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Programme Director
Members and the leadership of the Buddhist Association here present
Officials of the department present here today
Sister departments represented here today
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentleman.

I am once more visiting this place that occupies a special place in my heart. This is a collective illustration on the part of government that we, together with Faith-Based Organisations or FBOs are constructing a caring society. When I am here, I no longer feel like a stranger.

The distinguished company that I join today overwhelms the nature of my visit here. I must from the onset convey my sincerest gratitude to the Buddhist Association for its generous offer to the men and women who live here. This gesture demonstrates the correctness of our philosophy of forging strong partnership with Non-Governmental Organisations, especially Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs).

Ladies and Gentlemen, society has been engaged for many years with the question of disability. Our challenge is to answer the question on how best can we integrate disabled people into all aspects of human life. At a policy level, much progress has been made in mainstreaming issues of disability in the broader societal development. However, huge challenges still remain in reversing the deeply ingrained mindset that relegates the disabled people to the margins of our society.

The concept of a caring society that I referred to is strengthened and deepened when we recognise that people with disabilities enjoy the same rights as we do, and that we have a responsibility towards the promotion of their quality of life. I have no doubts that this generous offer from the Buddhist Society cements our quest to level the playing fields for the disabled people.

The government in many occasions has encouraged people to be active participants in the process of development rather than being passive recipients of government's generous patronage.

This message is more relevant to the disabled people. I am sure that all of us here do not want to patronise disabled people by pretending that we feel sorry for them. If our assertion is correct that this people are as normal as we are, then we do not have to feel sorry for them. At a critical level, how can we think that we are more able than they? Although we recognise that there should be a special bias to them, government must create an enabling environment for all us to prosper in our ventures.

Because of the historical stereotypes and even injustices that we were socialised on, we have always perceived disabled people as incapable human beings. This generous donation will go a long way in enhancing our endeavours to improve the conditions of the disabled people in reversing this. We are grateful to the Buddhist Association and we urge other private sector organisations to follow suite.

In conclusion, the Buddhist Association should continue to be our reliable partners in caring for our people.

I thank you.

Issued by Social Services, Arts, Culture and Sport, North West

8 October 2001