KUALA LUMPUR, 11 November 2004 - Being disabled is not an excuse for being sloppy. This is what some 40 disabled people from Beautiful Gate and Perwira K9 of Kuala Lumpur Hospital learnt from a personal grooming workshop held at UCSI Campus in Taman Connaught recently. 

Organised by University College Sedaya International (UCSI), the workshop themed, “Personal Grooming and Job Placement for the Disabled Persons” is a series of events spearheaded by its staff and students to hype up this year’s celebration of the International Day of the Disabled Persons. 

First Impressions image consultant, Debbie Leong said every person is born with a self-image that needs to be taken good care of.
“The way we groom ourselves will make us feel and look more confident,” she said. “Whether disabled or not, people need to stay well-groomed at all times especially if they want to stay ahead in their career.”
Husband-and-wife team, Tan Sun Kiong and wife, Soh Ling also joined in the training workshop. Tan, a project director of a public listed company, said as a corporate person, even he has to be well-groomed when he goes out to meet clients. 
His wife, Soh Ling showed the participants how to take good care of their skin and provided some hairdressing tips.
Once they have learnt personal grooming, it is the desire of the organizers that the disabled persons will be able to find employment. Employers who wish to hire disabled people can send an email to [email protected]

UCSI’s Director of Corporate Communications, Stephen Ng said UCSI’s role as a university is more as a catalyst of change. “The reason why we are organizing this event, along with the Wheelchair Marathon 2004 is to challenge the mindsets of Malaysia towards people with disabilities. We are pleased to have partners who are willing to give their time and support towards a worthy cause.”

Sia Ling Ling, who represented Beautiful Gate Disabled People Caring Centre said that personal grooming has always been the priority area in the training of the disabled people to help them seek for employment. 

One of the reasons why disabled people are unable to get jobs is because they lack personal grooming skills that are important in the corporate world,” she said. “Even someone who is working as a telephone operator should remember that he or she represents the organization he or she works for.”
Miss Wheelchair Malaysia and former TV3 newscaster, Ras Adiba Radzi, who represents Perwira K9 said personal grooming is also very important to the disabled people. “No one wants to employ someone who is sloppy,” she said. “We must learn the importance of personal grooming, because people’s impressions of us are formed when they see us in person.”

At the end of the session, two best groomed male and female participants were selected. The Mr Dashing Wheels title for the best groomed male went to Eric Liau while Ms Elegant Wheels title for the best groomed female went to Lim Wai Ling.

Panel of judges for the event included Peter Ng (Vice Chancellor of UCSI) and his wife, Lily Ng, Ras Adiba Radzi, Debbie Leong and international fashion designer, Hideaki Lim. 

Sponsors include Giant for sponsorship of office attire worth RM100 each for 40 disabled people, The Chicken Rice Shop with 180 packets of chicken rice and a staff from UCSI and (Mr) Leong Tack Ming who contributed RM300 towards the tea break.