SEREMBAN, June 25:
The recent case of 15-year-old Muhammad Firdaus Dullah, found neglected and in a deplorable condition, has opened a can of worms.
It has revealed the Welfare Department’s (JKM) lackadaisical attitude to make its services known and Malaysians dis-functionality as a society, non-governmental organisations lament.
This comes after Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar revealed today that the remand for Lolanopita Sadi, the mother of the cerebral palsy-stricken boy, had been extended until Saturday to assist in further investigations.
Muhammad Firdaus was found covered in his own faeces and urine at a low-cost flat in Taman Semarak Phase 2, Nilai, during a midnight raid on illegals by state immigration officers on Saturday.
Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive) president Anthony Siva Balan Thanasayan bemoaned the judgmental attitude among Malaysians and revealed that the support system for families with special needs persons was at an all-time low.
“It is easy to place the blame on the mother. However, the blame should also be shared by the neighbours and the Welfare Department as well.”
Anthony said the fact that Lola did not know how to apply for aid through the department had revealed the flaws and weakness in the department itself.
“The fact that there was a wheelchair in the room, as the photos depict, show the mother was also a victim. The photos seem to indicate that not only something was not done from the mother’s perspective, but from the authorities’ perspective as well.
“It also shows a weakness among the Malaysian society as a whole,” he said.
The 53-year-old wheelchair-bound activist urged the department to step up in its efforts to boost its public relations services and conduct more outreach programmes.
“The department should not assume that by registering a special needs person, their job is done.
“Their services have to reach out to people, with regular visits to the homes of the affected families made mandatory,” Anthony said, adding that this issue is an eye-opener and that Muhammad Firdaus was lucky to have been found.
“I’m very sure there are many more Firdaus’ out there.”
Echoing Anthony’s sentiments, Independent Living and Training Centre president G. Francis Siva lambasted JKM’s lackadaisical attitude in addressing problems faced by families of special needs persons.
“They have the Talian Nur line. However, when the public tries to call, they’re not picking up the phone.
“They also have inadequate services for us at their department itself,” the 54-year-old quadriplegic said, lamenting society’s attitude in blaming the mother and government’s lack of policies for the special needs.
“The woman is in trauma as it is not easy being a mother of a special needs child.
“Society has a responsibility, too, while the government, along with JKM, should make proper use of its resources to provide top services to people like Firdaus and his mother.”
Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) executive director Ivy Josiah questioned the fact that no one questioned about the lack of concern of the neighbours and Lola’s second husband.
“What happened to them? We easily blame the mother, but many don’t understand that single mothers often have a tough time hiring babysitters.
“On top of that, many are in the dark over the services JKM provides, leading them to lack information on the support system provided by the government and society.”
Ivy said this issue had opened a can of worms in the manner the department and Malaysian society functioned as a whole.
“High time we looked at ourselves and asked: Are we working together as a community? If so, then where did we go wrong?
“This case should not be addressed in a punitive manner, but from a societal perspective.”
It was reported by Harian Metro today that Lola earned a gross income of RM2,327.81 while her nett income was RM1,549.38 per month.
The Malay daily also quoted Ahmad Reza Kamaruddin, the senior manager of her company, Modal Insan Brahim’s Airline Catering’s (BAC), as saying that Lola was always secretive and only conducted her duties without involving her personal issues.
“We were surprised to read about her in the newspapers because she never shared her problems with the company or union workers, who are very concerned about the welfare of BAC employees and members.”
Ahmad said Lola had been an employee for 10 years with the company.
Muhammad Firdaus is now recuperating at the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban and is expected to be discharged and handed to JKM in a month’s time, while the department locates his next of kin.