06/12/2025

SATURDAY | DEC 6, 2025

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GrabAssist launched for PWDs, seniors KUALA LUMPUR: Grab Malaysia has introduced GrabAssist, a dedicated service aimed at supporting the mobility needs of persons with disabilities, senior citizens and users of personal mobility aids. The service was launched by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri in conjunction with the opening of the Asean Disability Forum 2025, held in celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Currently available in the Klang Valley, GrabAssist offers more accessible transport options, particularly for trips between homes, care facilities and hospitals. Grab Malaysia director of country operations and mobility Rashid Shukor said the initiative was developed as a mobility solution for an underserved segment of the community. “GrabAssist ensures that passengers who require additional support can travel with greater confidence and comfort, with assistance from driver-partners who are trained to provide the appropriate support,”he said in a statement. He added that nearly 100 driver-partners have undergone training provided by certified care professionals, including handling wheelchairs and walking aids. They are also supplied with GrabAssist kits, which include flip cards to support in-vehicle communication. The service was developed through Grab’s collaboration with NGOs such as the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf and the Malaysian Physically Disabled e-Hailing Drivers Association. Meanwhile, Malaysian Federation of the Deaf president Mohd Norhisham Aluwi said GrabAssist demonstrates the potential of multi-stakeholder collaboration in improving mobility access for persons with disabilities. “Mobility is not just about travel, it is a gateway to freedom, equality and opportunity. GrabAssist shows what can be achieved when accessibility is prioritised,” he said. Grab also announced that the initiative forms part of its broader effort to promote inclusive economic participation, adding that more than 3,000 disabled driver-partners and delivery partners have been involved in its ecosystem since 2018. In conjunction with the launch, Grab is offering a RM14 discount for every GrabAssist booking from Dec 3 to 17. The public can access the service through the Advance Booking feature on the Grab app. – Bernama

Raleigh experience transforms city girl into youth leader

o Former venturer now guides youths through outdoor and life-skills training

KUALA LUMPUR: As her peers prepared for university life in 2008, Yap Lu Ying strapped on a backpack and walked into the jungle towards a place with no roads, no mobile signal and no guarantee of comfort. At just 19, the city girl joined the Raleigh Borneo expedition and spent her gap year in Kampung Buayan, deep within Sabah. She had to hike for two hours just to reach the village, the same journey villagers and schoolchildren made each day to get to school or into town. During her 10-week expedition, she completed three phases – adventure, community and environmental work. She said the experience opened her mind in ways no classroom ever could. “As a city girl, I didn’t expect there to be a place where resources were so different from what I had experienced. The kampung only

To make the journey possible, she spent three years raising funds as overseas expeditions cost significantly more than joining locally in Borneo. Determined to grow, she took on leadership roles, voiced her ideas and pushed beyond her comfort zone. Her progress was recognised when she was named Best Female Venturer at the end of the expedition. “It has pushed me to try new things without worrying about failure. As long as you try, you will always gain something,” said the head of The Lemon Shot Xplore, Thailand’s leading content-led, creator-driven and AI-powered cross-border marketing solutions partner. Yap described Raleigh as a life reset. “Seeing how they lived made me rethink everything. I stopped chasing corporate ladders and focused on life experiences. Happiness is more important than money,” she said. Yap’s journey reflects a wider pattern seen among Raleigh alumni across generations. For younger participants such as Arwena Padme Parameswaran, who joined the Borneo expedition this year, Raleigh offered a rare break from an always-online world. “I found peace in the jungle. It felt like being reborn,” she said, adding that the programme taught her patience and how to work with others rather than carry everything alone. To give more young people a taste of this experience, Raleigh Kuala Lumpur will organise an introduction weekend from Dec 6 to 7 in Hulu Langat, Selangor for youths aged 17 to 24.

“Raleigh’s value lies not only in physical endurance, but also in exposing young people early to the realities of working life. “It is about managing projects and fundraising, and learning how to communicate with people from different cultures and backgrounds. It also (imparts) problem-solving skills, especially when resources are limited,” said Yap, who is also founder of the PlayXplore group. PlayXplore is a digital venture studio based in Thailand focused on ad tech, tourism and cycling platforms for the next generation of mobile-first travellers. In 2012, Yap returned to Raleigh, this time for a 10-week expedition in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

had a kindergarten and a lower primary school. There was no mobile connection or electricity. Something I took for granted was simply not available there,” she told Bernama recently. The 36-year-old, now president of Raleigh Kuala Lumpur, said those early lessons continue to shape how she leads a new generation today. “Raleigh changed how I think. It taught me solution thinking and resilience, skills that I carry into entrepreneurship and leadership today. Now, it is time to pass it forward.” She added that it is not just about trekking or volunteering but also about learning to lead, listen, adapt and empathise.

Yap (right) guiding youths through the Raleigh experience. – BERNAMAPIC