The national sewerage company has launched its corporate social responsibility initiative Sahabat Istimewa IWK to support people with disabilities (OKU).
Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) chief executive officer Narendran Maniam said it reflected the company’s long-term commitment to support community development.
He said the initiative would focus on skills development and prepare OKU to enter the workforce.
Emphasising that the firm’s approach to empowerment went beyond mere charity, he said IWK would focus on developing capabilities and creating opportunities for the disabled community.
“We want to see them not just as recipients of support or aid, but as friends and valued contributors to the nation’s social and economic development,” said Narendran.
He said IWK would collaborate with Malaysian Sign Language and Deaf Studies National Organisation (MyBIM), National Autism Society of Malaysia (Nasom), Persatuan OKU Central as well as Chow Kit Foundation (YCK).
Sahabat Istimewa IWK was launched through a charity theatre production held at IWK Eco Park in Pantai Dalam, Kuala Lumpur.
The theatre production titled “Najis Jadi Teman” was a behind-the-scene look at a sewerage plant, showing how it was essential for safeguarding health and the environment.
Narendran said the company was also looking to restage the theatre production.
“We need to continue this effort every year.
“We are looking at another staging in the middle of this year and see how we can make this bigger,” he said.
The show made its debut last year to commemorate IWK’s 30th anniversary.
This year’s show brought singers MimiFly and Atilia Haron on stage with actors Alfred Loh and Phraveen Arikiah.
It also featured children from YCK as well as six cast members who are hearing-impaired.
When asked about working with the hearing-impaired actors, Razif Hashim, who directed the theatre production, said they relied heavily on sign language interpreters.
“During these sessions, I learned to keep my sentences short so they don’t get lost in translation.
“If the interpreter needed to step out for a while, we would communicate through WhatsApp,” he said.
During the play, interpreters wearing hard hats, safety vests and work overalls, signed the lyrics and dialogue for the benefit of the deaf community among the audience.
The evening ended with cheque presentations of RM5,000 each to MyBIM, Nasom and YCK.
Persatuan OKU Central received a contribution of two wheelchairs.
Guests were presented with a goodie bag each consisting of a plant and small bag of organic fertiliser derived from recycled sewage waste.
Also present were MyBIM deputy president Ho Koon Wei, YCK centre manager Pusenthi Maniam, Persatuan OKU Central deputy president Ahmad Daniel Sharani and Nasom secretary Carson Ong.
