Highlights

We are continuing to appeal to our readers and visitors to donate to our work of running two centres. The annual budget is RM120,000 (USD38,000) for 2014 and 2015 and will grow higher as we recruit more staff and take in additional trainees.

Please make payment to 'Persatuan Berdikari Seremban Negeri Sembilan' with your name and address on a cover slip so we can mail you our official receipt. All donations from April 1 2011 will be exempted from taxation by the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia. Please send the payment to:

The Treasurer, Persatuan Berdikari Seremban Negeri Sembilan, 381, Jalan Kenanga 1, Taman Bukit Chedang, 70300 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

Thank you for your support.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Securing Our Base

Eversince we became a registered body in April last year we have toyed with the idea of securing our own building. Presently we are renting the ground floor of the Wesley Seremban church office shoplot. The adjacent shoplot was vacant for over a year after the tenant moved out and the owner was keen to sell or rent it out. Unfortunately the location was not suitable for retail businesses and there were no enquiries, so the shop stayed vacant. The For Sale/Rent sign came up early this year and we decided this is a good time to check out as property market in this recession year is weak. After some negotiations we are pleased to announce that the owner have agreed to sell us the shoplot at a good price. Today we paid the 2% downpayment. In the coming months we hope that the process of securing the title will proceed smoothly. Once we have secured the property we will start work to repair, renovate and equip the building so that we can expand the work of training the learning disabled.

Although we have almost enough finance to meet the cost of purchase, we need additional funds to pay for the repairs, renovation and equipping of the new centre. We continue to appeal to churches and wellwishers to support our PBSNS Partnership Appeal. To encourage public donations we plan to apply for tax exemption for our building fund for this purchase.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Government Asked to Help Learning Disabled

The Star in its today's edition under 'Friday Reflections' by B.K. Sidhu (Page B2, StarBiz News) appealed to the government to pay more attention to the learning disabled by providing a bigger budget to help them acquire specialised education to overcome, or at least reduce their disabilities that they may develop useful careers. She asked the education minister to 'not miss an important chapter which involves children with learning disabilities and special children.'

She said that 'a child with learning disabilities who is nurtured in the right environment can be a winner'. She gave the examples of Bill Gates and Richard Branson who were diagnosed with dyslexia but they are successful businessmen. Similarly Tom Cruise and Whoppi Goldberg have also done very well in their acting careers.

Sidhu explains that often children with mild dyslexia and Down syndrome are lumped together under learning disabilities, which should be segregated. According to Dr Aili Hanim Hashim, consultant psychiatrist from Universiti Malaya, children with mild learning disabilities can be in normal classrooms.

Sidhu felt that kids with learning disabilities, such as those with mild dyslexia, slow learners, hyperactive and mild intellectual impairment, should be in normal schools but, even if they are there, are often marginalised simply because of the lack of awareness in handling them. As such the government should revamp the education system to make learning disability a priority.

The private sector can also help as part of its corporate responsibility work.

B.K. Sidhu is a deputy news editor of Star.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

A Visit by Malaysian Care

A team of 10 staff from MCare led by the executive director Mr. Lee Chee Loi paid a courtesy call to our centre today. The purpose is to learn more of our work, especially for those who have not visited us before.

After being shown round the centre to see the work by the trainees a briefing was given to them followed by a Q&A session during which several interesting ideas were shared.

This visit enables MCare to further understand our direction and needs. MCare is one of our advisors.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

The Meaning of Money

It has been over a month since I last blogged here. April was a busy month for my family which is why I could not write a post then. Today I found an interesting article in the April issue of the Reader's Digest (US Edition) that I'd like to share here. For more details check HERE.

When asked why he continue to give to charities in tough times, Frank replied that giving is part of our humanity, a manifestation of what is best within us, a capacity to love and sacrifice for others. I think Frank encapsulated his thoughts in the simple but not too obvious fact that our desire to give has been built into our nature but it is the environment and our desire to preserve our selves that often content against that desire. I believe that NOT giving often hurt us more than giving hurt our pockets.

This post is not a solicitation for PBSNS but a request to consider our general and overall management of our wealth.