Yong stands tall despite disability
\nThe Sun Daily<\/p>\n
IPOH: Yong Yoke Kien, born with fingers of both hands fused together, does not wallow in self-pity.<\/p>\n
Rather, the determined 37-year-old set up a recycling centre in Bercham four years ago – promising to make his business flourish and live a more comfortable life.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Today, his sho is filled not only with many recycled items but used electrical items as well which are easily turned into cash.<\/p>\n
Kampar-born Yong, who likes to be called “Kent”, was born with deformed hands (fingers fused into clumps).<\/p>\n
He stopped schooling after Form Three and helped his parents by doing odd jobs at home before enrolling himself at the Ipoh-based Daybreak Centre.<\/p>\n
The centre is a charitable organisation which provides opportunities for people with disabilities to become independent, as well as to develop their self-esteem and be well-integrated into society.<\/p>\n
Yong soon learnt to handle painting brushes, excelling in hand-painting T-shirts and making art works.<\/p>\n
“It is my nature to explore new things and to seek<\/p>\n
whatever that is beneficial.<\/p>\n
“While contemplating on<\/p>\n
creating special gadgets I came up with a unique sewing kit,” he said.<\/p>\n
The centre, confident that the sewing kit would win the hearts of the judges, submitted his entry in 1999 to a national-level competition for the disabled in Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
Yong grabbed the first prize, beating more than 50 entries.<\/p>\n
In 2001, Yong made headlines when he was nominated as the recipient of the 179th Guinness Effort Award for his perseverance and tenacity in overcoming great odds to succeed as a<\/p>\n
handicraft man.<\/p>\n
Yong said: “I am extremely grateful to my mother who, in her late 60s, guided me through thick and thin.<\/p>\n
She was the one who constantly encouraged me and inspired me to stand tall at all times.<\/p>\n
Now I pride myself for being able to make it in life,” he said.<\/p>\n
To cope with his thriving business, Kent is currently assisted by Kok Chin Seong, 39, who was afflicted with polio when he was young.<\/p>\n
Both Kok and Yong, apart from dealing in recycled items like cardboard, aluminium cans and newspapers, also accept faulty electrical appliances like rice cookers, fans, radios and televisions.<\/p>\n
After repairing them, Yong, who has a licence to drive a van would take the items to the Ipoh Memory Lane every Sunday to sell.<\/p>\n
Their close friend Wong Seng Heng, 35, who suffers from cerebral palsy, comes by often to give a helping hand in the shop. The shop is aptly named “Disabled People’s Recycling Centre”.<\/p>\n
The three are living testimonies that being disabled is not a stumbling block – but a blessing that inspires one to celebrate life in a special way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Yong stands tall despite disability The Sun Daily IPOH: Yong Yoke Kien, born with fingers of both hands fused together, does not wallow in self-pity. Rather, the determined 37-year-old set up a recycling centre in Bercham four years ago – promising to make his business flourish and live a more comfortable life. Today, his sho […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[410],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n