The writer first wrote of Rumah Ehsan KKB almost two years ago. Recently she revisited the place. Here is her story.

KKB 13th July 2010

I returned to KKB last week, together with the brave reporter, MK. No one has been allowed to visit the ‘home’ since the story was published as headlines in the Star paper, not even the angelic Sai Baba volunteers. I understand from MK that she had to go through many channels to obtain permission to visit the home, and eventually given the go ahead after a week. She was denied entry the previous week at the entrance. Thankfully I was in the country and had the privilege to accompany her on this occasion.

Entrance of Taman Sinar Harapan, Kuala Kubu Baru

I am delighted to say that the changes have stunned myself, and from the look on MK’s face, she was just as shocked as I was. We were amazed, and left speechless. We were accompanied by the authorities from Jabatan Kebajikan Malaysia, who drove all the way from KL, and had a guided tour of the home by the Pengetua.

The newly decorated corridor

It is difficult to describe what took my breath away. Was it the cleanliness of the place, the well groomed inmates, the beautifully decorated place, the new facilities that are there now, or the hospitality we received? I guess having visited the place last week, I can no longer call them ‘inmates’ but ‘patients’.

‘spotless’ ward

KKB is still a home for the disabled. It is a home for the physical and mentally disabled, aged 15 years and above. We were shown at least 4 rooms, probably consisting about 10-15 patients in each room. The rooms were all clean, re-painted and all had a little ‘water fountain’ in the corner. Even the surroundings outside were extremely clean, well decorated with beautiful orchid plants, swings and seats … almost like a sanctuary. The patients were well groomed, and it was difficult to go unnoticed that they have all had their hair cut, bathed, powdered, and even their finger and toe nails were recently trimmed. All the inmates had fresh clothes on. They were all in ‘new’ uniforms. Even the attendants and nurses were wearing new uniforms! Some even had their make-up on! No one was naked or left naked.

Lunch time !!

I did not see any scars on the patients’ hands or feet. Those who had to be restrained were now restrained appropriately. All the beds / cots have been replaced. There were air beds available for some of the patients who were at risk of bed sores. It was a remarkable change. There are televisions, music in the background and pictures in each room, which were not there previously.

The patients who were classed with severe mental health problems were now guarded/cared for by strong attendants. I had mistaken them for ‘police officers’ in the beginning as they were in sparkling white uniforms! The patients did not look distressed and was handled appropriately when one of them ‘misbehaved’ while we were in the room. There was generally more staff in the home to care for the patients. On my last visit as a volunteer, I had not seen any, not even one! The Pengetua had explained that they have employed more ‘workers’, although it is still insufficient. They now have 6 qualified nursing staff who works round the clock in shifts. The rest of the staff are ‘attendants’ who are trained to look after these patients. There are also training programs available to further train these staff so they are better equipped to treat/handle these patients.

One of the patients receiving therapy in the Sensory Room

We visited a ‘sensory room’ which was beautifully and appropriately set up. Very similar to the ones we have in London hospitals. There were 2 patients receiving therapy, with the supervision of 2 attendees. The equipments were new. I love the set up of the room. The patients can certainly benefit from this therapy, especially the very aggressive ones, and the extremely disabled ones. The staff members could also benefit from the calmness it provides to ease their stressful day.

Physiotherapy room

We also visited the ‘physiotherapy room’. There were 4 patients receiving therapy as we entered. The attendants were gently stretching the contracted limbs of the patients and encouraging ‘normality’. The room was air-conditioned and comfortably laid with mats. Not all patients are able to benefit from this therapy, according to the Pengetua. Some of the patients are sadly admitted at a very late stage, with their limbs permanently contracted, fused and disfigured.

I was told that there is a Multidisciplinary team involved in the home. There are qualified dieticians, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, psychiatrist and other specialists from the local hospital who are making weekly visits to assess the patients. I was concern that one of the patient looked malnourished, hence raised the question on nutrition, however, was reassured that he has been assessed by the dietician. And should any of the patient be ill in the night, the nurse on-call will be available to attend to him/her, and given immediate medical attention.

MK and myself had lots of unanswered questions in our minds as we walked away from KKB. It appears that the home has improved significantly, much to our delight. We left KKB speechless. The horror home is now a sanctuary. The government has made fantastic improvement to the home. I am extremely grateful to MK and her colleague, the two brave reporters who went undercover, and published the story. The news made headlines in The Star paper for many days and have generated huge public interest. As a result, the story has brought about an amazing change to the management of KKB, to the patients, and the future patients admitted to KKB. The impact and changes they have caused • is indescrible and unquantifiable. I understand that the government have since invested RM9 million to refurbish the establishment and to improve the home. And it has certainly improved!

Am I pleased to see the changes? I told MK on our drive back to KL that I was not sure how I was feeling. I was not celebrating with delight. I am puzzled. I have doubts. Was it a beautifully painted picture we were seeing? The first question I had asked the Pengetua was if the Sai Baba volunteers were delighted with the change, and he said YES. I had previous knowledge from the Sai Baba leader that they have not been allowed into the home since the story was published, and none of the team members have seen the place, let alone the changes! That was the first white ‘lie’.

The place was too clean. It smelled of disinfectant. It was virtually spotless compared to my previous visit where I was helping to clean the faeces and urine off the floors. I would like to think that the rooms are routinely cleaned every morning, just like the wards in the hospitals for infection control.

Patients are no longer caged here as they previously were! Its now awaiting to be refurbished

The uniforms, the well groomed patients and staff, even the bed sheets and pillow cases are all clean. Why? Was it because we were visiting and they wanted the photographer to take ‘perfect’ pictures of the home? We probably visited 4 rooms, estimating about 100 or less patients, however, I was told at present, there are 225 patients. Where are the other half? The rooms I visited on my last visit with bars and cages were no longer in use. They are now awaiting to be refurbished.

Why are the equipments so new? We were told the physiotherapy room and the sensory room have been there even before the story was published. If it was, then it has never been used until lately. It all looked ‘new’. Too new to have been used over few years, or few months. There was no signs of wear and tear.

The patients had lunch at midday, and those who were mobile and able to feed themselves gathered in the ‘canteen’ and ate at the table. They had rice, chicken with soup and watermelon. One of the patient was squatting in the corner of the room having her lunch. A JKM fellow told me that if the Star had publish this scene in the paper, it would appear to the public that they are abusing this patient by not insisting she sits on the table and eat with the rest of the others. KKB would immediately receive a negative publicity. My reply must have stunned him as I told him that I would find it abusing to force her to sit on the table. Just look at her, how happy and satisfied she is sitting on the floor, eating her lunch. This is what she is used to, and to change her environment by forcing her to do something she has probably never learned in her life to do can cause more disruption to her. She will learn in her own time as she sees the other patients sitting on the table eating their lunch. She should be encouraged to join them at the table, but NOT forced. She is happily eating her lunch squatting on a clean floor. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Who are we trying to please? Ourselves or the patient? We are meant to have the patients best interest at heart. And if the Star did publish this scene, the public will see a very happy, contended patient enjoying her lunch undisturbed.. nothing else.

The changes in the home was good. It was excellent. I pray that it is sustainable and that it continues to improve. The home now has great potential. I give credit to the Pengetua who knew all the answers to our queries. He was favored by the patients. He knew most of them by name and he even know their age, conditions and family background.

Talented Jeremy Yap, painting with his toes

There were two patients who had the extraordinary ability and amazing talent to draw with their feet, holding the paint brush between their toes. Every effort was made to ensure they use their talents and develop them. I was immediately drawned to Jeremy, who later gave me one of his art. This treasured piece will be going back to London with me. It will be on my wall, to remind me that given the opportunity and encouragement, the disabled can do more than I am abled, and we should never give up on them. Jeremy had an electric wheelchair which he steered with his feet and little toes. He could go freely up and down the corridor and in the home. Jeremy had the freedom most of the others do not, and he looked sad when we left. He accompanied us right to the gate to say good-bye. I had tears in my eyes … unsure if it was tears of joy or tears of doubt. Has it really changed – permanently? Why is Jabatan Kebajikan Malaysia putting such a tight restriction on visitors and volunteers to return to KKB. Are they hiding something? Shouldn’t it now be an example for similar homes to follow around the country? I told MK that JKM should have invited her to return to KKB to boast about the wonderful changes they have made to the place, and the advance treatment they now have to treat patients with physical and mental disability. Why didn’t they?

I hope to return to KKB again in the near future. Unannounced! Possibly as a volunteer. I hope I would not have to request in writing for permission to visit the home, and go through many difficult applications and channels. If the changes are permanent, there is probably no need for the Sai Baba team to return, as the patients are all well cared for now. What is probably required is giving the attendants a well deserved break for a few hours.

I do love the changes I have seen ☺. I told MK as we drove off, that I hope there isn’t a lorry waiting to transport the lovely equipment we have seen away from KKB!! It would be a house of HORROR if things were back to where they were after MK’s story is published in the paper for the second time! Lets pray that I am wrong. Let me be wrong!

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