Home Working Programme Launched

Saturday, October 11, 2008

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October 07, 2008 22:47 PM





Home Working Programme Launched
By: Ramjit

KLANG, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- The Human Resource Ministry on Tuesday launched a home working programme for housewives and the disabled.

Its minister, Datuk Dr S.Subramaniam said the programme would reduce dependency on foreign workers while providing opportunity to 45 per cent of housewives in the country to increase their household income.

Under a pioneer programme launched at Taman Setia here, 75 participants comprising housewives, single mothers, the disabled and the poor will be given opportunities to work from home for the participating companies.

The companies are Adabi Consumer Industries Sdn Bhd, Elentec Sdn Bhd, GIDA Industries Sdn Bhd, Hin Press & Trading, Peraliph Sdn Bhd and Hardy Slex Sdn Bhd and the jobs include sewing, producing handicrafts, food, herbs and agro-based products, typing, data entering, packaging and assembling.

Subramaniam said the jobs could be done from the participant's home or in a group at the community centre, community hall or in a shophouse agreeable by both parties.

"Some participants could simply earn an additional RM300 to RM500 monthly. Therefore, this programme should be expanded to other residential areas in the Klang Valley especially to those housewives living in flats," Subramaniam said.

He explained, however, those participating in the programme will not be defined as workers as in the Employment Act 1955 and are not eligible for any statutory benefits as in the Employees Provident Fund Act 1991 and Employees' Social Security Act 1969.

He said the ministry will also launch a programme dubbed as "teleoffice" to enable workers such as general assistants and clerks to work from home in accordance with the development of information technology.

Prior to this, he said the ministry had also made business grant schemes available for the disabled to start their own business.

"Through these three programmes, the ministry is aiming to reduce the number of foreign workers in the country from 2.2 million to 1.8 million by 2010," he said.

He also reiterated that there were seven million potential workforce in the country which comprised fresh graduates and retirees.

"If the ministry can get two per cent of them into the workforce, it would be a great achievement," he added.-- BERNAMA

Free cataract surgery for the poor

Saturday, October 11, 2008




Tuesday October 7, 2008

Free cataract surgery for the poor
By OH ING YEEN

HERE’S the chance for cataract patients to regain their sight.

On Oct 9, in conjunction with World Sight Day, poor cataract patients will be able to undergo free surgery at the Centre For Sight Laser Eye Centre in Taman SEA, Petaling Jaya, and in Rawang.

Eye examination: Choong (left) using the slit lamp to check a patient.

World Sight Day falls on the second Thursday of October every year.

This is the third year that the centre is offering free cataract surgery, the centre’s business development manager David Chua said.

“Blindness by cataract is reversible. Cataract is caused by the degenerative changes of the lens due to the ageing process.

“Aside from the surgery, we also provide medication and follow-up treatment.

“Those who want to undergo the free surgery have to get a referral letter from an NGO as the surgery is only for those who are poor.

“They also have to come for an eye-check at the centre a week ahead or at least three days before the surgery,” he said, adding that a cataract surgery normally costs about RM4,000.

He said the centre was well-equipped and that the one in Taman SEA had four full-time doctors.

The idea was initiated by the centre’s founder Dr Choong Yean Yaw.

“The idea stems from my involvement at an eye camp in Myanmar. I go there every year in December for a week to help out at a hospital run by monks.

“They have a much bigger team there. During that week, I am able to perform 100 surgeries,” said Choong who is a sub-specialist in corneal diseases and refractive surgery.

For more info, call 03-7804 4051 or visit http://www.centreforsight.com.my/.

MPS perlu sedia kemudahan OKU

Monday, October 06, 2008




MPS perlu sedia kemudahan OKU SELAYANG

Pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT) termasuk Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS) disarankan menyediakan kemudahan asas yang mencukupi kepada orang kurang upaya (OKU) agar golongan berkenaan dapat menjalani kehidupan harian sama seperti masyarakat yang normal.

Ahli Majlis MPS Zon 16, P Gurdip Kaur berkata, sebagai salah seorang OKU dan juga wakil jawatankuasa penduduk, beliau sendiri bertekad mencapai hasrat tersebut dengan memulakannya di kawasan Rawang, yang terletak di zon pentadbirannya.

“Walaupun ada usaha untuk menyediakan kemudahan berkenaan kepada OKU, seperti membina lorong kerusi roda di perhentian-perhentian bas kawasan MPS yang sudah dimulakan, namun apa yang dilakukan masih kurang mencukupi.

“Pada masa yang sama, tempat letak kenderaan OKU juga masih kurang, malah ada orang awam yang normal turut menggunakannya, menyebabkan timbul masalah kepada golongan OKU seperti kami,” kata Gurdip yang bergerak dengan bantuan kerusi roda.

Dalam hal ini, beliau menyeru kepada pihak bertanggungjawab dan orang normal sendiri untuk berfikir sejenak, bagaimana sekiranya kita berada di tempat OKU, sama ada boleh melalui kehidupan seperti biasa dengan ‘kemudahan’ yang ada pada masa sekarang.

Beliau turut memberikan contoh, di kawasan Rawang yang pesat membangun, tetapi masih kekurangan kemudahan untuk golongan OKU.

Ini menyebabkan golongan OKU menghadapi kesukaran untuk memasuki ke restoran-restoran makanan segera, selain kurangnya tandas awam untuk golongan berkenaan.

“Kemudahan sebegini bukan sahaja diperlukan untuk golongan OKU, tetapi juga warga emas yang selalunya memerlukan kemudahan yang sama.

“Untuk itu, kita mengharapkan kerjasama Yang Dipertua MPS, Zainal Abidin Azim dan juga Jabatan Kejuruteraan MPS bagi melihat keperluan ini di kawasan MPS. Usaha MBPJ (Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya) yang menyediakan kemudahan khas OKU wajar dicontohi,” ujarnya.

Beliau berharap kawasannya menjadi pemula usaha berkenaan bagi menyediakan kemudahan yang lengkap untuk golongan OKU.

Mengulas bilangan golongan OKU yang ada sekarang katanya, masih ramai yang belum mengetahui hak mereka dengan mendaftar kepada pihak Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM).

Justeru, beliau menyeru mereka yang belum mendaftar ada segera berbuat demikian agar segala keperluan yang sepatutnya diberi, dapat dimanfaatkan golongan berkenaan

Victory for the disabled

Monday, 06 October 2008

Victory for the disabled

Sheila Sri Priya

Siow using a ramp with railings for disabled people at Prima Sixteen Phase II Condominiums. — Picture by ROSDAN WAHID

PETALING JAYA: Can you believe that? Some residents of an apartment block rejected the pleas of the disabled on supernatural grounds.

They claimed that it is a bad omen to see disabled people early in the morning.

For more than a year, disabled people living in Prima Sixteen Phase II Condominiums had appealed for ramps and railings to be installed there.

But the fear that disabled people bring bad luck had led to some residents initially objecting to plans to have disabled friendly facilities at an apartments block here.

Petaling Jaya councillor Anthony Sivabalan Thanasayan said the initial response from the residents was uncalled for.

"Most of them felt that such facilities will encourage more disabled people to live in their building."Some also said that it was a bad omen to see a disabled in the morning," he added.

He said the residents were also against the developer building the ramp and railings as it would ruin the beauty of the building.

"Their reasons was unacceptable," he said.

But after a year of talks between the developer, joint management committee and Petaling Jaya Municipal Council, the residents finally gave in and agreed.

The disabled living in the building are now happy that kindness won at the end of the day.

Peter Siow Kok Yen, 71, said he is overjoyed with the facilities at the apartments.

He uses a wheelchair and since his wife fell ill, he had no one to help him with his daily chores.

"I cannot depend on her now for assistance. I want to be independent and the ramps are a great help for me," he said.

Before the rams and railings were built, Siow and the other handicapped people felt "trapped" in the condominiums as they could not move easily.

With the aid of the ramps and railings, the disabled can attend social gatherings and medical check-ups on their own. "I'm not asking for much. Just some facilities to make our lives easier."

He hopes that the ramps can be further improved with cement for the flooring instead of the present granite marble which is slippery.

He also hopes for railings on both sides of the walls to allow those who are paralysed to fully utilise the facilities.

Zainuddin Aziz, the property manager for the developer, Glomac Property Services, said the apartments were built in 1994 and there were no requirements then to make the building disabled friendly.

He agreed with the views of the disabled that there is a need to build ramps, railings and lifts with Braille numbering in high rise buildings.

Zainuddin said: "The disabled like Siow should fight for their rights." He sad he was saddened by the initial response of the residents who did not want ramps and railings in the condominiums.

"While I was temporarily wheelchair-bound after an accident, my movements were limited.

I know what it's like being disabled," he said.

Zainuddin said the ramps and railings cost RM4,000. The ramps are made of metal while the stainless steal railings are L shaped to Petaling Jaya City Council's specification.

Developers are required to submit floor plans of their projects to the city council. Upon completion of their buildings, developers will have to consult a special committee headed by Thanasayan.

"I will personally go and check the facilities to ensure they are suitable for disabled like me," said Thanasayan.