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Tuesday June 4, 2013

Blind but he didn’t lose sight of his goal

By EILEEN NG
eileen@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Azril Che Ibrahim was an active football player until his world came crashing when he was 11. He became blind.

He went into depression for six months, keeping to himself and not mixing with his friends and family.

“I was very sad. I lost my appetite and could not face my friends as they kept teasing me about my condition,” he said at the launch of United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) “The State of the World's Children 2013: Children with Disabilities” report.

But he has proven that there's life and football even without eyesight. He is now a member of the national futsal team for the blind.

Born with sight, Azril, now 20, was active in football in his early primary school years with his two elder brothers, who were also active in the sport.

He had dreams of becoming a footballer like his idol David Beckham but his eyesight started deteriorating when he was eight. By the time he had his eyes checked, doctors confirmed he only had 40% of his vision left.

“Despite all this, I persevered and completed Standard Six in a regular school. I used to ask my friends to tell me what the teacher wrote on the blackboard,” he said.

Determined lad: Women, Family and Community Development Ministry deputy secretarygeneral Datuk Harjeet Singh (right) and Belmonte chatting with Azril after launching a Unicef event in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama

He subsequently went to two schools for children with disabilities and started to slowly dabble in football again when a schoolmate wrapped a football with plastic bag so he could hear the sound.

In 2011, he followed a senior schoolmate to a futsal game for the blind in Bangsar and was thrilled to be selected as part of the national team.

His first international tournament was against the South Korean team where he scored his first goal in the semi-finals.

“My dream of playing football is finally fulfilled. My advice to people is not to let any disability be a barrier to success,” said Azril, who is currently studying at Kolej Darul Quran.

The five-a-side blind football, or more commonly known as blind futsal, consists of five players, of which four are blind.

Only the goalkeeper is sighted. There is also a guide, who is positioned behind the opponent's goal post, to assist in directing the players.

The court, which is the same as any futsal court, has side kickboxes to keep the ball, which produces a sound thanks to ball bearings inside it, within the court.

Unicef Malaysia representative Wivina Belmonte commended Malaysia for its efforts in addressing the needs of the disabled.

She said Malaysia was also among the first to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Tuesday June 4, 2013

50% off for the disabled

By EDWARD R. HENRY
edward@thestar.com.my

DISABLED people who own and live at the same address in Selangor will be given a 50% discount on their assessment tax to ease their burden as most of them often live on a fixed income.

Petaling Jaya mayor Datin Paduka Alinah Ahmad said people with serious or permanent disabilities could apply for the discount.

Selangor government made the decision in March at the state executive council meeting.

“MBPJ has been informed of this decision to give a 50% discount on assessment tax for the disabled to ease their difficulties as most of them live on a fixed income from the state’s Welfare Department or do simple jobs,” she said after the council’s full board meeting.

“Our officers will get the details of the discount scheme sorted out with the state officials for a smooth implementation.

“MBPJ is eager to implement this scheme as it is an important initiative to make it possible for the disabled to live in their homes without the added burden,” she said.

She stressed that the council would be strict on the applications as it must be the applicant’s principal place of residence and the property must not be rented or leased out.

“Discounts are given to a disabled person who owns and lives in the said property.

“The council’s Evaluation and Property Management Department will conduct a visit to the house or apartment and confirm that it is the applicant’s residence,” she said.

For assessment tax purposes, MBPJ’s definition of residence will depend on two factors — physical presence and intention.

Alinah said the application would have to be made on an annual basis by Feb 28.

Disabled people are given a discount according to the following criteria:

·Has lost the use of both limbs. Losing the use of a limb means that the limb has been amputated or its use has been lost by reason of paralysis or other muscular degeneration,

·Is blind in both eyes and has a visual acuity of 5/200 or less, or visual field to five degrees or less, and

·For disabled persons with a Welfare Card, the council’s assessor must consider the application without subjecting the person to further medical documentation.

Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association president Anthony Thanasayan said the 50% discount was a good gesture but it does not go far enough.

“Disabled people must be given a total waiver as this is more appropriate. Just like in the case of a total exemption of Malaysian passport and road tax fees for the disabled,” he said.

Anthony added that most disabled people were still unemployed and faced a high cost of living for medication, assistive devices and rehabilitation therapies.

“Government entities must strive to improve their services for the disabled and must not make money from their misfortune and be aware of their hardship,” he said.