Massage Progress in Malaysia

Malaysia
Title: Massage Progress in Malaysia
Speaker: Norimah Hj. Ahmad

1. Introduction
 Massage training program for the visually impaired people started in Malaysia since 1972, it is 36years, only for man student and 1984 for woman.

 Massage industry become more popular in Malaysia since ten years back, which we can see every where massage center. With this conjunction, massage by the visually impaired people now this very competitive in Malaysia.

 However visually impaired masseur keep on increasing year by year even though they do not have a proper massage training, they only learn massage by friend within a week. About 100 massage center operated by the visually impaired people, and about 1300 visually impaired masseurs in Malaysia. With income RM2,500.00=USD730.00 for the good skill masseurs. RM500.00=USD150.00 for the pour skill masseurs.

 Malaysian government try to integrate the alternative therapy including massage and acupuncture in the hospital, their called it integrated hospital. Right now we have one private hospital which provided alternative therapy (Traditional Chinese Medicine in Tong Shing Hospital). One visually impaired person (male) is working there as a therapist, he gives massage and reflexology therapy.

First government hospital in north of Malaysia peninsular just launched last year October by Prime Minister of Malaysia.

2. Development of Massage Education for the blind
Right now we have two massage training center for the visually impaired people in Malaysia.

(1) Malaysia Association for the Blind who are the first started to introduce massage training program and it is more on basic skill.

(2) St. Nicolas Home started develop massage training program in year 2002 with basic knowledge of the Anatomy Physiology and meridian points curriculum. With JICA collaboration, we just engage an expert JICA volunteer Mr. Sasada to develop more advances and to introduce acupuncture skill to the visually impaired people in Malaysia.

Since year 2005, Special Education Department take part to develop the massage education Program, the syllabus is basic of foot reflexology skill.

Base on my experience, going through so many obstacles in massage field, early of this year; I formed NURI ACADEMY with the hope that I can overcome the obstacle.

Recently, through Nuri Academy, one of the government agencies approves some budget for wvwry month to organize short-term massage workshop for the visually impaired people in Malaysia. With this opportunity, it gives a very good response from the massage practitioner of the visually impaired people.

We just started the first woekshop last month, even now, I still have a waiting list, a very long list. This means the visually impaired people need someone to lead them to educate them in massage to be more professional.

I hope in future, Nuri Academy will provide a proper massage training program for the visually impaired people from Asia Pacific countries with collaboration from Japan, China and other countries.