Testing Standing Wheelchair

Meeting with Y.B. Gan Pei Nei

Meeting with Y.B. Gan Pei Nei

Yesterday, we (a group of us in wheelchairs) had a meeting with the YB. Gan Pei Nei who is the State Assemblyman Rawang on discussion the facilities for the disabled at Rawang and Selayang in Majlis Perbandaran Selayang.

She was listening to our problems and she said yesterday there was still need more to look the facilities for the physically-challenged. We had a one-hour discussion with her yesterday. She said the Selangor Government was committed to providing facilities to disabled community. We have several important issues were raised during our discussion and took the opportunity to stress to her the urgency of making the changes now.

She has also taken our views into account to consider our basic fundamental needs to construct buildings in the future. One other issue that was raised at the meeting was to set up a Technical Working Committee for the disabled’s facilities at the Majlis Perbandaran Selayang.

Follow-up Visits to 2009 Rat Race Beneficiaries

2009 Beneficiaries Report

The Edge™ - Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Rat Race® 2009

A total of 13 visits were organized. Due to resources constraint, we were not able to arrange for follow-up visits to the other seven beneficiaries. Efforts have been made to obtain reports from the respective organizations.

18 February 2010

Independent Living and Training Centre Selangor & WP (ILTC)
The Independent Living & Training Centre Selangor & WP is another organization which is managed by the members themselves. Wheelchair-bound members greeted us when we visited them in their office in Rawang, Selangor. ILTC trains disabled people in vocational and technical skills for possible employment opportunities.

The Rat Race funds were used for its new leadership and capacity building programmes for its members.

National Return To Work Conference 2010

Below you can see some pictures taken during at the National Return To Work Conference 2010.

During the Q & A session, we have managed to raise few issues that affect people with disabilities life and that only over recent years.

Sosco's "Return To Work" Programme A Success, Says Dr Subramaniam

July 26, 2010 14:26 PM

Sosco's "Return To Work" Programme A Success, Says Dr Subramaniam

PETALING JAYA, July 26 (Bernama) -- More than half of injured workers, some with permanent disabilities, who have undergone rehabilitation under the Social Security Organisation's (Sosco) "Return to Work" (RTW) programme, have secured jobs, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said Monday.

He said that of the 1,206 injured workers who were absorbed into the programme since its inception in 2007, 629 workers or more than 53 per cent were offered employment by some 500 companies, while another 208 would be placed in the job market soon.

The rest of them are still undergoing the rehabilitation process.

"This indicated that the programme is a success and it will be expanded to cover more injured workers who are Sosco contributors," he told a news conference after opening the RTW national conference here.

He said Sosco hoped to ensure at least 80 per cent of the workers who attended the RTW programme would secure jobs.

Dr Subramaniam said only 10 per cent of the workers involved in industrial or work related accidents were chosen for the programme based on their chances of recovery or ability to return to work.

He also said Sosco had appointed 35 case managers to manage the RTW programme, including monitoring the workers' rehabilitation and identifying the type or nature of jobs upon completing the rehabilitation.

On Sosco's state-of-the-art rehabilitation centre in Melaka, the minister said it was expected to be completed in 2013.

Commenting on a local daily's report today that the Immigration Department had secured the release of 71 Indonesians who were locked up apparently for two years by an employment agency in Kangar, Perlis yesterday, Dr Subramaniam said the Labour Department would take action against the agency, including the possibility of blacklisting it under the Employment Act 1955.

"It is a serious matter, especially when it was reported that they were held against their will for two years," he said.

He said the Labour Department could only act against unscrupulous agents if there were complaints from the affected parties.

"We want the public to become our eyes and ears so that swift action can be taken against these people who only think of making quick money," he said.

Dr Subramaniam also said the Labour Department would investigate news reports which said that Kontena Nasional had abruptly terminated the employment of 22 workers allegedly without giving valid reasons.

-- BERNAMA

Humiliating experience for disabled

Saturday July 24, 2010

Humiliating experience for disabled
By CHARLES FERNANDEZ

WHEELchair-bound U. Gobinathan, 22, vowed never to set foot at the Tesco outlet in Sungei Manggis, Banting, after a body search by a security guard on July 17.

Gobinathan, who was on a motorised wheelchair, exited the cashier counter after paying for his goods and was stopped on suspicion of shoplifting.

Humiliated: Gobinathan said he was mistreated by the security personnel. He was asked to remove his shirt in front of a large crowd but the guard did not find any stolen item.

The guard was instructed by the counter clerk to conduct a body search despite Gobinathan’s pleas.

The youth, who suffers from multiple disabilities, pleaded with the guard and showed the receipts for items he bought.

“Since the incident, everywhere I go people look at me differently. I feel humiliated and don’t have a place to go in the evenings,” said Gobinathan, adding that the shopping mall was his favourite hangout place.

Led by its president, Francis Siva, and secretary Reena Kaur, 20 members from the Independent Living and Training centre (ILTC) staged a protest in front of the mall on Tuesday. They demanded an explanation and expressed dissatisfaction over the manner Gobinathan was treated.

“This incident is another black day for the disabled as they feel isolated from society. The incident has devastated the youth,’’ said Siva.

Reena said the management owed Gobinathan an explanation as to why he was treated in such a manner despite showing the security guard a receipt for his purchases.

Gobinathan’s mother S. Devaki, 52, said her son felt really down after the incident and his self-esteem had hit an all-time low.

Two senior staff from Tesco headquarters in Mutiara Damansara and the store manager had a 30-minute meeting with four representatives from the ILTC.

Tesco public pelations manager Dazrene Aznil Darus said the incident was a misunderstanding.

“They asked for compensation in the form of employment for Gobinathan’s two-wheelchair bound sisters. We have to discuss the matter at corporate level,” said Dazrene.

Tesco Malaysia corporate affairs director Marlene Kaur said they viewed the matter seriously.

“Our security personnel were carrying out their duties and we apologise for any inconvenience caused,” said Marlene.