“When I post my photos and reels, I use the hashtag #purelyfortheview,” the eldest of three shared with FMT Lifestyle. “It challenges the perception that ‘yes, I can’t see, but the photo isn’t for me – it’s for you!’”
Born with congenital glaucoma, Kong, 30, lost her sight by the age of six. But her “vision” for life has always been clear.
Ever bubbly, Kong often uses humour to challenge perceptions and educate others about her experience. She shared how sometimes people question her fashion choices, wondering why a blind person like her would care about what she wears or the colours she chooses. “So I tell them, I’m dressing for you to see!”
Now a lawyer, disability rights advocate, and community development manager with the Make It Right Movement (MIRM), the CSR arm of Brickfields Asia College (BAC), Kong refuses to let blindness limit her dreams.
“I want to break the cycle,” she said. “People often associate the blind with being a masseuse or a telephone operator. I want to go further and show others they can, too.”
Kong has championed policy changes, and heads the Disability Working Group within the Bar Council Human Rights Committee. She has also contributed to the redrafting of the People with Disabilities Act 2008.
But Kong’s life isn’t all work. She hikes, visits waterfalls, and even watches movies in cinemas albeit with a little help from a friend. “One friend watches the movie first to prepare a description for me,” she mentioned. “Then, he watches it again with me. That’s how supportive my friends are.”
School, however, was anything but smooth. “I was often left out and frustrated,” Kong recalled.
“Some teachers said my Brailler was disruptive and told me to take notes after class. My classmates who used to read out the notes also sided with the teachers. So I kept to myself after that and had to do everything on my own.”
Through it all, her mother was her greatest ally. Together, they advocated for an inclusive programme at her secondary school in Kajang Utama, even reaching out to the Ministry of Education.
While her classmates had fresh textbooks, Kong worked with outdated materials. “Braille textbooks were always a year behind,” she explained. “My mum would read the latest version aloud, and I’d type it on my Braille typewriter.”
Subjects like geography and mathematics required creative problem-solving. “At times, I felt like giving up,” she admits. “But I told myself, if I don’t make the effort now, my dreams will only get further away.”
Yet, Kong was determined to thrive in a mainstream environment. And her persistence paid off. After acing her SPM examination, she became the first blind student in Malaysia to study Additional Mathematics. And her education didn’t stop there.
After excelling in her studies and becoming the first visually impaired student to receive the Cambridge Outstanding Learner Award for A-Level Law, Amanda faced scepticism from local colleges. Fortunately, BAC took a chance on her.
Next she earned a first-class law degree from the University of Liverpool, becoming a standout achiever in her field. “I loved legal dramas as a kid,” she said with a laugh. “But as I grew older, I realised law could also be a powerful tool to advocate for disability rights.”
Beyond her legal work, Kong helps others embrace technology through workshops and motivational seminars.
She recalled one blind man, in particular, who was hesitant to get an iPhone for himself at first. “After eight months, he told me, ‘Now I can watch the news! There’s so much out there for me.’ Stories like that keep me going.”
For Kong, these experiences are part of her “vision” for a more inclusive Malaysia. “It’s about awareness, empathy, and practical support,” she explained. “Ask questions like, ‘Do you have a disability?’ and ‘How can we help?’ on registration forms.”
She dreams of a stigma-free Malaysia where everyone understands how to assist someone with a disability. “It’s not about pity,” Kong stressed. “It’s about empowerment and making the world accessible to everyone.”
Follow Amanda Kong on Instagram.