PENANG, 6 December 2013 - Universiti Sains Malaysia today received 42 sets of wheelchairs and other mobility aids donated by the Rajanagarindra Institute of Child Development (RICD), Chiangmai, Thailand for distribution to persons with disabilities and the needy.

The donation of the wheelchairs and mobility aids such as crutches, walkers and bath chairs valued at more than RM350,000 is part of the collaborative initiatives undertaken by USM and RICD through the RICD Wheelchair Project following a memorandum of agreement (MoA) signed between both parties in May 2012.

This programme is a university-community engagement project and is the first ever project of its kind undertaken in Malaysia as it involves wheelchairs that are modified and customised to the specifications and requirements of the user (custom made).

At the wheelchair handover ceremony held here today, USM Pro-Chancellor Tan Sri Datuk Mustafa Mansur presented the wheelchairs to two recipients – Ismail Abdullah, 75, from Merbok, Kedah and Farhana Sofea Mohd. Ismail, 16, from Bayan Baru, Penang.

Mustafa sees this partnership as a noble effort that is meaningful and impactful that not only benefits the University but the recipients as well in many ways, with positive and transformative changes coming into their lives.

"I believe that through such collaboration, the university can be an agent of social change to help the needy, thus transforming their lives by giving them hope of a better future," said Mustafa.

He also hoped that the specially modified wheelchairs are able to facilitate the movement of the wheelchair recipients, and also serve as an eye-opener to the campus community to be more concerned about people with disabilities.

Meanwhile, in her welcoming remarks, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry and Community Network) Professor Dato’ Dr. See Ching Mey expressed her sincere thanks to RICD for forging a sustainable-led partnership with USM in this community engagement project that will greatly benefit the community involved, in line with the University’s desire to continue to remain relevant to the community.

Furthermore this programme also involved the elements of knowledge transfer and sharing of expertise, as local technical personnel from hospitals and spastic centres including USM Hospital and Penang General Hospital learn about how to maintain, repair and improvise the wheelchairs from the dedicated and experienced technical staff from the RICD Wheelchair Project volunteer team.

“I hope the technicians who attend the hands-on sessions today and tomorrow will be able to gather as much knowledge as possible and apply the skills they have acquired so that they too can customise the wheelchairs for the patients,” said Dr. See.

Among the wheelchair recipients selected by USM this year are those from the Cerebral Palsy (Spastic) Children's Association of Penang, Malaysian Advocates for Cerebral Palsy and individuals from other states.

Also present were RICD Director, Dr. Samai Sirithongthaworn and the Consul of Thailand Mrs. Chayanit Pasatika representing the Consul-General of Thailand in Penang. - Translation: Tan Ewe Hoe/Photo: Mohamad Danial Shahri