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.
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