The Government of Japan has donated RM20,180 to the Alumni Look East Policy Society (ALEPS) for the “Project for Purchasing Used Wheelchairs for children”.

Handover Ceremony for the refinished wheelchairs was held on 13 October 2010. The event was officiated by Mr Masahiko Horie, Ambassador of Japan. Tan Sri Datuk H.M. Khatib, Datuk Azizan Ayub and Datuk Kaswuri Keman, Advisors of ALEPS, Ms Zuraidah Mohd Said, CEO of Menara Kuala Lumpur (KL Tower), and Mr Tomoyuki Katano who is a representative of Japanese NGO called Kaigai ni Kodomo you Kurumaisu wo Okuru Kai, which collect used children’s wheelchairs in Japan to send them overseas, were present at the ceremony.

ALEPS, with the membership of about 4,000, is an alumni association of students of Japanese universities under the Look East Policy and it supports Malaysia-Japan exchange programs. In its activities, ALEPS also runs a project of lending used-wheelchairs from Japan for children in need, as part of Malaysia-Japan exchange programs.

Since 1989, the Government of Japan has extended about RM13 million to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and local governments in Malaysia under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Scheme as a way to contribute to many small but socially important projects at the grassroots level.