SMARTER Belait in dire straits
By Malai Hassan Othman

The Belait's branch of SMARTER, Society for the Management of Autistic Related Issue - Training, Education and Resources, is now in dire straits after it received a verbal notice of "immediate eviction" by another association to relocate to a new building.

"According to my people in Belait, we have now until end of the month to move out from our newly established centre at bungalow number 17 of Jalan Maulana.

This is in order to give way for Majlis Masyarakat Penyayang or the Council for Compassionate and Caring Community," said Awg Malai Hj Abdullah, President of SMARTER Brunei.

"There seemed to be a mistake when it was given to us.

"We were told that the building we have been occupying for many months now with the blessing of the District Office is actually for the council and not for us," he lamented.

"Now the council wants its building back and I was told it is giving us until end of the month as they are moving in by then," he added.

"This means we have to relocate to a new place.

"This would take time and cost us a lot.

"Basically, this means that we will have to start all over again with what we began over 3 months ago," said Malai Hj Abdullah.

According to the president, it cost SMARTER over $10,000 to renovate the building it occupies now and make it a proper centre for the development of children with autism.

"The centre has been running quite well with the number of members comprising parents of children and individuals with autism increasing to fifteen since we started operation just three months ago.

"We have sent down our therapists from Bandar to help them cope with appropriate programmes for the proper development of their autistic children."

"Now with the opening of a new school year, we have received many more new registrations.

"Sadly, because of the difficult situations we are now in, we might have to put on hold our operations in Belait until we can resolve the matter," said the President.

"This can be a setback to our operation and obviously our children and the individuals with autism.

"It means suspension of all sessions until we can set up all over again the same facilities in a new place," added the President.

He also expressed hope that SMARTER Brunei would not have difficulty in raising funds again for the same purpose it did over nine months ago.

"Through our campaign, we were able to increase the public awareness on the importance of properly managing the development of these special individuals, who are not mentally handicapped nor having any mental illnesses but are only autistic.

"Alhamdullilah, many came forward to support the parent-run society and it is hoped we will still have the same response," said the President.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin