The disabled learn of their rights

The disabled learn of their rights

2011/05/10
Farhana Syed Nokman

One of the participants, K. Pavithra showing off her Rakyat Guides booklets. — Picture by Hazreen Mohamad

PETALING JAYA: An educational programme to help the disabled learn of their rights was held recently at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) headquarters.

It was organised by its zone 19 councillors in collaboration with Malaysian Bar Council.

Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee chairperson Syahredzan Johan said the objective of the programme was to bring the constitution to the people.

"Our initiative is to bring the information to the public so they will be aware about their rights as citizens and be brave enough to speak up," said Syahredzan.

The Rakyat Guides booklets, which consist of nine chapters elaborating on the federal constitution, were also distributed to participants of the programme.

According to Syahredzan, the content of the booklets had been rewritten and simplified to help the layman understand his rights.

The public, he said, can also buy the booklets at the Bar Council for RM6.

All proceeds from the sale of the booklets will be channelled back to the programme.

The one-day programme was officiated by senator S. Ramakrishnan.

MBPJ councillor Jeyaseelan Anthony said this was the first programme organised for the disabled.

"We received good response from the participants and they were happy to learn more about the constitution," said Jeyaseelan.

More of such programmes will be held upon request, he said.

For details, log on to www.perlembagaanku.com.

Read more: The disabled learn of their rights http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/3pcj/Article#ixzz1M2kvgQf6

A four hour journey to collect welfare cheque

B Nantha Kumar

| May 7, 2011

A disabled fruit seller says the new district office is 20 kilometres away from the old one and there is no public transport

SHAH ALAM: A disabled fruit seller has to travel for about four hours to the new Petaling district office to collect his welfare cheque.

S.Krishnan, from Shah Alam, had no problem going to the district office when it was situated near Subang Parade.

The district office moved to U5 in Mutiara Subang on April 1 because it is understood that the site of the previous building was awarded to a prominent family-run developer.

FMT learned that the developer was planning to demolish the old building to build a new motorcar showroom.

According to a source, this is the second state government-owned land to be given to the same developer.

The Selangor government awarded a contract to an unknown RM2 company linked to the developer to build nine blocks of high-rise buildings in Section 52, Petaling Jaya.

Krishnan says the new district office is 20km from Subang town and the only form of transport is the Rapid bus from Kuala Lumpur.

Krishnan spends about four hours travelling to the new office and back by bus.

“From Shah Alam, I travel to Kuala Lumpur and take another bus from there to the district office,” he said, adding that if he was to take a taxi, it would cost him RM40.

He asked why the state government, which called itself a “concerned government”, would move the office to a place which was so inconvenient, especially for the poor.

He urged the state government to provide transportation service to the office as soon as possible.