ON a cold rainy evening, a busker sets up a chair and equipment near the Bukit Bintang monorail station in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. “Abby”, in her 30s, is blind but independent, navigating the streets without a guide.
Blinded by a fever at nine, Abby earns about RM1,200 a month by busking and selling tissues. About a third of that amount goes towards her room rental.
Abby learnt her busking skills from the Malaysian Association of the Blind (MAB), the premier voluntary organisation in Malaysia serving the visually impaired.
Established in 1951 to look after the general wellbeing of the blind, MAB has since extended from Kuala Lumpur to other parts of the country.
It conducts educational programmes, rehabilitation courses, vocational training and placement services. Its Braille library, “talking” book library, Braille Publishing Unit other services also help many users, like Abby, to develop skills and be contributing members of society.
Another association is SBM (Society of Blind Malaysia), which has about 6,000 members. SBM is a non-religious, non-political, national voluntary organisation of the visually impaired whose goal is to secure equal rights and opportunities for the blind.
Despite having skills and an education, many still can’t land jobs commensurable with their qualification. There are more than 36,000 blind recipients of welfare aid who get RM350 a month.
Abby, who holds a diploma and degree in human resources from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), hopes to continue studying abroad and end the stigma attached to her condition.
Every election, the blind community submits a memorandum to Parliament to fight for their rights. Thirteen elections later, they are still waiting for their rights to be heard. – March 16, 2018.
A blind person crosses the road with his guide to sell tissues around Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, March 16, 2018.Blindness is divided into three categories – B1, B2 and B3, where B3 denotes total loss of sight. Two blind men with B2 visual impairment use their smartphones to stay connected with friends and family. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, March 16, 2018.Abby, who earns RM1,200 a month busking and selling tissues, says a third of her earnings go towards renting her room in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, March 16, 2018.Abby shows her Human Resources diploma and degree certificates from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM). She graduated in 2007 but says she cannot find a job despite her qualifications. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, March 16, 2018.Abby walks alone with her white cane at night around Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. She says she never needs a guide to get around town. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, March 16, 2018.Abby hangs out with her visually impaired friends after her busking session in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, March 16, 2018.Abby uses her smartphone and laptop in her room. The laptop is equipped with JOSH software, which helps technology be accessible to the visually impaired. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, March 16, 2018.Abby cleans her room in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, March 16, 2018.At the Malaysian Association of the Blind, visually impaired students learn how to use the computer for office management with the help of JOSH software. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, March 16, 2018.Blind instructor Ong Chin Hoe, 35 (front) teaches students how to give massages at the Malaysian Association of the Blind in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, March 16, 2018.Diploma in Audio Production students work on an assignment at the Malaysian Association for the Blind. The voluntary organisation conducts classes and vocational training to help the visually impaired develop skills. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, March 16, 2018.A blind singer performs in the studio at the Malaysian Association of the Blind in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. The dotted background resembles Braille writing. –The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, March 16, 2018.A blind person navigates the streets using his white cane and the special track for the visually impaired on a pedestrian walkway in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, March 16, 2018.Abby is seen busking at night near the the Bukit Bintang monorail station in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, March 16, 2018.
A white cane is seen outside Abby's room in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, March 16, 2018.
Comments