Renovation begins....... and the noise too!

Renovations begins!
Workers breaking up the wooden floor upstairs.....

yeeaahhh.. time to relieve some stress!

Swee Lan worrying if I'm breaking anything else! nghahahahahhaha

Downstairs kitchen area.....No more kitchen top!

Fadzy: "aiyoh sakit hati..... tak ada tandas guna lagi!"(translate: aiyoh no more toilet to use) Swee Lan: "nevermindlah.... tahan until you go home!" *grin*

Kitchen on the first floor...... will be the new storeroom

Wrapping up stuff downstairs.......

Going to build a concrete floor here in between the 1st & graound floor.

Renovations at UV!

UV started renovations right before Hari Raya. We've given most of the EP Employees 3 months off during the renovations. Now I'm hearing drilling everyday. Will upload some photos later.

UV Video

United Voice's very own video! Filmed by intern students from The One Academy.

Jian Wen's Poem for the closing ceremony at 3rd NSAC

Persidangan Advokasi Diri Ke-3

empat hari dilangsungkan

di YMCA Pulau Pinang

Mutiara Voice Club diberikan peluang

The 3rd National Self-Advocacy Conference

at YMCA Penang

proud to be the host

Mutiara Voice Club

Kesedaran orang ramai ditingkatkan

dalam masa yang singkat

ramai peserta dijemputkan

untuk satu persidangan

Many delegates

from far and near

for four days in a row

have come together

Tiga sesi diadakan

dibincang dengan teliti

pendapat para peserta

dibahaskan dan dikongsikan

Renewing friendship

making new ones

participating in discussions

enjoying entertainment and visits

Kami diasingkan dan didiskriminasikan

penuh ejekan dan disisihkan

kami rasa tidak berpuas hati

seperti burung dalam sangkar

With this conference

we shall voice our opinions

of being segregated

and discriminated

Kami dipandang rendah

oleh masyarakat dan kerajaan

berikanlah hak yang sama

kepada kami yang memerlukan

At the sessions

views and opinions

to reach a solution

through discussions

Berilah peluang kepada kami

untuk menunjukkan kebolehan diri

kami ingin hidup berdikari

untuk mencari rezeki sendiri

With each passing day

our disappointment grows

the society and authorities

turn a deaf ear on us

Satu matlamat diwujudkan

melalui persidangan ini

agar kami dihormati

semoga warga OKU hidup bergembira

Through advocacy we aim

to bring about change

in equal rights and opportunities

in employment and education

Oleh itu marilah kawan

berganding bahu berpimpin tangan

menuju ke satu arah perubahan

untuk meningkatkan kualiti kehidupan

Come my friends

let us work hand in hand

the time is ripe

to improve our quality of life

3rd NSAC -4th & Final Day

Woke up with body aching from jumping & dancing from last night's Dinner & Dance. Today is the last day of the conference. Felt a bit sad that I won't be seeing most of them for some time until the next conference especially members from Kangaroo Club & a few others like Pei Yee from Bethany Home. I like her a lot. She can't seem to stop smiling & laughing and it's contagious! I might not understand what she says most of the time but she sure makes you want to laugh together with her.

No more sessions today but a closing ceremony. After breakfast went down to the hall to see the SA groups leaders practicing on presenting the resolution to the guest of honour, Datuk Samsiah from the Kementerian Pembangunan Masyarakat & Wanita. Johari together with Diana will be saying out the resolution and the rest will come out 1 by 1 on stage to show it on a piece of board. Hooi Ting represented UV.

After their practise I was franticly searching for all the other UV members including Eugene to brief them about Peter's speech which he wants them to participate in his little "sketch".

The closing ceremony started with a speech from Diana (MVC) and then presentation of certificates to all the self-advocacy groups who came. Then it was Peter's speech. He started with a brief history of self-advocacy in malaysia and when he mentioned the first SA group was form in 1995 all of us went up to the stage. He then mentioned that 2005 UV was registered and all of us started shouting "Merdeka" and he past his umbrella to Johari. He then mentioned that he has a dream. His dream is that by end of 2010 another 7 groups will be registered with the Registrar of Societies so that we can form a Malaysia National Self-Advocacy Society of Persons with Learning Disabilities. Of course everyone was very amused when he went to "sleep" after that. I then proceed to announce the "dates" that the next 7 groups will be registered. After each date 1 UV member will sit down and the umbrella will be passed to him/her. After the last one I mentioned "31st Dec 2010" and woke Peter up to see his "dream" being fulfilled! hahaha We had a great time doing that "little" sketch.


Next up was a skit by "Anak-Anak Kota". And then the reading & the presentation of the Resolution. After Datuk Samsiah received the Resolution she gave a closing address. She mentioned that self-advocacy is important and use UV as an example on how it has impacted the lifes of our members. After her speech, Jian Wen (MVC's Public Relations Officer) presented a poem he wrote for this conference. Will post his poem up later when I get it from ACS. And that was it.... end of conference.

Skit by "Anak-Anak Kota"

SA leaders presenting the Resolution

Sarihad from MVC presenting a token to Datuk Samsiah

We packed our things, had lunch and waited for ACS staff to take us to the bus station. We all said our goodbyes and I had to tell MVC members & ACS staff not to miss me so much.hahahaha

Photo with the Japan group

Bye-bye! I'm going to miss Syarifah, my twin sister! haha

We left YMCA early then scheduled because there was a huge jam due to Penang Bridge being closed down because of accident. Reached bus station at 1pm. Our bus leaves at 3.30pm so we had to hang around there for about 2 hours and pray that there won't be any delay. Met the Adventure club people who are leaving at 2pm-their bus goes straight to Klang. Was surprised that they have Wifi service at the bus station. Beginning to like Penang more & more. We boarded the bus on time and thank godness that the traffic jam was cleared by the time we make it to Penang Bridge. Bye bye Penang. See you next time!

Johari with Chin Zhan & Maha from Adventure Club at the bus station

Next conference in 2011 will be at Teluk Intan organised by Bethany Group. Azizul, the president will have to check with Jeyasingh first to confirmed. Hopefully it'll be there. I told them anywhere but KL or Selangor! ;P

3rd NSAC-3rd Day, Morning Session

Yesterday night, we had some free time so about 12 of us including 4 from Kangaroo Club walked about 1 hour to Plaza Gurney!! So I woke up today with 2 aching feet!! hahahaha Next time we will take the cab!!

Had mee hoon for breakie today. Talked to a lady from PDK Sri Chepa, Kelantan. She was asking me about registering the self-advocacy group there. I told her no need to rush. She thought every SA group have to be registered! hahaha She felt so relieved after I told her that. But it's good that she thought about it....maybe in the future...... then Peter Young's dream will be one step closer to reality! ;P

Ms Rie Arihara

Maki (L) & Taka (R)

Today's session started with Ms Rie Arihara from Kanagawa University, Japan talking about Group homes in Japan. She's a collaborator of residents-committee members of "Society of Japan Group Home". Then 2 self-advocates, Mr Maki Shoichi & Ms Nagata Taka, both from Yokohama shared about thier experience, pros & cons of staying in a group home.

Sabri(L) & Izwan (R) with Hasra from ACS who is the MC

Sabri & Izwan from Mutiara Voice Club then shared about their experience staying outside on their own. Both of them are paying RM250 each for rent plus RM50 for utilities bill. They have dreams of saving up money to buy their own house. Many participants are impressed that they can stay on their own.

After tea break..... the session was one of their favourite topic. Mr Stephen Chow who has ataxic cerebral palsy shared about Marriage. He has been married for 9 years and has 3 children. He stressed that to get married you have to be responsible and it's not easy bringing up a child. As expected, Johari was very excited.......Esther shared that she likes to get married and Eugene......ermmm. Even Fadzillah shared that as a parent with a learning disbaility child she worrys if her son-in-law can take care of her daughter or not. She's eyeing some potential son-in-law at this conference!

This was the last session for the conference. After lunch we were divided into groups for outing. Some went to Butterfly Farm, Fadz, Siti, Esther & Nazmi went to the Muzium. Johari, David, Hooi Ting, Felicia and I went to Penang Hill. Had a great time there. Managed to talk to 2 ladies from PDK Besut, Terengganu. They can't seem to wait to form a self-advocacy group there. I told them don't worry if they need help we can send them some materials. And I think United Voice are invited to Terengganu for a ceramah in March.........

Came back from the outing, took a nap and then got ready for the Dinner & Dance. Will write another blog on that. Tomorrow will be the closing ceremony. Time flies..............

Group Photo

Photo with Peter Young

Penang Hill

David requested to take a photo with Stella from Friendship Club....;P

3rd NSAC -2nd Day

Woke up at 7.15am today. Felicia has already left for breakfast. Had a good breakfast of sausage, eggs & toast. Then went to setup my laptop as the morning session involve Esther, Hooi Ting & Johari. The maintenance guy came a bit late and Terri was a bit worry if we could setup in time. I told her dun worry... I'm ready with my laptop... just plug & play!!

Esther started with presenting the "Akta OKU" Her malay is superb... well better then mine!! After that each of them are break in to groups to discuss the resolution. Then Hooi Ting talked about the Shanghai workshop and how they come out with a resolution. Johari then came out with a short presentation on "Why we need a resolution" Some of the points is that persons with learning disabilities need to stand up for their rights and be treated as equals.
Tea break. And we had the second session which is focus on Employment for persons with learning disabilities. Hooi Ting talked about employment opportunities for PWLDs, UV members who are working in the open employment, UV employment project and also her work experince. In between she also invited Esther & Johari to share about their work experience. wah all 3 of them are like prefessional trainers. Even I am also not that confidence standing in front of people talking. Good job!! After this Ms Tan Chin Chin shared about her life and the Gap between PWD an the Society.


Lunch was great! We had nasi kandar. I had 2 helpings. Hey..... Need to replenish my energy after the morning session!! hahahahaha After lunch we had the opening ceremony. Diana gave her speech and a representative from the Penang State exco came to officiate the opening. And don't forget Zaid Ibrahim who was the keynote speaker. He gave quite an inspirational speech. Everyone wants to take photos with him including me! Had to wait until he's going off before I had a chance for that.

After another tea break, MVC's very own Public Relations officer Loo Jian Wen did the session on "Bridging the Gap between PWDs & the Society". He even rope in Johari & I to do a very, very short sketch for him about the public's prejudice against them. Of course we both gave oscar winning performances!! hahaha He open up to the floor to ask them to share their experince of being disciminated against. He also asked for opinions on how to change the public's perception of OKU's and how NGOs and others can work together. It was a good session where people can share their thoughts and opinions.

Session ended around 5:30pm. Tonight's a free night so Fadz has been asking me to go out jalan jalan. Guess we'll most probably be going to Gurney Drive since it's walking distance. Food sucks and expensive there but no choice...........


UV group discussing about the resolution


PKIK & MVC members taking photo with Peter Young


SA group leaders meeting to discuss about next NSAC venue and also what to do with the RM10,000 donation from KDK.

3rd National Self-advocacy Conference -1st Day

3rd National Self-advocacy conference is organised by Mutiara Voice with support from ACS, Penang. It is a 4 days conference from 16th Feb -19th Feb.

The day started with UV members meeting at Puduraya. Pn Fadzillah & I are the supporting staff going. We took the 9.00am bus and arrived at Penang at about 2.40pm. ACS send 2 vans to pick us up. We meet the group, Divine Voice at the bus station. There were 3 members and 1 supporting staff attending the conference.

We reached YMCA about 3.15pm, checked-in and had a rest before dinner which was at 6.30pm.

ahem..... Johari was gracious enough to vacate his seat for Diana (president of MVC) as she was looking for a place to sit.

Meet many old & new faces from different self-advocacy groups at dinner. Of course the old faces were excited to see me! It's been 2 years..they must have miss me a lot! hahahahaha There were Friendship Club, Dragon Club, Divine Voice, Bethany SA group, MVC, Kangaroo Club and Dayspring Club. Many new faces especially from a few PDKS from Kelantan & Terengganu, Special Olympics Sibu and volunteers from JOCV and a few from Japan. all together we have 120 participants at this conference, about 80 advocates and the rest are supporting friends & observers.
After dinner all of us went to the conference hall for the night session which was "Getting to know each other".

Diana gave a welcome speech to everyone the then the games started. There were noise, laughter & more noise. Its's a wonder we did not bring the whole building down.

ER... they had one game where each group had to dress up one model using newspaper...... guess which group won? hehe...... I couldn't stop laughing especially at the way Johari walks after he was covered with the newspaper. Got it on video and will upload it to YouTube later!

After the games it's bed time. Our group stayed back a bit to talk about the resolutions that will be discuss tomorrow in the morning.

ok better go to bed...tomorrow breakfast is at 7.00am......wonder how I'm going to wake up...........