Pua proves wheelchair no barrier in her life

PETALING JAYA: Being wheelchair-bound does not stop Pua Ghin Chu physically or mentally. Yesterday, the 25-year-old performed a cha-cha dance with a male partner on stage at a health campaign in SS3 community hall.

After her stunning dance performance, she wheeled herself to the organ donation campaign booth to pledge all her organs.

Amazing feat: Pua performing the cha-cha with her dance partner Theng at the SS3 community hall in Petaling Jaya on Sunday.

“I think it will be a waste of resources if I do not donate my organs after I die,” said Pua, paralysed at the age of 16 after having blood clot in her spine. She added that she had wanted to pledge her organs a long time ago but did not know where to go. This time around, she overheard an announcement about the organ donation booth and wasted no time in signing up.

“I am sure my parents would have no objection to my pledge,” said Pua, whose parents are vegetable traders in Sekinchan.

The eldest in the family, Pua joined Beautiful Gate Foundation and later took up computer studies. She is the employment coordinator at the foundation.
Pua’s dance partner, Theng Bing Haw, 28, a tutor at KBU college, took up a community project under LP 88 with Beautiful Gate to help the disabled a few years ago.

They underwent two years of training to dance before mustering enough courage to perform live before an audience.

Pua’s swift movement on wheelchair gave the impression she was not bound by it at all. She was able to elegantly twist, turn and move according to the music tempo.


source: 
1) The Star 
2) MIND-BAKTI Portal

Hutan Kenangan - a theatre performance by Malaysian & Japanese physically disabled performers

“Hutan Kenangan”– A Theatre Performance by Physically Disabled Malaysian & Japanese Performers
    
After the successful performance of “My Mother” January last year at KLPac, Ms. KIM Manri, a founder and Artistic Director of Performance Troupe TAIHEN, will be here again to present “Hutan Kenangan”. This is based on “Forest of Remembrance” premiered by Performance Troupe TAIHEN in 2005 in Osaka, Japan. In April, “Hutan Kenangan” will be performed again but together with Malaysian performers.
The Malaysian performers are from three institutions, namely Pusat Latihan Perindustrian & Pemulihan Orang Kurang Upaya (PLPP) Bangi, Persatuan Kanak-Kanak Spastik Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan (Spastic Centre), and Beautiful Gate Foundation.
“Hutan Kenangan” is a fairy tale on fairies that try to fight back the peaceful forest destroyed by the evil king, including some comical scenes. Casts were chosen from workshops held in July last year and they have been rehearsing weekly with getting support from volunteer staff. Ms. Kim will join the one month long intensive rehearsal here from early March. Audience can expect something new in their theatre experience through this production. This will be an interesting and meaningful piece for both children and adult.
This event is presented by KLPac, produced by The Actors Studio and The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur.

The details are as below: -
Date & Time:
6 (Fri) & 7 (Sat) April 2007 @ 8pm
8 (Sun) April 2007 @ 3pm

Venue:
Pentas 2, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac)
Sentul Park, Jalan Strachan, off Jalan Ipoh, KL

Ticket:
RM30, RM15 (Students, Disabled & JFKL Members)
available at:
KLPac box office 03-4047 9000
The Actors Studio Bangsar box office 03-2094 9400

For further enquiries, please kindly contact JFKL at 03-2161 2104 or e-mail to jpcc@jfkl.org.my

Source: The Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur

MP with a caring touch

By VIVIENNE PALPhoto by TK LIM
IT IS not a common occurrence but Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said and Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen have done it. So have PJU MP Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun and Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Yong Dai Ying.

The latest to join the list in dancing in public is Kelana Jaya MP Loh Seng Kok during a New Year celebration with the disabled community at Summit Shopping Complex, USJ on Saturday .

Sporting: Loh (second from right) joining in a dance performance by the disabled folks from Beautiful Gate Foundation.

The incident occurred when a group of performers from the Beautiful Gate Foundation encouraged the 100-odd guests to stand up and join them in their dance.
The event was jointly organised by the Beautiful Gate Foundation and various other NGOs including the Petaling district Young Men Movement (YMM), with sponsorship from Loh and Summit Shopping Complex, USJ.

"We are all partners in life and in building a caring and loving community," said Loh who sponsored some RM12, 000 for the celebration that evening.

He also sponsored 15 wheelchairs for the foundation.

"Some of those who are perfectly able-bodied don't value their lives and are not even productive. The disabled community surpass them in valuing their lives and making the best of it," he said.

Also present at the event were Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) secretary Slamat Hamzah and representatives from Kelana Jaya MIC division, Summit Shopping Complex, USJ and YMM.
Beautiful Gate Foundation executive director Sia Siew Chin represented the disabled community in applauding Loh's idea of initiating the celebration.

"The care demonstrated by Loh makes us feel like part of the community," said Sia.

"He never treats us like disabled folks but like his friends. This is what we wish from the public. Just because we are disabled does not mean we do not want to or cannot live independently or contribute to society."

The night commenced with dinner sponsored by Summit Shopping Complex, USJ, stage presentations and a variety of games and lucky draws with prizes also sponsored by Loh.

Source: The Star Online

Source: MIND-BAKTI Portal