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.

Saturday 30 August 2008

Sunday, August 31, 2008

BADAN LATIHAN DAN HIDUP BERDIKARI, SELANGOR DAN WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR.
(INDEPENDENT LIVING AND TRAINING CENTRE,
SELANGOR AND WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR)

The 6th Annual General Meeting of the Independent Living & Training Centre, Rawang which was held on 24th of August 2008, at 10.30am, at Restoran Fook Sing (Halal Food) (Rawang) Sdn Bhd, 8-16 Jalan Setia Rawang 1, Taman Setia Batu 18, 48000 Rawang, Selangor Darul Ehsan.


There were 86 members presented at the meeting.

During the meeting ILTC invited Special Guest:

1. Special Guest DSP Shanmugam Reddy
2. Guest Y.B. Tuan Anthony Thanasayan
3. Guest of Honour -

Y.B.. TAN HUI CHUAN
ON BEHALF OF Y.B. Gan Pei Nei - State Assemblyman for Rawang

Participated together...............



HAPPY MERDEKA – WITH OUT I AM NO BODY

Saturday, August 30, 2008


HAPPY MERDEKA – WITH OUT I AM NO BODY

Pensioners, the disabled want more benefits

Saturday August 30, 2008

The Star - News - Budget 2009

Pensioners, the disabled want more benefits

THE National Council of Senior Citizens Organisation Malaysia (Nacscom) president Datuk Lum Kin Tuck said that while the proposal to have a minimum RM720 monthly pension was good, it was still not enough to cope with the rising cost of living.

“While it will help pensioners who have been getting low pensions all along, I feel it should be slightly higher,” he said.

“I think people would be able to cope with the cost of living better if they had a minimum pension of RM900.”

Malaysian Confederation of the Disabled president Mah Hassan said he was happy with the Budget on three points: the RM150 allowance for disabled students, RM200 monthly incentive payment for teaching assistants in special education schools and a higher allowance for caregivers in Rumah Tunas Harapan.

“I must praise the Government for taking all these into consideration,” he said.

“However, on behalf of the disabled community, I must say I am disappointed with the RM150 allowance for the non-working disabled.”

Independent Living and Training Centre president Francis Siva also shared his sentiments.

“At a pre-Budget consultation, we had asked for a RM500 allowance across the board for the disabled.

“What can you do with RM150? I'm very, very sad.

There are many severely-disabled people who have no opportunity to find work. How are they going to live on a mere RM150?” he said.

Budget 2009: RM150 allowance for the disabled 'not enough'

Saturday, August 30, 2008

The News Strait Times - NST Online

Budget 2009: RM150 allowance for the disabled 'not enough' The disabled are restricted by the lack of disabled-friendly infrastructure in the country.

KUALA LUMPUR: The disabled have described Budget 2009 as "insulting" and "terrible".

They said the RM150 monthly allowance for those unable to work is a pittance. Malaysian Animal-Assisted The-rapy for the Disabled and Elderly president Anthony Thanasayan said they had expected at least RM500 for all disabled people, irrespective of whether they were working.

"The amount is so little, you might as well not give it. Those bedridden and in wheelchairs require a lot of money for medical fees.

"A set of five bandages for pressure sores costs RM80 and it only lasts three days. How far will RM150 go?" Anthony asked.

Independent Living and Training Centre president Francis Siva said it was disheartening that the budget failed to address mobility issues.

He stressed that disabled people were not lazy and wanted to be independent but they were restricted by the lack of disabled-friendly infrastructure in the country.

"How will we earn a decent living and be independent if a chunk of our salary goes towards transport?"

Anthony and Francis, however, agreed that the government's multi-pronged approach to combat poverty was a good start.

Associate Professor Dr Sulochana Nair, who is also director for the Centre of Poverty and Development Studies, Universiti Malaya, said there must be a "means-tested methodology" of reaching out to the target groups.

"We must be able to trace the aid to ensure that it reaches the right people."

For Centre for Orang Asli Concerns coordinator Colin Nicholas, the issue is "leakage" during the disbursement process.

He said the allocated sum had in the past gone into improving infrastructure and administration and not enhancing the quality of life.

The government has allocated RM160 million in assistance to Orang Asli under Budget 2009.

For pensioner Wong King Voon, 61, the RM70 increase in his pension to RM720 is too small.

"What can you do with an extra RM70? And despite the exemption for electricity bills payments of RM20 or less, I would still have to pay my electricity bill of about RM100 a month."

Wednesday 27 August 2008

BN!BN!BN! Ayoooh!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

BN!BN!BN! Ayoooh!

What Happen? Dont pray pray!

Tuesday 26 August 2008

ILTC COMMENTS

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

ILTC COMMENTS

Disabled in a dilemma over inconvenient travel environment

Today there was some issue highligted in the The Star - Metro

This is slightly a positive wake up sign by other disabled NGO's who have been sleeping for too long.

But in reality will it make a difference?

Will our Prime Minister include the demands in his Budget Speech on Friday?

It would have been better if the disabled group that organized the protest against the government had done so at least a month or two before Budget 2009.

This would have given enough time for our PM to make the necessary inclusion.

That is if Pak Lah had not already thought about it in the first place.

ILTC is tired of broken promises by our authorities and our needs as disabled Malaysians are still being ignored.

So far nothing has really changed. ILTC also had staged a public show of this approval eight months ago against the public transport system in the country.

Nothing has been done.

The "so-called" 'disabled friendly" buses by RapidKL are totally useless.

I honestly feel that, most disabled person cannot work because of poor access to public transport and buildings.

We need to go out and work and contribute to society, and not be dependent on charity.

ILTC is looking forward a reliable public transport service to the disabled community in Malaysia.

MR. Francis Siva
President of ILTC

_________________________________________________________________
Tuesday August 26, 2008

The Star Metro

Disabled in a dilemma over inconvenient travel environment
By BAVANI M

THERE is no mercy out there, declared by P. Parimala when asked to describe the efficiency of the transportation system in the Klang Valley.

Strong words indeed but then the 47-year-old tutor is speaking from her perspective as a disabled person.

Parimala has polio and walks with a limp. But six months ago, she fractured her back and had been wheelchair-bound since.

Not an easy life: Daily travelling using public transport seems to be a tedious affair for most disabled folks.

“I feel helpless and frustrated every time I take the local public transport to get around. I feel that the government doesn’t care for people like us,’’ she said.

According to Parimala, who lives in a DBKL flats in Pantai Dalam, everywhere and everything -- the lifts at her flats, the roads, the bus stops, the buses and the LRT -- were not disabled friendly.

“How am I going to retain my dignity and the right to live independently when everything around me is inaccessible to people with disabilities?’’ she asked.

K. Loganathan, a clerk with the Damai Disabled Persons Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, said that trying to cross a busy street was like a suicide mission for him.

“I’m afflicted with polio so I walk with a limp. Do you know how a simple exercise of trying to cross a road or even boarding the LRT at the peak hour can become the most scariest moment of my life?’’ he asked.

Mohd Fairuz, from the Malaysian Association of the Blind, said he wished that there was a system that allowed the blind to know when a bus would be arriving.

The 55-year-old said buses should incorporate an alarm system that could notify blind passengers like him when the door was closing and opening.

They want the government to do something about the poor state of the local public transport system which they say is unfriendly and completely inaccessible to the disabled community.

Some 50 BEAT members turned out at the Bangsar LRT station last Sunday to prove their point and to submit their wish list for the Federal Budget 2009.

Damai Disabled Persons Association vice-president V. Murugeswaran said when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi discovered how bad the public transport system was for the public, he should know that for the disabled people, it was much worse.

Murugeswaran said the public transport system should adopt the social inclusion principle where all planning, design, management and operations of public transport should be accessible, safe and usable.

“It should take into consideration and provide for equitable means for the disabled people to access employment, education, health, leisure and other social activities,” he said.
Murugeswaran said it was reported recently that only 50 disabled people applied for 10,000 jobs available in the public sector.

Women, Family and Community Development Minsiter Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen had called on the disabled community to be responsive to the job applications and said the government set a policy to reserve 1% or 10,000 jobs for the disabled in the public sector.

“I guarantee you if the government improved the public transport system and make it disabled- friendly than the response from the disabled would be overwhelming,’’ Murugeswaran said.
He said the disabled just wanted to live independently and with dignity.

Wish list for public transport system

IN line with the tabling of the Federal Budget 2009, the Association for the Improvement of Mass Transit Klang Valley (Transit) and the Barrier-Free Environment and Accessible Transport (BEAT) group have come up with a wish list to reinstate their concerns on the public transport system.

According to the two organisations, the system is still almost completely inaccessible and unfriendly to those who are blind, deaf, having learning difficulties, elderly and pregnant, young children and people with bicycle and infants in prams.

The two NGOs have proposed the following:

A National Public Transport Policy which is comprehensive, inclusive and people focused;
A public transport masterplan that incorporates the concepts and principles of universal design to accommodate the needs of all users, including the disabled;

A National Transport Commis-sion — a single regulatory body for land public transportation. At present, there are 13 agencies for the country which make it ineffective and uncoordinated;
Low Floor and Non Step Buses — a budget must be allocated that all new buses bought have low floor, non-step vehicles equipped with ramps, and audible announcements for the blind and clear sin- ages for the deaf.

Bus Stops and Bus Hubs — All new bus stops, and bus hubs must have connecting walkways, pavements, crossings, shelters, all ramps and change levels must be upgraded to the correct design and safety standards and must be barrier free;

Rail Transit — For the Kelana Jaya and Ampang Lines, the proposed extension must ensure that all universal design features such as lifts, tactile guides, audible stop announcements and clear signages. Money should also be allocated for an upgrade of the Ampang line which is inaccessible to wheelchair users.

Monorail — Budget allocations for the upgrade of all monorail stations, At present monorail is totally inaccessible to wheelchair users.

KTM Commuter — All new rail projects be made accessible, that includes access to the train stations, platforms and incorporate universal design features;

Taxis — There must be a minimum quota of accessible taxis — 20% target each year starting from 2009.

Door to Door Demand Responsive Accessible Transport Services — A fully integrated and accessible transport service for the disabled.

Mobility Allowance — Budget should make an allocation to provide mobility allowance of RM350 to each disabled person who is registered with the welfare department until such as time when the country’s transport system is 100% accessible.

Monday 25 August 2008

Feeling the discrimination

Monday, August 25, 2008

The Malay Mail - News

Feeling the discrimination
By Anu Venugopal An Act of hope?

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.

So many promises made but so little achieved, say disabled groups.

The able-bodied take it for granted, but to the disabled, getting around Kuala Lumpur is a never-ending nightmare.

Through their eyes, the streets of KL are full of obstacles and risks — steep and high pavements, slippery tiles, overhead bridges with narrow steps, poor traffic and transport conditions... and the list goes on.

Promises by the government and public transport companies that amenities will be disabled-friendly are not being adhered to, say the physically challenged.

"The government promised wheelchair-friendly public transport, but it has not been provided. The situation has not improved one bit," said Christine Lee, coordinator for the Barrier-Free Environment and Accessible Transport Group.

The group is an informal coalition of NGOs representing the interests of people with varying disabilities.

It has been fighting for the rights of the disabled since 1994 but Lee says there has been little improvement to the infrastructure and public transport system in the Klang Valley.

"Out of 1,000 buses that were supposed to be disabled- friendly, only 100 buses can be accessed by the disabled. Even then, it is not easy for us to use these buses as it is just too difficult," said Lee.

"The ramps are too steep for people with wheelchairs to manoeuvre by themselves. Some bus drivers are kind enough to help out but if we are on our own, it is difficult.

"The disabled people in Malaysia are still facing barriers to being independent."

"We find it very difficult to move around on our own. There are barriers everywhere.

Pavements are too high for us to manoeuvre the wheelchair. Not many buses are disabled friendly. The ones that are 'disabled friendly' are not good enough."

Many of the disabled are disheartened with Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen's remarks that the disabled cannot expect the ministry to knock on doors and offer them jobs,

"We want to work and be independent, but how can we when the infrastructure such as roads and transport system make it difficult for us to move around?" asked Lee.

She believes that one of the ways the government could improve infrastructure and amenities for the group would be to consult the disabled.

Public transport blues

Monday, August 25, 2008

The Malay Mail

Public transport blues Physically challenged P.Santakumari, 49 years old and wheelchair- bound, loves Malaysia but strongly feels that something has to be done about the disabled-unfriendly environment.

"It is very difficult for me to travel on my own. I need someone to help me move around every time I go out," she said.

"The bus ramps are too steep for me to go up on my own. It is very frustrating to take public transport in Kuala Lumpur."

She also feels that there is need for the public to be educated about disabled people. "They are impatient and inconsiderate of our situation and the daily struggles we have to face."

Santakumari hopes that the government will make buses accessible and make all public transport free for the physically challenged.

A disabled person from Rawang, who only wants to be known as Premila, also took KTM Komuter to task.

"The train service has only got worse since I first started using it six years ago,"she said.

"There are more people using the train now, especially after the increase in petrol price, but the number of coaches has not increased."