Dr Chieng (yellow shirt) with Lau (third from right) visiting a stall at the society’’s food fair in Sibu.
STRONG support from the community has enabled the Sarawak Society for the Blind Sibu branch to continue operating for 45 years now.
Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said the public support made a lot of difference to the visually impaired.
“Without community support, visually-impaired individuals would not be able to live beautifully like the rest of us,” he said.
He was speaking at the branch’s annual open house-and-food fair.
Dr Sim said there were 300 visually-impaired people who need support from the branch, which is helping them with monthly food aid of RM100 each.
“It is not easy to meet their basic needs as food is getting more expensive.
“The visually impaired are also receiving (living skills) training from the centre, which helps them greatly,” he added.
According to Dr Sim, the visually impaired may benefit from the artificial intelligence (AI) technology revolution.
“Last year, the AI tecnology could only hear you but this year, it can speak to you.
“This is how fast the AI revolution is happening,” he said.
He advised people to take good care of their eyes by limiting their mobile phone screentime.
Organising chairman Datin Judy Lau said the open house was aimed at raising funds for the visually impaired who are affected by inflation.
