Kota Kinabalu: Some 300 special needs children and orphans were honoured at a tea reception celebrating the 74th official birthday of Head of State Tun Musa Aman at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) on Saturday.
The event was graced by the presence of his wife, Toh Puan Faridah Tussin.
During the ceremony, Musa presented State Government contributions amounting RM2, 000 each to 10 welfare institutions through the Sabah Social Welfare Department.
Recipients included Persatuan Autisme Sabah, Pusat Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti (PPDK) in Lok Kawi, Penampang and Papar, as well as Special Education Integration Programs (PPKI) at SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin, SMK Kolombong, and SMK Taman Tun Fuad.
Additional contributions were made to Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas Tuaran, Pusat Jagaan Jireh Home Tuaran and the Rumah Anak Yatim Al-Aman Beaufort.
The celebration featured various performances, including ethnic Borneo dances by PPKI SMK Taman Tun Fuad students, vocal performances by Kota Kinabalu District PPKI solo singing champion Gaeshierronna Elulu Jaffri and Big Sabah Voice winner Muhlis Husrev Ozkan.
Attendees were also entertained by sign language choir performances from SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin Penampang’s Special Hearing Education Class and bamboo music by the Lingga Bamboo Sound group from SK Lingga Baru Tuaran.
The cake-cutting ceremony was performed by Musa, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister cum Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, who is also chairman of the celebration’s main committee, along with their respective spouses.
Puspanita dan Pertubuhan Muafakat Titipan Amal Isteri Wakil Rakyat Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (Mutiara-GRS) also presented contributions to the special needs children and orphans, presented by Faridah and Chief Minister’s wife Datin Seri Juliah Salag, who chairs Mutiara-GRS.
The event concluded with the presentation of a special commemorative artwork titled ‘Kota Jesselton Merentas Masa’ created by hearing and speech-impaired artist Rosemary Yvonne Marcus, presented by Sabah Social Welfare Department Director Jais Asri.
