woodworking trainer for MAB for several years until MAB closed down its woodworking workshops due to low response from the blind. Today, Saravanan works from his flat in Taman Alam Megah. In a month, he can make five to 10 stools, earning between RM650 and RM1,600. It is not much but he's grateful three of his four grown-up children are already independent and earning an income. A pillar of support, Devayani (right) assists her father with his work, from painting stools to handling logistics. His eldest daughter Devayani, 25, works as a Braille publishing clerk with MAB. His kids assist him with his work, from painting stools to handling logistics. "When the kids were younger, it was very difficult to make ends meet as I was the sole breadwinner. Thankfully the Social Welfare Department gives me some money each month," he says. After mastering the art of nylon weaving, Saravanan now hopes to create opportunities for other visually impaired crafters. It is his dream to eventually have a small space where he can make his goods, and eventually train more blind people to weave. He is keen on Brickfields because it is easy for him to travel by train there, and that's the place where many from the blind community are based. "I dream of opening a workshop where I can teach and give jobs to other blind crafters so they, too, can earn an income. But without a proper space and with so few orders, how can I help them? "I'd love to explore weaving different surfaces like shoe racks. I can also weave traditional Indian beds called charpai. "But I live in a flat - there's no room to work. It's always difficult to craft these things at home, with my neighbours complaining whenever I do drilling work. "Hopefully my dreams will come true one day," he says.
The Star
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia launches first Braille entrepreneurship guide
With this entrepreneurial book in Braille, Malaysian Association for the Blind's strategy and placement unit manager Dr Lim Thein Hong is able to access the knowledge he needs to pursue his dreams. Photos: Kanithra Naidu The Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) in Tanjung Malim, Perak have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at empowering the visually impaired community through inclusive education and entrepreneurship. The event, held on May 8 at MAB's headquarters in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, also marked the official launch of Memperkasa Asas Berniaga (Empowering Business Fundamentals), the first-ever entrepreneurship guide book in Malaysia published in both Braille and e-book formats. The 2006 (original hardcopy) book, co-authored by Wan Liz Osman Wan Omar and Sulzari Mohamed, has 15 chapters encompassing information on business support services and assistance, financing schemes, and business opportunities in the field of franchising that can be utilised by current and aspiring entrepreneurs. "This collaboration advances comprehensive support for the visually impaired through training, entrepreneurship, and strategic partnerships, with the book serving as both a practical guide and a symbol of economic empowerment," said MAB president Tan Sri Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar after the MoU signing ceremony. From left: Tengku Azlan, UPSI vice chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff and Thomas during the memorandum of understanding ceremony. The collaboration with UPSI is part of a broader initiative involving other universities, including Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah in Pekan; Universiti Utara Malaysia in Sintok, Kedah; Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Skudai, Johor; Universiti Malaysia Sabah in Kota Kinabalu; and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak in Kuching. Since its founding in 1951, MAB has offered a wide range of services including vocational training, rehabilitation, job placement, low vision services, Braille printing, and an audio library - benefitting over 3,000 visually impaired individuals annually. According to the Social Welfare Department, there are over 64,000 visually impaired individuals in Malaysia, highlighting the urgent need for initiatives such as this. MAB chief executive officer Datuk George Thomas said empowering the blind to become entrepreneurs is not just about providing income opportunities - it is about restoring dignity and promoting independence. It is important to build entrepreneurial skills among the blind to empower them with independence. Photo: 123rf "With the employment rate for persons with disabilities (PWD) falling below 0.5% – far short of the 1% target – it is clear that traditional job market solutions are not enough. "We must now prioritise inclusive wealth creation strategies to ensure that PWDs, especially blind individuals who fall far below in open employment, can enjoy the same quality of life and economic dignity as everyone else." Through the collaboration with universities, Thomas hopes to not only strengthen local support systems but also involve university students as active volunteers - nurturing empathy, civic responsibility, and deeper connections between academia and the community. "We hope this MoU will open the door to broader, more sustainable partnerships - ones that empower the visually impaired and move us closer to a more inclusive and equitable Malaysia."
The Star
07-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Blind leading the sighted on 3km PJ solidarity walk
Malaysian Association for the Blind is a beneficiary of the Blind Leading the Blind Annual Charity Walk, which is in its 15th iteration. — Courtesy photos IMAGINE walking in the dark or while blindfolded in an unfamiliar space. While the thought of doing so is daunting, it did not deter some 1,500 people from turning up at Laman MBPJ, Petaling Jaya in Selangor, to take on the unknown. They were participants of the 15th Blind Leading the Blind Annual Charity Walk, a collaboration between Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Lions Club Petaling Jaya (LCPJ), in support of Malaysian Association for the Blind and University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Some 150 visually impaired people also participated in the 3km walk which took in several roads around MBPJ headquarters in PJ New Town. Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon said the event aimed to increase public awareness of the importance of eye care and to help the public understand the challenges faced by the visually impaired. LCPJ programme manager Mak Sew Fong said the annual event started in 2003 but went on hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic, and was making its comeback this year. A blindfolded Mohamad Zahri being led during the walk in Petaling Jaya. Since its inception, the event had raised RM1mil for eye care-related efforts, especially for the poor, he said. 'The event has helped some 20,000 people receive free eye screenings and around 2,000 people have benefitted from free cataract surgery. 'This year, we collaborated with UMMC to provide eye screening for B40 families and children living in remote areas,' Mak added. Petaling Jaya deputy mayor Aznan Hassan said he first tried the walk over 10 years ago and it was a memorable experience. 'After taking just 20 steps, I found it challenging to continue. 'The same route I took with my eyes open became unfamiliar when my eyes were shut,' Aznan said, adding that more people should experience the walk for themselves. During the event that ran for five hours, people took turns to be the blindfolded walkers and the guides.
