KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Federation of the Deaf (MFD) hopes that the government will consider continuing financial assistance for Taska Istika Jaya in Puchong, Selangor – the country’s first early intervention centre for hearing impaired children – to remain operating.
MFD president Mohamad Sazali Shaari said if the government insisted on stopping the aid, an alternative plan should be prepared so that the disabled children at the nursery could continue to attend school, and teachers continue to serve.
“At the very least, (the government could) help in terms of relocating the students and teachers who are studying and teaching in this preschool to a special education school under the Ministry of Education because the students here come from B40 families.
“The staff, on the other hand, are also disabled, and have to take care of their families,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.
Media reports today said that government financial assistance to the nursery had been withdrawn as the student turnout percentage was not within the threshold set by the Social Welfare Department and that the nursery could possibly be shut down, as it could not cover operating expenses.
The last time the nursery received financial aid from the government was in 2020, totalling RM134,640.
Muhammad Sazali said MFD had brought the issue to the attention of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development through a dialogue session held a few months ago.
“However, until today, no follow-up action has been taken. We hope to find a positive way to protect the interests of our deaf children in terms of having access to early education, as well as that of disabled workers.
“It’s a pity that the nursery is being closed because it is a government initiative under Budget 2013,” he said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency