KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) 2025 with the theme “Towards an Inclusive Future: Empowering the Rights, Education and Careers of Persons with Disabilities” in a prestigious event that recorded 261 attendees from various agencies. The ceremony was officiated by the UMS Vice-Chancellor, YBhg. Prof. Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj Mansor.
The programme was led by a Student with Disabilities (physical) serving as Programme Director, Dr. Hajah Fatimah Sabrina binti Moahmmad, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidate at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, supported by PWD students and their OKU buddies who formed the backbone of the event’s implementation.
In her speech, Dr. Sabrina emphasised that persons with disabilities should not be viewed as a group in need of sympathy but rather as valuable assets in the nation’s social, economic, and leadership spheres. She highlighted that the potential of the PWD community becomes more visible when they are given equitable access, understanding, and opportunities.
She also shared her personal journey as a woman and student with PWD status, turning challenges into strength, and stressed that inclusivity is recognition, not pity, and begins when society focuses on abilities rather than limitations.
Dr. Sabrina called for continuous efforts in policy development, education, employment opportunities, and social acceptance to ensure the empowerment of the PWD community remains strengthened.
She also extended her appreciation to the university and the UMS Centre for Disability Services (PPOKU) for their ongoing commitment and support in empowering PWD students.
The event reflects UMS’s strong commitment to building a progressive, inclusive, and competitive campus community aligned with the aspiration to value every individual, regardless of background or ability.-pr/BNN
