Malaysian Foundation for the Blind chief executive officer Silatul Rahim Dahman has shattered barriers many deemed impossible.
Since 1993, his initiatives have empowered thousands of visually impaired individuals in Malaysia and other Asia-Pacific countries.
Silatul Rahim is named as one of the 10 winners of the Star Golden Hearts Award 2024, an annual award by The Star that honours everyday Malaysian unsung heroes.
For more details, visit https://www.sgha.com.my/
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Since 1993, his initiatives have empowered thousands of visually impaired individuals in Malaysia and other Asia-Pacific countries.
Silatul Rahim is named as one of the 10 winners of the Star Golden Hearts Award 2024, an annual award by The Star that honours everyday Malaysian unsung heroes.
For more details, visit https://www.sgha.com.my/
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline
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NewsTranscript
00:00Hi, my name is Selatul Rahim Dahman.
00:02I am working for the Yayasan Orang Mutah Malaysia
00:06and I'm the winner of the STAR Golden Hearts Award 2024,
00:10which I'm very happy about.
00:12♪
00:29Guided by a stick,
00:30Malaysian Foundation for the Blind Chief Executive Officer,
00:34Selatul Rahim Dahman,
00:35navigates the bustling five-foot ways of shoplots
00:38in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur with his assistant.
00:41For decades, the Kedah-born pioneer has shattered barriers
00:45many deemed impossible.
00:47His early life was far from ordinary,
00:50as it took a turn when his parents discovered
00:52a specialised school for the blind in Penang.
00:56I didn't know that there was a school for me
00:59until I was 10 years old
01:01when my parents decided to send me to school
01:04for the blind in Penang.
01:06It was far away because my hometown is in Jitra.
01:12After completing my primary school,
01:15I was posted to the regular school,
01:19not the blind school in Alor Setar.
01:22It was called College Sultan Abdul Hamid
01:27because College Sultan Abdul Hamid has an inclusive programme
01:32where the blind would study together with the non-blind students.
01:38Upon returning to Malaysia
01:40after his studies in Philadelphia, USA,
01:42he sought to transform lives through technology.
01:45Since 1993, his initiatives have empowered
01:49thousands of visually impaired individuals in Malaysia
01:53and other Asia-Pacific countries.
01:55When I came back,
01:58I thought it would be good for me to introduce
02:04computer training, computer education, so on and so forth
02:08to the blind and visually impaired community in Malaysia.
02:12I think we have been working in 18 countries so far
02:18to empower blind and visually impaired persons
02:25to learn technology
02:27because we believe technology can be a tool
02:31to enhance education, employment
02:35and the day-to-day life for blind people.
02:40Brickfields, the district where the foundation is located,
02:44is a hub for many blind individuals who find opportunities,
02:48often working as masseurs, tissue sellers or musicians.
02:52However, Silatul Rahim envisions a future
02:55where his community is known
02:57for more than just these conventional roles.
02:59His efforts have helped blind individuals
03:02move beyond traditional jobs,
03:04enabling them to become teachers,
03:06lecturers, programmers and more.
03:09We champion, I would say, we are the champion
03:14in providing ICT training to the blind and low-vision people
03:20in Malaysia and in the region.
03:22And by gaining the knowledge and skills on ICT,
03:30the blind are now able to expand their work opportunity.
03:35And we hope in the future there will be blind pilots
03:38flying the aircraft using the ICT.
03:41We want to see blind doctors
03:42treating the patients using technology.
03:45His journey has been fraught with challenges,
03:48particularly the rapid evolution of technology,
03:51which requires constant adaptation
03:53to ensure accessibility for blind users.
03:56Despite this, he remains committed,
03:59actively exploring the integration of emerging technologies
04:02like artificial intelligence.
04:05Let's see how AI can act as a guide dog.
04:11So the blind can move around with the cane
04:15and that artificial guide dog.
04:17But I want to see AI can perform a perfect job.
04:24Instead of having it on my face or as a scanner,
04:30I would want to wear a ring.
04:33Just by placing my hand on my ring on the book,
04:37move it around, it reads.
04:38You see what I'm saying?
04:40I don't have to use my fingertips.
04:44Beyond technology, Silatul Rahim is a passionate advocate
04:48for the inclusion of disabled individuals
04:50in societal decision-making.
04:52He has called for the recognition of the blind
04:55as active contributors,
04:57not just recipients in national development.
05:00We normally believe in our own slogan
05:05that is nothing about us without us.
05:10That simply means anything you want to decide for us,
05:14anything you want to design for us,
05:16anything that you think good for us,
05:19get us involved in the discussion,
05:22get us involved in the policy-making process.
05:26Because we are the blind.
05:28We are the disabled.
05:30We are the beneficiaries of whatever programmes you may design.
05:34We are the users of whatever products
05:38that you may want to develop for us.
05:40So we know what are the do's and what are the don'ts.
05:43According to him,
05:44Malaysia's supportive policies create fertile ground for inclusive growth
05:48as he appreciates the strides made in education
05:51and employment opportunities for the visually impaired.
05:55But I must say,
05:58Malaysia is one of the best countries
06:02as far as PWDs is concerned,
06:05at least in this region, in the ASEAN region.
06:08I experience different experiences in different places,
06:13in different communities, in different societies.
06:17At the end of the day,
06:19I would judge,
06:21Malaysia is one of the most liveable countries
06:26for persons with disabilities.
06:28As he prepares to take on the presidency
06:30of the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment,
06:35Silatul Rahim aims to extend his influence globally,
06:39focusing on regions plagued by conflict where blindness is on the rise.
06:43His vision includes establishing a National Institute for Assistive Technology
06:48to continue bridging the digital divide and fostering innovation.
06:53I would like to take this opportunity
06:55to wish the 10th anniversary to the Star Golden Hearts Award.
07:01And I believe this initiative
07:05would motivate many more activists
07:08or many more social workers
07:11to keep working on the area they are championing.
07:14And we hope Star Media Group
07:18would continue with these special events
07:21for many, many more years to come.