PORT KLANG: Despite feeling under the weather, Choor Sook Zhuan was excited to welcome a group of policemen from the Port Klang station to her home at the Handicapped and Disabled Children's Association of Klang, Selangor, today.
The officers were paying a visit to the Home as part of the 210th Police Day celebrations.
Twenty-seven-year-old Choor, who has Down syndrome, rushed to the front gates of the premises in Kampung Raja Uda at the sight of the police car and motorcycles, and ushered in the group of policemen, led by Port Klang police officer in charge of the station, Assistant Superintendent Kenneth Oliver Samuel.
It was Choor's first time seeing policemen up close, and she could not stop admiring their sleek, dark blue uniforms and gleaming boots.
"I am very happy to have the presence of so many policemen here, today. Usually, I only get to see them on the television, catching bad people. I like their uniforms, too, and they look smart in it.
“I hope I can be a policewoman one day," said Choor.
Choor is among 56 adults and children with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, sight impairment and hearing impairment living in the home operated by its founder and chairman, N. Morgun, since it opened in 1994.
Apart from gifting basic necessities such as clothes, cooking items, milk, as well as diapers, Kenneth and his colleagues treated the residents to a delicious luncheon.
Aside from the Disabled Association, the policemen today also visited the Destiny Starting Point Welfare Association, Klang – an old folks home.
It was the first time Kenneth and his team of 20 men, including those from the Motorcycle Patrol Unit (URB) and the Crime Prevention Patrol Team, had visited both homes, which are under the jurisdiction of the Port Klang police station.
Morgun said he did not expect such a big group, having thought only a handful of officers and personnel were coming.
"Some of the kids were at first afraid to see so many policemen. They were scared that they would be 'arrested', as we sometimes tell them that if they do not eat their meals, the police would come and 'catch' them.
“But I guess that trick will not work anymore, as they now know how friendly policemen are, and they have warmed to them, and were even given the chance to sit on the URB motorcycles," said Morgun.
Kenneth said it took them about a month to raise more than RM2,000, which went to buying the basic necessities for the two homes.
"We took our own initiative to collect the funds to benefit the homes, and this is our first time doing it. All my colleagues were supportive of this idea, and they did not think twice about contributing.
"We plan to do this annually, and this reflects our efforts to be closer to the community, in line with the 210th Police Day celebration, which has the theme of 'Polis dan Masyarakat Berpisah Tiada'. This is our contribution to society, and we hope it tells them that there are no gaps between them and the police.
"Homes like these need a lot of support from the public, and we hope our visit will inspire more people to assist them," said Kenneth.