In July, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) and its Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Business Events Alliance (KLCCBEA) hotel partners sponsored and hosted the Malaysia IT Challenge (MITC) for Youth with Disabilities 2019, providing both complimentary event space and accommodation for the participants. The Secretary-General of Ministry of Education Malaysia, YBhg Dato’ Dr. Mohd Gazali Abas, officially closed the successful two-day event, which saw the participation of over 60 special needs students from all over Malaysia.

Being held in Kuala Lumpur for the first time, 64 special needs students, aged between 13 and 18, with hearing impairments, learning disabilities, visual impairments and physical disabilities, competed in MITC. It was the fourth edition of MITC. The challenge encompassed four categories that the students were judged on including eCreative, eLifeMap, eTools and Learning Content. Two challenges were individual and two were team-based activities. Each team consisted of four participants and must have one visually impaired, one hearing impaired, one learning disability and one physical disability participants. In the end, four students from various schools in Kuala Lumpur emerged as winners and will now be representing Malaysia at the Global IT Challenge in Seoul, South Korea later this year.

In addition, the Centre facilitated the involvement of its KLCCBEA hotel partners, the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur and Impiana KLCC Hotel, who assisted in ensuring a successful and memorable MITC through their sponsorship of accommodation for participants.

The Alliance showcases the importance of accessibility and connectivity of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) precinct and aims to enhance and optimise the visitor experience through collaboration with precinct partners.