SHAH ALAM, Aug 10 — Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin launched Yayasan Insan Istimewa Selangor (Yanis) at the Setia City Convention Centre here last night.
The establishment of Yanis is an important step to comprehensively the development agenda for people with disabilities (PWD) in the state.
Her Royal Highness was welcomed by state executive councillor for women empowerment and welfare Anfaal Saari, Yanis CEO Kamarul Hisham Yeop Hashim, and Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated), or MBI, group CEO Dato’ Saipolyazan M. Yusop.
At the launch, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, who is also Yanis’ royal patron, witnessed the handover of a RM1 million donation from MBI.
Meanwhile, Anfaal told reporters that other than continuing the Anak Istimewa Selangor (ANIS) for children under 18, Yanis will widen empowerment initiatives for all PWD.
“The establishment of Yanis aims to improve access and opportunities for PWD, boost community cooperation, and be an example of best practices in managing intervention for special needs children.
“This step is in line with the second goal of the First Selangor Plan (RS-1) and Dasar OKU Selangor, which will be launched at the next state assembly sitting,” she said.
She said Yanis, which was officially registered on March 27 under the Companies Act 2016, has the advantage of generating its own funds through grants, corporate social responsibility programmes, public donations, and social investments.
“This allows more PWD to receive benefits, compared with the previous model that was dependent on government allocations. Special aid applications open every March, and allocations are expected to increase,” Anfaal said.
Other than intervention aid for learning differences such as autism and ADHD, Yanis will also avail equipment for physically disabled folk, and focus on job opportunities and universally accessible facilities to facilitate PWDs’ ease of movement.
