Malaysiakini: Stop Exploiting The Disabled
QUICK COMMENT: Here is our interview with Malaysiakini. We sincerely hope that Parliament House will finally get the message! And that is, stop exploiting the disabled for your own ends!
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From Malaysiakini today
BE ASHAMED, DISABLED ACTIVIST TELLS PARLIAMENT SPEAKER
Disability activist Anthony Thanasayan has expressed shock and disappointment on comments made by Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia on rights’ group actions using the parliament lobby to garner support.
“I’m sad and I can’t believe he has the audacity to make such remarks,” said Anthony, coordinator of Malaysians Against Discrimination of the Disabled (Madd).
On Thursday, the House speaker said the lobby is a place for parliamentarians to work and not for groups to voice their political agendas.
He also noted that all political matters should to be dealt outside the Parliament.
One event that came under fire from the speaker was the birthday celebration of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairperson P Waythamoorthy's daughter W Vwaishhnnavi, 6, on May 21.
The speaker also raised concerns over the presence of Madd representatives on May 8 demanding an apology from Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali for comments targeted at wheelchair bound Karpal Singh, DAP chairperson and Bukit Gelugor MP.
Highlighting the lax security in Parliament, the speaker said he would be writing to all political party leaders to make sure certain such events are not repeated.
Responding to this, Anthony opined: “It’s despicable to say children and handicapped people are a security threat.
“What's more patronizing is to say we were used by the opposition for their own cause. If you are a decent human being, you would never resort to use other people’s weaknesses,” he said emphasising the opposition did not influence Madd’s appearance in Parliament.
“Does he think we have no brains? He should know we have more brains than him. We will not allow others to use us for their political mileage.
“They (Pakatan Rakyat) were the only ones to approach us and converse with us. Not the Barisan representatives. Parliament should give voiceless masses a chance to voice out, not reprimand us,” he added.
Other issues also raisedHe stressed Parliament should hurry the amendment of Persons with Disabilities Act 2007 to include penalties against those who breach its provisions.
“Currently the act is made up of sweet words but nothing in there is effective,” he said.
Anthony also raised various other issues such as the absence of designated parking lots and lack of appropriate amenities in Parliament for disable persons.
“Parliament should be ashamed, our legislative assembly is a disgrace. The ramp used by those who are wheelchair bound is equivalent to the ones used to (deliver) goods.
“Even shopping malls have better facilities catered to the handicapped,” he said.
During the past weeks since Parliament started, civil society groups have used the august house to highlight their grouses and host various gatherings.
These include women’s rights, Malaysian Trade Union Congress and the migration working group.
End
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