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 is filled not only with many recycled items but used electrical items as well which are easily turned into cash.
Kampar-born Yong, who likes to be called “Kent”, was born with deformed hands (fingers fused into clumps).
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.
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.
Yong soon learnt to handle painting brushes, excelling in hand-painting T-shirts and making art works.
“It is my nature to explore new things and to seek
whatever that is beneficial.
“While contemplating on
creating special gadgets I came up with a unique sewing kit,” he said.
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.
Yong grabbed the first prize, beating more than 50 entries.
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
handicraft man.
Yong said: “I am extremely grateful to my mother who, in her late 60s, guided me through thick and thin.
She was the one who constantly encouraged me and inspired me to stand tall at all times.
Now I pride myself for being able to make it in life,” he said.
To cope with his thriving business, Kent is currently assisted by Kok Chin Seong, 39, who was afflicted with polio when he was young.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
