Friday December 14, 2012

MBPJ holds event to create caring society

Story and photo by VINCENT TAN
vincent.tan@thestar.com.my

A favourite figure: A clown making balloon sculptures for the children from the Kota Damansara lowcost housing area who came to participate in the celebrations.

NEARLY 500 celebrants, both able and the disabled, gathered at the ground level entrance of 1Utama’s New Wing complex to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities recently.

The event was organised by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) with the international theme “Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all”.

Health, Plantation Workers, Poverty and Compassionate Government committee chairman Dr Xavier Jeyakumar officiated at the launch of the celebrations, together with Damansara Utama assemblyman Dr Cheah Wing Yin and acting Petaling Jaya mayor Puasa Md Taib. MBPJ councillors Anthony Thanasayan and Azri Mohamad Arish were also present.

In the opening speeches, Anthony said he was overwhelmed by the large crowd which had turned up for the celebrations.

“We are here today not to be ashamed of our disabilities. We do not have to hide, but are here to celebrate,” said Anthony who also related his experience growing up as a wheelchair-bound child in a city with a lack of disabled-friendly facilities. The councillor now heads an MBPJ committee which looks into infrastructure and facilities issues faced by disabled persons.

Dr Xavier praised MBPJ’s efforts in turning Petaling Jaya into a “barrier-free” city, with initiatives such as the free transit service for disabled persons, tactile walkways for the visually-impaired, as well as free medical treatment at MBPJ community clinics, among others.

“I have also been approached by several non-governmental organisations and agencies, where they are willing to help fund infrastructure for the disabled in the low-cost housing areas. This is a good idea, as both the state and the NGOs become jointly responsible for the area’s disabled facilities,”said Dr Xavier.

In addition, he added that he would be pushing for a joint fund financed by local authorities to push for such projects.

It was not just all speeches, as the audience was also treated to a line dance performance by members from MAB (Malaysian Association of the Blind) and a musical recital on the guitar and harmonica.

Nor Hidayah Abd Halim, 24, blind since birth, now works a telephone receptionist with the MAB. Nonetheless, she said a day such as this was good in further raising the profile of disabled persons in society.

“By and large, people respect us for what we do, but at times, it is also difficult to fight through people’s prejudice when they look down on you,” said Nor Hidayah.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities has been promoted by the United Nations every Dec 3 since 1998, is aimed at promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

Let’s salute them

Thursday December 13, 2012

Let’s salute them

Determined: ‘Being handicapped does not signal the end of life,’ says Chong Tuck Meng.

People with disabilities are beginning to receive due recognition.

INTERNATIONAL Day for Persons with Disabilities was observed with scores of notable events and happenings around the globe on Dec 3. One of the highlights was the special recognition given to outstanding disabled individuals in society.

The National Welfare Department in Kuala Lumpur dished out as much as RM5,000 each to selected handicapped recipients for their achievements at the workplace and in the business arena.

Last Saturday, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) also joined in the celebrations. They decided to do something different this year.

MBPJ chose to honour ordinary persons with disabilities along with a handful of handicapped people who had excelled in the academic field.

The event was held at a shopping centre. Three very ordinary disabled Malaysians were honoured for their courage and determination in overcoming the barriers they encounter on a daily basis. They included a blind young man who made it to university, a young woman with dyspraxia (a learning disability), and an elderly woman with Parkinson’s disease.

Talking about inspiring individuals, Chong Tuck Meng, 51, is certainly one of them.

Despite being paralysed from the chest down after a motorcycle accident 30 years ago, Chong went on to become the team manager for wheelchair rugby and basketball in Pahang.

Last month, Chong was presented the Disabled Sports Leadership award by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in his hometown in Bentong, Pahang. He received a plaque, a certificate and cash reward of RM2,000.

“I was simply thrilled by the recognition. It shows that the disabled can do anything and being handicapped does not signal the end of life,” said a beaming Chong who is currently participating in the 16th Malaysian Paralympiad in Kuantan which ends tomorrow.

“Despite having severely injured my spinal cord, I am grateful that I am able to help in the development of disabled sports, particularly in wheelchair basketball,” added Chong, who is president of the Pahang Wheelchair Basketball Association, Pahang Wheelchair Rugby Association and Malaysian Wheelchair Rugby Federation.

Chong requires two full-time caregivers to assist him with his daily activities. He needs to be carried into his wheelchair in the mornings and to his bed at night.

“I can’t play basketball but I can use my head to plan and organise the players and team, so that they can put their skills to full use in each competition,” said Chong.

Chong takes on life’s challenges with a good dose of humour. He recalled an incident a couple of years ago when he led a wheelchair basketball team to Melbourne in Australia for the World Qualifying Asia-Oceania competition.

Chong was the only team manager in a wheelchair at a special meeting of managers from various countries.

“When the chairman asked where the Malaysian manager was, I put my hand up and everybody stared in disbelief,” Chong said with a chuckle.

“At that moment, I was so proud of my country for looking beyond my handicap and selecting me to lead the disabled team.”