An approximate 150 visually-impaired people converged on the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) headquarters in Brickfields to combat alleged embezzlement plaguing the group.
The streets of Brickfields were abuzz with hive of activities as the blind community came out holding banners demanding for independent investigation unit to probe into the highest management board of MAB involving four VIPs for an alleged misappropriation usage of fund and MAB assets embezzlement.
The banners read, “hentikan menggunakan nama orang buta untuk menipu masyrakat” (stop the act of using the name of blind people to deceive the society”) and “selamatkan MAB” (save MAB) filled the streets during the rally which started at 10am, here today.
One of the demonstrators, Gunasekar Govindasamy, 60 said, “All of them – and let me say that none of them is qualified to lead the blind -- they do not know Braille or any of the facilities needed for the blind people.
“Corruption is only what they know. They are siphoning the wealth of MAB,” said an understandably distraught Govindasamy.
“Who else would look after our welfare if the organisation entrusted itself is exploiting us,” he added.
The demonstrators at the MAB with a banner that reads ' Stop using the blinds to cheat people'.- Astro AWANI/ SATHESH RAJ
Understandably, voices of dissents were heard throughout the rally.
“Corruption is only what they know. They are siphoning the wealth of MAB”,” said Govindasamy, when met by Astro AWANI.
A member of MAB, Siti Hadijah Abu Bakar said, "The committee had spent a staggering RM60,000 fund on a fountain placed in front of the MAB headquarters. It was non-beneficial for us. We were told that it was for our corporate image so we turned around and questioned them: since when did MAB become a corporate body?”
The fountain at the MAB Headquarters which has been alleged to be accounted for an amount of RM60,000 while its actual worth lies around RM10,000. - Astro AWANI/ SATHESH RAJ
She also recalled an incident when some MAB members had requested to invite a group of academic experts from China for a course on massaging therapy only to be turned down by the committee citing ‘fund constraints’ as a setback to fund the trip.
Siti Hadijah said what surprised them most was when the committee spent a staggering RM50,000 from the fund in sending a sports team to participate in a sporting event in Korea not too long ago.
“We do not deny the significance of sports for the nation but priorities should be set right.
“The demonstrators here are all unemployed and their welfare are overlooked. Why is there nothing done by MAB officials?” she asked.
The sentiment that reverberated throughout the demonstration was of the fate of the disabled who seem to think that the NGO has neglected their welfare.- Astro AWANI/SATHESH RAJ
“If they aren’t concerned of our welfare, do think of the future of our children,” said Siti Hadijah.
Said Govindasamy: “ it is time for the blind to lead the blinds.”
