Will Brian's Death Help All Other Disabled & Elderly Homes?

Courtesy from Petpositive

PETPOSITIVE SAYS:

First, Our deepest sympathies and prayers go to the diseased Brian Goh Kah Heng and his family.

Check this out:

• An illegally run centre for people with learning disabilities. They had no approval from the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) to operate. And none, obviously, from the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) as well because permits are only given with the JKM's blessings - in writing.

• As many as nineteen persons with learning disabilities - possibly of various ages - were cooped up in what clearly seems like an overcrowded situation. People with special needs have specific needs related to their type of disability and should never be "lumped together". It may seem like the "easiest thing" to do. But it certainly IS NOT the right; and professional, and wisest thing to do.

• Two caretakers were looking after the boys. (We assume, at this time, that it was an all-boys outfit.) One of them, at least, is said to be an illegal worker. Who was the manager or supervisor? Where were the professionals or experts who are specially trained to work with people with learning disabilities? Did anyone have any knowledge at all about autism or cerebral palsy? At least the head of the centre should have a good knowledge or training to work with people with learning disabilities.

• One can't really expect or blame the Welfare Department for not spotting out this dubious centre - which by the way has been operating (most probably for profit) for a good three years. Hence it is essential for local councils - in this case, the MBPJ - to do active and vigilant monitoring of all disabled and elderly outfits - together with JKM - in order to ensure their professionalism in their delivery of their services.

Or do local councils look at the disabled only with pity and displaced sympathy?

It is time for both the federal and the local councils to raise the quality of care and services of disabled and elderly centres to one where their dignity, rights and safety are protected.

It should not and never be about profit-making at all but rather on what is ethically right and wrong.

Otherwise, Brian's suffering and death would only have been in vain.