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