Growth of two NGOs

Thursday June 11, 2009



Growth of two NGOs
Wheel PowerBy ANTHONY THANASAYAN

TWO organisations which support Malaysians with disabilities held their annual general meeting on the same day last week.

The first was the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) in Rawang, Selangor. About 90 members turned up on May 31 at the society’s premises in Taman Garing.

The focus of the AGM was a food and funfair fund-raiser that ILTC is organising for July 4. It will be held at a school near the centre. There will be several concerts featuring disabled performers.

“There is no point in holding concerts in aid of disabled people if they can’t be part of the occasion,” said ILTC president Francis Siva. “We should stop our culture of putting the handicapped in the spectator’s chair. It’s time we made them stars, too.”

The ILTC will be commemorating its seventh anniversary in September. It currently has 12 physically handicapped residents who receive living skills training which includes computer classes, cooking lessons and personal grooming tips. The services are provided free.

The centre requires RM10,000 a month for its operations. ILTC is looking forward to building a disabled-friendly training centre in Rawang. The centre has, to date, raised 45% of the RM1.5mil needed for the building.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive) held its fourth AGM last month. The association turned four last Sunday.

The AGM was held at the Petpositive Therapy Centre (PTC) in Jalan Carey, Petaling Jaya.
The PTC was recently fitted with up-to-date facilities for the disabled.

“The elderly will find railings designed to help them walk into our centre through a gentle ramp,” said Petpositive’s assistant secretary Shenaaz Khan. She added that the main attraction of the PTC is a special therapy room for clients of Petpositive and their pets.

There is a corner for marine therapy as well as an indoor fish pond that is accessible to wheelchair users.

PTC provides free services for the elderly and disabled visitors. The centre requires RM5,000 a month for its rental and other expenses.

For more information on ILTC, visit http://www.iltcmalaysia.blogspot.com/or call 03-6093 6292.

To know more about Petpositive, visit http://www.petpositive.blogspot.com/ or call 012-012-220 3146 .

Johor council employs 15 disabled persons

Monday June 8, 2009

Johor council employs 15 disabled persons

JOHOR BARU: Under an initiative by the United Nations Development Programme and Johor State Economic Planning Unit, 15 disabled persons were given jobs at Johor Baru City Council (MBJB).

Mayor Datuk Mohd Naim Nasir the council was the first state body to adopt the initiative to employ disabled people.

“We will give deserving and skilled disabled people a chance to join the civil service,” he said at the MBJB full council meeting.

Naim said that the disabled could find work in departments like landscaping, planning, the library, quality management, property management and public relations based on their abilities.

“Although it is a pioneer programme, we have hired the disabled since 1990 and about four of them were employed until 2007.

“The council recognises their ability to perform like normal people,” he said, adding that the council had achieved its target of hiring 1% disabled persons among its 1,350 employees.

He believed that disabled persons could do anything when given the opportunity.

“We will use the initiative to find new talents in disabled workers.

“By giving them opportunities, we will change the perception that disabled people cannot perform normal jobs,” he said.

Facelift for Section 52, PJ

Monday June 8, 2009

Facelift for Section 52, PJ

By SALINA KHALID

THE Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is planning to turn the whole of Section 52 (PJ new town) as a model of clean, green and disabled-friendly area.

Councillor Anthony Thanasayan said a committee had been formed to handle the task.

The team is headed by mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman and comprised representatives from various departments in the council including town planning and health.

Thanasayan said the plan would be carried out in stages.

“We are starting with the Emporium Makan at Complex C in Jalan Sultan. “Give us a year and this place will change back to how it was before and even better,” he said.

He was speaking after attending the cleaning up session of the complex yesterday.Cleaning up: Thanasayan (on wheelchair) helping out during the cleaning up exercise at the food court in Complex C, PJ New Town.

Also present during the event were the council’s town planning department deputy director Khairunnisa Haron, Health Department assistant officer Low Ching Keat and the complex’s trader representative Mohamad Shuffie Hassan.

Thanasayan said they had decided to kickstart the programme at the premises because of its potential and the need for its revival.

Traders who are operating on the ground floor of the premises have been complaining about poor business, especially in the past four years. Most of the stall owners have decided to close their business. Currently, only 25 of the 70 stalls are still operating.

“This was one of the most happening places in the area.

“But now things have changed and not many people know about this place any more,” said Thanasayan.

He said when he was younger, he used to go to the food court for a meal after a swim in the public swimming pool nearby. The swimming pool was closed about four years ago.

He added that a meeting was also held with the traders recently to listen to their grouses.

The traders had also complained about cleanliness of the place and lack of promotion to boost business.

“We are planning to make this place friendly for patrons including having an open-air eating concept on the front area and have more greenery to attract customers.

“The council is also tackling the pest problem faced by the traders and educating them on the importance of keeping their place clean,” he said.

Ramps will also be built to make the place more accessible for the wheelchair-bound and special toilets for the disabled.

Meanwhile, Mohamad Shuffie said they were planning to organise various activities at the premises to attract customers.

“We are planning to hold a Father’s Day celebration here this month and we welcome everyone. There will also be a chess competition.

“At the same time we are also planning to put up a stage and maybe have a live entertainment for our customers,” he said.