Wednesday June 13, 2012

No more sleeping in the car for homeless man

AFTER sleeping in his car for the past two-and-a-half-years, Karup-panan Veeramalai, who is disabled, has been given the keys to a low-cost flat in Intan Baiduri PPR in Selayang yesterday.

“I am now relieved and have have a home now,” he said after receiving the keys from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officers at the Intan Baiduri PPR.

“We want to thank DBKL for showing their concern,” he added.

Also present when Karuppanan received his keys was Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) president Francis Siva.

Siva urged all local authorities to take this case as an example and give priority to the disabled.

“Other councils should follow this example set by DBKL. We are happy that DBKL has shown concern for us and we urge others to follow by giving priority to the disabled,” he said.

Last Thursday, disabled members staged a protest outside DBKL in support of their fellow member, Karuppanan, whose application for a low-cost unit has been left pending, forcing him to sleep in his car for the past two-and-a-half years.

Karuppanan had approached DBKL on his own in 2010, appealing for a unit but was told to wait as there were no units available.

Two hours after staging a protest, Karuppanan was offered a unit.