E-pek@k - Deaf Organizations in Malaysia - State Level - Kuala Lumpur Society of The Deaf (KLSD)

Kuala Lumpur Society of The Deaf (KLSD)

Kuala Lumpur Society of the Deaf (officially abbreviated as KLSD, and known as Persatuan Orang Pekak Kuala Lumpur in Malay) is known officially since 1994. It was initially known as Society of Hearing Impaired Federal Territory and Selangor (SHIMA) when it was established on June 23, 1987. In 1992, Selangor split from SHIMA and changed its name to Society of Hearing Impaired Federal Territory. KLSD is the third deaf organizations to be formed in Malaysia. The first two deaf organizations are the National Society for the Deaf (NSD) and YMCA Deaf Club Kuala Lumpur. These organizations are all organized by the hearing impaired community themselves.

• Perlis Deaf Association (PERDA)

PERDA was previously known as Persatuan Orang Pekak Negeri Perlis (POPNPs) before registration. Aty that time, they only meet with the deaf communith for activities or events. Upon consultation with other associations including MFD, they registered with Pendaftar Penubuhan on 27th August 2001 with the name PERDA. A name that was suggested by the president of MFD. PERDA was then recognised as a registered associatino on 11th March 2002.

• Selangor Association of the Hearing Impaired (POCPS)

POCPS was established on 1st December 1993. They were a non-registered association. They were known as Kelab Pekak Kelang (Klang Deaf Club) since 1973. This association is a self-help organisation which is fully managed by the deaf. The objectives of POCPS are to cultivate the deaf community and to help each person to become an independent in individual and always work hard to improve themselves.

• Persatuan Kebajikan Pekak Terengganu (PKPT)

PKPT was registered on 20th June 1974 and have been organising activities at the Sekolah Rendah Sultan Sulaiman 1, Kuala Terengganu. Deaf students in this school receive services and moral support from PKPT. The role of this organisation of this school for deaf students is to liaise with the Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru (Parents and Teachers Association, PIBG). The members of this organisation themselves are mainly parents and the deaf community. PKPT helped build a mini hostel for the outstation students. This mini hostel can fit in 20 female and 20 male and the foods and drinks are provided by a volunteer family whom as well have a hearing-impaired child.

By the year 1984, all the management of the mini hostel was taken over by Jabatan Pendidikan Terengganu (Terengganu Education Department). Thus, PKPT has stopped all the activities in the school. During that time, many of the members/committee have been moving on. The organisation went dormant for 10 years. In the meantime, the deaf in Kuala Terengganu were assisted by the teachers of special classes in Sekolah Rendah Sultan Sulaiman 1, Kuala Terengganu.

Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas Kuala Terengganu was established on 1st May 1998. In the meanwhile, the PIBG of the school and the deaf people including Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat Negeri Terengganu has prepared a proposal and PKPT then become active again.

• Persatuan Orang Cacat Pendengaran Kelantan (POCPK)

POCPK is an NGO that was established on 24th September 1996 and is wholly managed by the deaf community. When it first started out, there were only 96 registered members from Kelantan. The number of the members has since increased. There were 338 registered members by March 2003. Hoping to help more of the deaf people from all around Kelantan, POCPK have launched various programmes to attract more members while providing information and news for the deaf community.