NEW MINISTER FOR WELFARE MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

NEW MINISTER FOR WELFARE MINISTER OF MALAYSIA
Badan Latihan dan Hidup Berdikari Malaysia (ILTC) pada 23hb Mac 2016 menyerahkan memorandum kepada ahli-ahli parlimen mendesak supaya golongan orang kurang upaya (OKU) dikecualikan daripada cukai barangan dan perkhidmatan (GST).

Disabled Members Protest

Disabled Members Protest
Disabled Members Protest at JPJ Wangsa Maju

ILTC Malaysia members staged a protest outside JPJ Wangsamaju KL.

ILTC Malaysia members staged a protest outside JPJ Wangsamaju KL.
Disabled group’s protest disabled drivers required to produce doc's medical report.

Friday 22 August 2008

Joining the workforce

Thursday, August 21, 2008

The Star - Lifestyle

Joining the workforce
WHEEL POWER WITH ANTHONY THANASAYAN

There’s more to the issue than simply providing employment for the disabled.

I READ in The Star last week that the problem of getting disabled persons to take up employment sadly continues to plague our society. It was revealed that despite there being 10,000 jobs openings for the handicapped, only 50 persons with disabilities had applied for them through the government.

The findings, I worry, might give the wrong impression about people with disabilities. Some might think that the disabled are unappreciative of the help that is being offered to them. Others may assume that they prefer to be unemployed – or, worse, are lazy.

All these assumptions cannot be further from the truth.

First, why would the disabled want to be unemployed when they have no source of income? Without financial independence, how would they be able to participate in all the wonderful things that most of us enjoy?

Being disabled is also an extremely costly affair. For example, long-lasting wheelchairs cost about RM5,000 while electric wheelchairs cost more than double that. (Batteries alone cost about RM1,000 and they need to be replaced every two years.)

Medical cushions, which most wheelchair users need in order to prevent potentially deadly pressure sores, cost about RM2,000. These need to be promptly replaced when they expire.

The disabled who were previously employed may be somewhat lucky. They can obtain such equipment from the Social Security Organisation.

But what about the majority of disabled persons who are unemployed?

Some might be able to get charitable organisations to sponsor these aids for them. But again, for the majority of disabled Malaysians, life is a perennial struggle.

It really does not have to be this way, but it is.

Finding jobs may be easier now thanks to the government’s latest efforts. But it is still virtually impossible to get to work.

A big chunk of one’s salary would often be swallowed up by transport costs. And after deducting the cost of travelling to and from work, what is left for the disabled worker to take home?

What if they are married or wish to get married? Or what if they now have to care for their elderly parents?

Would employers consider covering transport costs of disabled workers? Such a move would be a great help – at least until the day the handicapped in Malaysia can have full access to public transport.

It is for these and many other reasons that many disabled organisations are unanimously calling for a monthly allowance of RM500, at least, for all disabled Malaysians – whether they have jobs or not. The financial aid will be a godsend and offer immediate relief.

And what better time for such a gift for the handicapped than next month at our upcoming budget speech.

As for the job application forms offered by the government, it is certainly an encouraging move – one that the disabled community has been waiting for.

I am glad to see that special assistive devices like ramps to wheelchair-friendly car parks and even tactile guiding blocks (for the blind) are mentioned in the form.

However, I also think that there are other things that ought to be considered before we can expect success in this worthy effort.

One of them is to keep on disseminating the forms everywhere.

I have already received feedback from several disabled persons and their caregivers that they are unaware of these forms. Even in their recent visits to their nearest local welfare departments they drew only blank stares from the staff when they enquired about job opportunities.

And finally, let’s not forget that because our disabled have been shut out of society for so long, many lack not only training but also self-confidence.

It would be most unrealistic to expect such persons to rush out immediately for application forms. They will need a counsellor whom they can approach to give them the proper advice and encouragement.

And the best person to understand their needs would naturally be a disabled person himself, who should also coordinate this effort by the government. This way another job will be created.

The disabled person should rightfully be the person to head a special long-term task force to get our Malaysian disabled citizens employed.

After all, it is the human touch – delivered from someone who is able to empathise – which in the end will be far more effective than any piece of paper.

MBPJ sedia kemudahan untuk OKU

Friday, August 22, 2008

Sinar - Harian


MBPJ sedia kemudahan untuk OKU

PETALING JAYA - Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) akan menyediakan tempat khas untuk golongan orang kurang upaya (OKU) bagi memudahkan mereka meletakkan kenderaan mulai November ini.

Pengarah Jabatan Perancangan Pembangunan MBPJ, Sharipah Marhaini Syed Ali berkata, sebanyak 150 tempat dikenal pasti dan akan dilengkapkan dengan bumbung sebagai keselesaan.

Setiap 150 tempat itu, MBPJ akan menyediakan dua petak khas untuk OKU,” katanya pada sidang media di sini.

Beliau berkata, selain membina tempat letak kereta berbumbung, MBPJ juga akan menaik taraf tandas dan jalan mesra OKU.

Katanya, sebagai permulaan, usaha itu akan dilakukan di Seksyen 52, manakala kawasan lain akan mendapat kemudahan berkenaan secara berperingkat.

Menurut Sharipah Marhaini, bagi memudahkan pemantauan, golongan dan penjaga OKU perlu memohon pelekat khas daripada MBPJ.

Langkah itu, katanya, bagi memudahkan MBPJ mengenal pasti golongan OKU dan mengelak kemudahan itu daripada disalahgunakan orang lain.

“Mereka yang didapati menyalah guna kemudahan itu akan dikenakan saman sebanyak RM300,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, MBPJ akan melaksanakan empat strategi dalam menyediakan kemudahan untuk OKU di Petaling Jaya. “

Antaranya mengubah suai bangunan sedia ada di Petaling Jaya bagi kemudahan mereka, selain mengubah suai bangunan Perpustakaan Komuniti dan ibu pejabat MBPJ.

“Strategi lain termasuk menyediakan kemudahan laluan khas di beberapa tempat, lampu isyarat berbunyi, laluan pejalan kaki dan penghadang,” katanya.

Di samping itu, menurut beliau, MBPJ juga akan mengadakan program kesedaran awam bersama penduduk mengenai kemudahan OKU.

Sementara itu, Ahli Majlis MBPJ yang juga OKU, Anthony Siva Balan Thanasayan berkata, usaha itu hadiah kepada golongan berkenaan. “Ini adalah hadiah paling bermakna kepada OKU.

Ini menunjukkan MBPJ tidak meminggirkan golongan seperti kami,” katanya

Wednesday 20 August 2008

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Dear Folks,

FLASH NEWS - LATEST UP DATE

Regarding Sia Siew Chin & Defamation Against ILTC..........
ON MONDAY WE HAVE MANAGED TO CALLED THE BISHOP'S SECRETARY MS. PAULINE.

DURING THE TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH HER, SHE SAID THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO ARRANGE A MEETING BY THIS WEEK. ILTC HOPE FOR JUSTICE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

MORE UP DATES SOON......

MR. G. FRANCIS SIVA
PRESIDENT OF ILTC

Sheltered Disabled Car Parks At PJ

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Sheltered Disabled Car Parks at PJ - Malaysia Nanban

Monday 18 August 2008

Rights of disabled people to be taken care of

Monday, August 18, 2008

Rights of disabled people to be taken care of
BY LOONG MENG YEE,

THE Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 has been gazetted and came into force on July 7. This is the first rights-based legislation for people with disabilities (PWD).

“With the enforcement of the Act, PWDs will be able to enjoy better public transport facilities, amenities and services.

“They will also have equal opportunities to health, education, information, communication and technology, habilitation and re-habilitation, improved employment opportunities as well as sports, leisure and cultural life,” said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

“At this point, it is too early for us to assess the effectiveness of the Act.

“Issues affecting the development and well-being of PWDs are cross- cutting, from rehabilitation to housing and social safety.

“Therefore, the responsibility to ensure the PWDs enjoy the rights enshrined in the Act has to be shared by all.

Fight for our rights: Dr Ng (fourth from right) and the rest of the team in the National Council for the People with Disabilities.

“The ministry and the National Council for Persons with Disabilities established under this Act will have to play a crucial role to address and bring foward issues affecting PWDs,” said Dr Ng at the first council meeting recently.

She added the council would oversee, co-ordinate and evaluate the implementation of the National Policy and National Plan for Action relating to PWDs.

Dr Ng said Malaysia had moved from charity-based to rights-based to address the issues affecting PWDs. The Department of Social Welfare was committed to the cause of ensuring full participation of PWDs into society.

“The department had introduced rights-based programmes such as Disability Equality Training and Independent Living to PWDs.

“Community-based rehabilitation is promoted and further strengthened to provide early intervention, rehabilitation and training for PWDs in their own community.

“So far, the welfare department supports 379 community-based rehabilitation centres, benefiting 12,000 PWDs,” said Dr Ng.

Until May, there were 229,325 PWDs registered with the Welfare Department.

This figure was way too low for the World Health Organisation estimate of between 5% and 10% of the population.

Going by that estimate, Malaysia should be registering 1.3 to 2.6 million PWDs. Dr Ng urged those who had not registered to do so.

Good news for the disabled

Monday August 18, 2008

The Star- Metro

Good news for the disabled
By JADE CHAN

THE PETALING Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will be allocating 150 covered parking bays for the disabled, and has begun identifying their locations around Petaling Jaya.

The parking spaces will be located at places like public parks, commercial centres, government offices, community halls, health centres, police stations, post offices and stadiums.

They will be covered and located at the area closest to the entrance of the buildings.

MBPJ Town Planning Department director Sharipah Marhaini Syed Ali said the council was committed to providing facilities for the disabled and had identified four strategies for this initiative back in 2002, including modifying the PJ Community Library and MBPJ building to have facilities like lifts and ramps, and having the Barrier Free City project in Section 52 and SS2 to provide facilities like tac tiles, accessible bus stops and ramps.

Accessibility for the disabled: Thanasayan gets some assistance from an MBPJ officer as he goes about to check on the sites where the 150 parking spaces for the disabled in PJ have been identified.

“To improve the Town Planning Department’s efforts, the MBPJ has taken the initiative to form the Technical Working Committee for the Disabled’s Facilities (Jawatankuasa Kerja Teknikal Bagi Kemudahan Kurang Upaya) in August 2006,” she said.

“The PJ mayor (Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman) has approved a policy whereby from Aug 1 onwards, all development plans will need to be approved by this committee before they are submitted to the one-stop centre committee, to ensure that the plans include facilities for the disabled.

“This policy affects plans for both government and private entities. The requirements include the provisions of ramps, toilets, lifts and parking spaces for the disabled.”

MBPJ councillor Anthony Thanasayan said the 150 parking spaces for the disabled would be shaded, provide ample room to manoeuvre around and were available at no charge.

“The MBPJ will issue their own stickers for the disabled and their caregivers to have access to these parking spaces.

“To apply for the sticker, they will have to submit either their disabled identification card issued by the government, or get a letter from a government hospital doctor.

“Those with Parkinson’s Disease or stroke can get a letter from their societies to apply for the sticker. Even those who are temporarily disabled can apply.”

Sharipah said: “The sticker will be issued free and we’ll open the applications in November.

“To ensure that we mean business, the council will issue a maximum of RM300 fine if people are found to have parked their vehicles in parking spaces for the disabled. No appeals will be given to reduce the fine.”

“We will also place a hotline signboard on the roofs of these parking spaces so the public can report such abuses if they spot them,” said Thanasayan.

Thanasayan plans to go with several of his disabled friends to all the sites identified to give his views and ensure the job is done correctly.

The modifications for the parking spaces for the disabled will begin in September and is scheduled to be ready in November.

Sharipah estimated that it would cost the MBPJ RM500,000 to build or modify facilities in the city to be disabled-friendly, including having ramps and extending the tac tiles.