A proud day for women councillors

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

A proud day for women councillors
Halim Said

SHAH ALAM: The presence of women was conspicuous during the mass swearing-in ceremony for Selangor's 283 local councillors at the Dewan Jubli Perak here recently.

Rabiah said she plans to focus on the welfare of youth.

Gurdip said she was still in a state of disbelief.

Among those present was Gurdip Singh, one of 41 women councillors sworn in and a representative of the disabled at the Selayang Municipal Council.

She said she is proud to have been selected as a councillor. She had not been sure of being chosen. "I am still in a state of disbelief that I have been anmed a councillor from among the NGOs.

"I will use this opportunity to make changes for the betterment of the public, especially the disabled," she said.

Gurdip added that the appointment of more women councillors in municipalities is a great step forward, but that the appointees must be willing to work hard and not be motivated by self-interest.

Fellow-councillor Rabiah Omar, who is also a member of the All Women Action Society, said she was focused on the task ahead and is raring to begin carrying out her new duties.

"I plan to focus on the welfare of youth. I want to help provide more educational and self-enhancement building programmes for them," said Rabiah, a former executive director of the society.

Most of the new councillors were present for the swearing-in ceremony on Saturday; six could not attend because of personal reasons, and two had declined appointment.

Prior to the ceremony, the councillors attended a half-day conference where they were briefed on the duties and challenges of their new roles. The talk was delivered by Datin Arpah Abdul Razak, director-general of local government in the Local Government and Housing Ministry.

The councillors were also given a talk on national township policy by Rural and Urban Planning Department (National Physical Planning Division) director Rohani Md Hashim.

This was followed by the swearing-in ceremony, which saw the councillors making a mass pledge to serve in the state's local councils.

Shah Alam mayor Mazalan Md Noor then led councillors in accepting their appointment letters from Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Afterwards, Khalid said a total of 300 councillors had been appointed, with 288 of them comprising members of the ruling coalition's parties and NGOs, as well as professionals.

The remaining 12 were mayors or council presidents.

He added that unlike appointments by the previous administration, none of the current councillors was a state assemblyman or member of parliament.

However, the MPs and ADUN are allowed to attend council meetings as ex-officio members. As such, they are allowed to voice their views in meetings, but they have no voting rights," the Menteri Besar said.

"I am happy with the appointment and clearly, we see more women councillors and professionals in the line-up."

Khalid added that in two months' time, all the new councillors will be sent for a incentive course at a training centre in Morib.

DISABLED COUNCILLOR IN SELANGOR SWORN IN

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

LAST SATURDAY, TWO DISABLED COUNCILLOR IN SWORN IN SELANGOR

Mr. Anthony and Ms. Rina had attended the swearing-in ceremony in Shah Alam. At below there are some pictures of the day.

Selangor councillors sworn in

Sunday, July 06, 2008

NST - News

Selangor councillors sworn in
SHAH ALAM: Two of the 300 selected as local councillors declined their appointments and withdrew from the mass swearing in of Selangor councillors yesterday.

The two, who were not named, were from the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council and the Shah Alam City Council.Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said they did not think they were qualified to be local councillors.

"Take, for example, the candidate from Ampang. Although there was no proof he has a criminal record, he withdrew to clear his name."

The Ampang candidate in question is at the centre of a controversy after he reportedly refused to provide a statutory declaration attesting that he did not have a record.

The New Straits Times yesterday reported that he had been dropped by the state government, and that allegations against two other Ampang Jaya local councillors, S. Supiramany and S. Sooria Nara-yanan, were unfounded.

After launching the 2008/ 2009 Session Local Councillors Conference, Khalid said under the law, after maybe five years, someone with a conviction could rejoin public service.

"The same principle also applies to members of parliament. If they are fined more than RM5,000, they cannot contest in the election.

There are restrictions for those with a criminal record.

"He said that although the councillors had been sworn in, the vetting process by the police and Bank Negara was ongoing. "

To help administration, we have given out the letters of appointment, but there is a clause stating we have the right to terminate, or disallow them to become councillors, if things are uncovered.

" The state government, he said, was limiting the appointments of the newly sworn-in local councillors to just one year.

In six months, their performance will be assessed and they will be re-appointed if they have performed well.

He added that 80 per cent of them would serve for no more than two years.

"We favour rotations, and we'd like to bring in fresh faces. We do not want it to be a permanent position."

Meanwhile, the two Ampang Jaya local councillors accused of having criminal records denied the allegations.

Sooria, who represents the Ampang Indian Community Charity Bureau, said he may have been "sabotaged" by somebody who wanted his position.

"The police will have records, if the person wants to check. As far as I'm concerned, I have no criminal record. This allegation has spoiled my reputation."Supiramany said he was surprised to learn about the claim from the media."

I have never committed any criminal offence and I am thankful to the state government for placing its trust in me. "From now on, I want to concentrate on looking after my area," said the former vice-president of the Tenaga Nasional Bhd Union, who was also active in the Malaysian Trades Union Council.

Assemblymen to sit as observers at MBPJ meetings

Wednesday July 2, 2008

Assemblymen to sit as observers at MBPJ meetings
By TAN KARR WEI, JADE CHAN AND OH ING YEEN

SELANGOR state assemblymen will now sit in as observers at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) full board and committee meetings.

Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San said this would encourage greater transparency because council committee meetings used to be closed-door meetings.

“Compared with the previous government, assemblymen were not appointed as councillors this time around but we will still monitor what's happening at the councils,” said Lau.

After a long wait and amid much speculation, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillors were finally sworn in yesterday at a ceremony at the MBPJ headquarters at Jalan Yong Shook Lin.

Despite demands by representatives of PJ residents to be included as councillors, the announced list remained the same with 17 political appointees (seven from PKR, six from DAP and four from PAS) and seven NGO representatives. Women power: (From left) Cynthia Manonmani Michael Gabriel, Latheefa Beebi Koya, Professor Madya Dr Melasutra Md Dall and Tiew Way Keng are the four female councillors sworn in at MBPJ yesterday.

All the councillors were sworn in except for Michael Soon, who was away attending to work matters.

Also present at the ceremony were PJ Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian, Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne, Taman Medan assemblyman Haniza Mohamed Talha, Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong and Kota Damansara assemblyman Dr Nasir Hashim.

In his speech, Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Roslan Sakiman reminded the councillors about their duties and responsibilities in serving the people and city of PJ, and for all to work together as a team.

“The 'no wrong door policy' needs to be practised in this council,” he said, adding that the combination of professionals, politicians and NGO representatives would make the new councillor line-up a dynamic combination that would generate good ideas for the development of PJ.

Roslan said the council would decide on the 24 areas that each councillor would be in charge of and they would be required to open up a service centre at their respective areas.

They would receive an annual allocation of RM100,000 each to run their service centres and the amount for this year would be pro-rated.

Councillor Ghazali Shaari (PAS) said his main concern was in areas with a high concentration of low-income earners.

“There is a big disparity between the rich and the poor and if this issue is not looked into, it would lead to social problems and is bad for society,” said Ghazali.

Urban planner Dr Melasutra Md Dali said: “ I wish that we can do better in terms of planning and nurturing the environment to make it more liveable.

Meanwhile, Kamarudin Suhaimi (PAS) hopes to see PJ become more civilised and better developed to attract tourists.

“I would like to have the various small hubs and towns in PJ to be identified and given their own unique identities, so people know which part of PJ to go to when they want something.”

Anthony Thanasayan said one of the first things he would do is to request that he be allowed to bring his dog to help him move about within MBPJ’s premise.

“I have submitted my letter of request to the mayor,’’ said Anthony who is a columnist for The Star.

Aid for the disabled: RM500 allowance closer to the mark

NST Online » Letters

2008/07/02

Aid for the disabled: RM500 allowance closer to the mark
By : ANTHONY SIVA BALAN THANASAYAN, President, PetpositiveK, uala Lumpur

IT is most thoughtful and timely of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen to raise the qualifying ceiling for the disabled in order to obtain their monthly workers' allowance so that they can better cope with the rising cost of living.

However, we in the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive) are disappointed that the monthly allowance of RM300 has not been raised to RM500 for each disabled Malaysian as we had suggested in our meeting with the minister.

The reason for our suggestion is that the disabled face a higher cost of living.

They not only have to pay for aids specific to their disabilities -- wheelchairs, crutches, braille material and hearing aids -- but also medication that can run into hundreds of ringgit per month. The RM300 is at present only for those with jobs.

What about those who can't work, such as the paralysed and those who are bedridden? T

The government should make it such that people like these are able to automatically qualify for the same amount of financial aid instead of being considered on a case-by-case basis as appears to be the current policy.

Petpositive once again would like to call for the increase of the disability allowance to RM500 a month for every disabled person, regardless of what kind of handicaps they have and whether they are working or not.

Device puts steering at the tip of the tongue

Monday June 30, 2008

News
Home > News > World Updates

Device puts steering at the tip of the tongue

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new device that uses a tiny magnet can help disabled people steer a wheelchair or operate a computer using only the tip of the tongue, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

The magnet, the size of a grain of rice, lets people direct the movement of a cursor across a computer screen or a powered wheelchair around a room.

It is easily implanted under the tongue, the team at the Georgia Institute of Technology said.

"We chose the tongue to operate the system because unlike hands and feet, which are controlled by the brain through the spinal cord, the tongue is directly connected to the brain by a cranial nerve that generally escapes damage in severe spinal cord injuries or neuromuscular diseases," said Maysam Ghovanloo, an assistant professor who helped direct the work.

"Tongue movements are also fast, accurate and do not require much thinking, concentration or effort."

A headset with magnetic field sensors detects the magnetic tracer on the tongue and transmits wireless signals to a portable computer, which can be carried on the user's clothing or wheelchair.

"This device could revolutionize the field of assistive technologies by helping individuals with severe disabilities, such as those with high-level spinal cord injuries, return to rich, active, independent and productive lives," Ghovanloo said in a statement.

The team reported on their device to a meeting of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America in Washington.

The researchers said the computer could be programmed to recognize a unique set of specific tongue movements for each user.

"An individual could potentially train our system to recognize touching each tooth as a different command," Ghovanloo said.

The researchers tested the Tongue Drive system on 12 able-bodied volunteers and now plan to test it on people with severe disabilities, Ghovanloo said.

OKU kini boleh daftar dengan JPA

Saturday, June 28, 2008

OKU kini boleh daftar dengan JPA

KUALA LUMPUR 27 Jun - Golongan Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) kini boleh mendaftar dengan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) melalui Borang Maklumat Pencarian Kerja OKU untuk memudahkan mereka mendapatkan pekerjaan.

Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat (KPWKM), Datuk Faizah Mohd. Tahir berkata, borang tersebut diwujudkan untuk mengumpul maklumat mengenai golongan OKU yang memerlukan pekerjaan.

''Borang-borang yang kami terima akan disalurkan kepada pihak berkuasa melantik seperti Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam (SPA), Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Pelajaran (SPP) dan Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Negeri (SPN).

''Pihak berkuasa berkaitan akan melantik calon-calon (OKU) yang sesuai bagi memenuhi jawatan kosong dalam agensi kerajaan berdasarkan kelayakan dan kemahiran masing-masing,'' katanya pada sidang akhbar penyerahan borang maklumat pencari kerja OKU di sini hari ini.

Beliau menyerahkan borang-borang berkenaan kepada wakil daripada 31 pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) OKU dalam satu upacara ringkas di kementeriannya.

Menurut Faizah, borang tersebut yang terdapat dalam versi bahasa Melayu akan disediakan juga dalam versi bahasa Cina, Inggeris dan Tamil bagi kemudahan OKU.

Beliau memberitahu, OKU yang berminat boleh mendapatkan borang tersebut secara dalam talian menerusi laman web rasmi KPWKM serta agensi-agensi kerajaan lain atau di jabatan serta institusi bawah kementerian itu di seluruh negara.

Menurut Faizah, jumlah OKU yang berdaftar dengan JKM sehingga Disember tahun lalu adalah seramai 220,250 orang dan daripada jumlah itu hanya 581 orang berkhidmat dengan JPA.

''Sasaran kerajaan untuk mencapai satu peratus OKU yang bekerja dalam perkhidmatan awam masih agak jauh ketinggalan,'' ujarnya.

OKU dibantu dapat kerja sektor awam

Sabtu, 28 Jun 2008

OKU dibantu dapat kerja sektor awam

Oleh Nor Azma Laila

BANTU OKU: Anthony Siva (dua dari kanan) berbincang dengan Sapura Ramdhan (dua kiri) sambil diperhatikan, Siti Nor Baya Ramli dan Gurdip Kaur @ Rina (kiri) pada sidang media dan majlis penyerahan borang pekerjaan untuk orang kurang upaya oleh Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat.

Borang khas maklumat, nilai kelayakan disediakan

KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat mengambil langkah proaktif untuk membantu orang kurang upaya (OKU) memperoleh pekerjaan dalam perkhidmatan awam dengan mewujudkan Borang Maklumat Pencarian Kerja OKU.

Ketua Setiausahanya, Datuk Faizah Mohd Tahir, berkata borang itu adalah untuk mengumpul maklumat OKU bagi memudahkan peluang penempatan pekerjaan oleh agensi kerajaan yang dilantik, antaranya, Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam (SPA).

"Usaha yang juga membabitkan Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Pelajaran (SPP) dan Jabatan Tenaga Kerja (JTK) ini juga selaras dengan Pelaksanaan Dasar Satu Peratus Peluang Pekerjaan Dalam Sektor Awam kepada OKU.

"Dasar yang diwujudkan sejak 1988 itu bertujuan memastikan OKU yang berpotensi dan berkelayakan tidak dipinggirkan dalam mendapat peluang pekerjaan di sektor awam," katanya pada sidang media penyerahan borang berkenaan kepada beberapa persatuan OKU, di sini, semalam.

Hadir sama, Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM), Meme Zainal Rashid dan Ketua Penolong Pengarah, Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA), Yuswan Yunus.

Faizah berkata, melalui maklumat yang diperoleh daripada borang berkenaan, JKM dapat mengenal pasti jumlah OKU yang mempunyai kelayakan dan akan diberi khidmat nasihat mengenai jenis pekerjaan yang sesuai berdasarkan kelayakan serta jenis kecacatan yang dialami.

"Bagaimanapun, tindakan untuk menempatkan OKU mengikut kelayakan dan jenis pekerjaan yang diminati bergantung kepada SPA dan kekosongan di sesebuah organisasi. "

Kita di JKM cuma membantu memudahkan urusan OKU untuk memohon pekerjaan selain memberi cadangan supaya mempertimbangkan permohonan mereka," katanya.

Beliau berkata, berdasarkan rekod SPA, pembabitan OKU secara keseluruhan dalam perkhidmatan awam sehingga April 2008 hanya 0.22 peratus atau 581 OKU selain 1.77 peratus atau 92 OKU daripada 5,179 orang yang berkhidmat di JKM.

Beliau berkata, bilangan kakitangan OKU di JKM sudah melebihi peratus yang ditetapkan dan pihaknya kini mensasarkan peratusan itu dalam perkhidmatan awam lain dalam tempoh terdekat.

Katanya, borang itu yang antara lain memerlukan OKU mengisi maklumat peribadi, kelayakan akademik dan pengalaman kerja boleh didapati pada laman web kementerian dan agensi berkaitan seperti JKM, Jabatan Pembangunan Wanita, Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara (LPPKN).

"OKU juga boleh mendapatkan borang berkenaan di pejabat JKM negeri dan daerah, LPPKN negeri, klinik LPPKN dan di suruhanjaya terbabit iaitu di SPA, SPP, JPA, dan JTK," katanya.

Sementara itu, Presiden Persatuan Bantuan Haiwan untuk Warga Kurang Upaya dan Warga Tua, Anthony Siva Balan Thanasayan, berkata usaha itu adalah langkah baik untuk membantu OKU mendapatkan pekerjaan terutama dalam sektor awam

Selayang Municipal Councillors 2008

Your Council

Gurdip Kaur elected into Selayang council

Thursday June 26, 2008

Gurdip Kaur elected into Selayang council
By STUART MICHAEL

INDEPENDENT Living and Training Centre (ILTC) secretary Gurdip Kaur Pritam Singh, who has been fighting for the rights of the disabled for the last 10 years, has been included as one of the 24 councillors in Selayang Municipal Council (MPS).

Gurdip, 47, said she was surprised that the state government hadappointed a disabled person as a councillor.

“I have always wanted to be a councillor someday to help the disabled community. Now, it's turning into a reality.

“I will make a promise to all the disabled people that I will help tackle problems like transport, toilet facilities and recreational areas. .

“In Rawang for example, motorists have always parked in disabled parking lots and I want this to stop . What the previous councillors did not fulfil, I will promise to bring it up in the council meetings,'' she said.

The others appointed under the non-political quota are Tan Kian Boo of Lembaga Arkitek Mia corporate member, Tan Hui Chuan (Rawang High No High Tension Cable committee), Associate Professor Dr Husin Mohd Dini (Dean of the Faculty of Architecture & Built Environment), Lim Jit Lee and Datuk Abdul Rashid Omar, a former Public Works Department director.

Most of the political appointees were made up of party workers of the Pakatan Rakyat’s coalition parties.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has the highest number of representation with nine followed with five from PAS and three from DAP.

MPS president Zainal Abidin Azim said that the councillors have a week to reply before the swearing-in ceremony.

“In fact, most of them have replied and the swearing in process and full board meeting will be held in the second week of July.

We are following the directive from the state and like previously offering the councillorship for two year term,'' he said

Qualifying ceiling for disabled folk raised to RM1,200

Thursday June 26, 2008

The Star - News - Nation

Qualifying ceiling for disabled folk raised to RM1,200

KUALA LUMPUR: More disabled people will qualify for RM300 monthly allowance from the Government from this month with the qualifying ceiling raised to RM1,200.

Prior to this, only those earning RM750 a month and below were entitled to the allowance (elaun pekerja cacat or EPC).

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said raising the ceiling would encourage employers to raise the salary for the disabled.

“The increase in the EPC will help the disabled to cope with the rising cost of living,” she added.

Effective this month too, she said, those under the poor household category would get RM700 a month as welfare aid from the Government, compared to RM400 before.

Dr Ng said major structural changes to the ceiling for eligibility has also resulted in another 177,000 households becoming eligible for the aid. Prior to this only 54,000 households were eligible.

The increase in the number of households and the amount in aid would cost the Government over a billion ringgit more, she said.

Dr Ng said the process for applying for the aid would also be reduced from three stages to one stage; meaning that only approval from the district level welfare office was needed.

“In the past, applicants had to go through three levels; district, state and federal level (ministry) before approval was granted,”

Dr Ng said the increase was timely in the wake of the rising cost of living.
She said households would get the payment by the 10th of every month from now onwards.

“Any delay will cause hardship as poor families need the money to buy food,” she said.

Plans for poor and disabled proposed for Budget 2009

Saturday June 21, 2008

The Star - News

Plans for poor and disabled proposed for Budget 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Extend the entitlement of social welfare to those earning RM700 and below and exempt owners of imported disabled-friendly cars from road tax.

These are two proposals to be included in Budget 2009 to widen the social safety net which the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is looking at in response to the increase in fuel prices.

Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said currently only those earning RM400 and below a month or 54,000 families received financial aid from the Welfare Department.

“We are now studying the financial implication of raising the ceiling to cover those who earn RM700 and below as it will involve 240,000 families,” she told a press conference here after visiting some fire victims off Jalan Chan Sow Lin here yesterday.

She said it was the Government’s responsibility to ensure that the poor were not caught in the global inflation.

Dr Ng said the ministry would also propose to the Finance Ministry to give road tax exemption to owners of imported cars equipped with features of the disabled.

Disabled want road tax lifted

NST Online

Local News 2008/06/21

Disabled want road tax lifted

KUALA LUMPUR: Road tax for imported cars with special features for the disabled may be abolished.

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has made a proposal to the Finance Ministry to abolish the road tax in Budget 2009.

At present, only local cars used by the disabled are exempted from road tax.

"In our dialogues with the disabled community, it was suggested that imported cars specially equipped to meet the needs of the disabled should be exempted from road tax," said minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

"The disabled community also proposed that import duties for the hydraulic equipment to lift wheelchairs in and out of the vehicles be waived."

On another matter, Dr Ng said that the Public Service Department application forms for the disabled to apply for government jobs were ready.

They will be distributed next week to associations representing the disabled community.

The government announced last month that it would hire 10,200 disabled people, a figure representing one per cent of the 1.2 million-strong civil service workforce.

Earlier, Ng presented aid to two families whose houses were destroyed in a fire in Jalan Tiga, off Jalan Chan Sow Lin, last Friday.

Welder Lee Kim Yew, 47, his wife Chow Poh Yin, 45, and their three children received a total of RM850 while security guard Jasmi Aziz, 41, and his wife received a total of RM420.

சிலாங்கூர் ஊராட்சி மன்ற கவுன்சிலர்கள்

Friday, June 20, 2008

Malaysiakini

சிலாங்கூர் ஊராட்சி மன்ற கவுன்சிலர்கள்
(செய்தி)

சிலாங்கூர் ஊராட்சி மன்ற கவுன்சிலர்களின் பட்டியல் முடிவு செய்யப்பட்டிருப்பதாக மந்திரி புசார் காலிட் இப்ராகிம் இன்று அறிவித்தார்.
மொத்தம் 288 பேர் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டிருப்பதாக கூறிய அவர் அவர்களின் பெயர்களைத் தெரிவிக்க மறுத்து விட்டார்.

அவர்களின் பெயர்களை அந்தந்த ஊராட்சி மன்றங்கள்தாம் அறிவிக்கும் என்று இன்று பிற்பகல் அவரது அலுவலகத்தில் நடைபெற்ற செய்தியாளர் கூட்டத்தில் காலிட் கூறினார்.

சிலாங்கூரில் 12 ஊராட்சி மன்றங்கள் இருக்கின்றன.

அந்தப் பட்டியலில் 25 விழுக்காட்டினர் நிபுணர்கள், சமுக ஆர்வலர்கள், கல்விமான்கள் மற்றும் அரசுசாரா அமைப்புகளைச் சேர்ந்தவர்கள், .

எஞ்சிய 75 விழுக்காட்டினர் பக்காத்தான் ரக்யாட் பங்காளிக் கட்சிகளின் உறுப்பினர்கள்.

அதிலும் கெஅடிலான் உறுப்பினர்கள் அதிகம் இடம்பெற்றிருப்பார்கள் என்று மாநில ஆட்சிக்குழு உறுப்பினர் ரோனி லியு கூறினார்.

உடற்குறை உள்ளவர்களும் அப்பட்டியலில் இடம்பெற்றிருப்பதாக காலிட் தெரிவித்தார்.

“இந்தப் பட்டியலைப் பார்த்தால், இதில் நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்களோ சட்டமன்ற உறுப்பினர்களோ இடம்பெறவில்லை என்பதைக் காண்பீர்கள்.

முன்பு (பாரிசான் ஆட்சியில்) இதற்கு நேர்மாறாக இருந்தது”, என்று காலிட் கூறினார்.

49 women among 288 councillors

Friday June 20, 2008




49 women among 288 councillors
By WANI MUTHIAH and

FORTY-NINE women have been selected to serve as councillors in the 12 local councils in Selangor.

They constitute 17% of the total 288 councillors picked by the Selangor state executive council.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim announced this at a press conference in Shah Alam yesterday.

Khalid said 25% of those chosen were professionals, officials of non-governmental organisations and representatives of the disabled community.

The three component parties – PKR, DAP and PAS – of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition state government have been allotted 75% of the councillor posts.

On the selection process, Khalid said the minimum academic qualification set for the new councillors was at least a college diploma.

Khalid, however, would not reveal the names of the selected candidates, saying that the respective local council chiefs would announce them once the candidates had signed their letters of acceptance to serve as councillors.

“No names will be revealed at this time as we want those who have been chosen from the 900-odd applications to submit their acceptance letters,” he said.

It is believed that Khalid decided on having the confirmation letters from the candidates before announcing their names because among these selected are members of the Barisan Nasional component parties who may snub the appointment.

According to Khalid, certain professionals such as architects, engineers and real estate practitioners, who were not appointed councillors, would be invited to serve as advisers and allowed to sit in during meetings of the sub-committee or even the full-board meetings.

He said these professionals would attend the meetings as observers with no right to vote on any matter.

“All the councillors would serve a three-year term. For the first year, each would be monitored according to the zones in the respective districts. On completion of the first year we would evaluate their performance,” he said.

Khalid said none of the Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives, whether MPs or state assemblymen, had been selected as local councillors.

He said this was perhaps the main departure from the practice of the previous Barisan Nasional state administration that appointed its elected representatives as local councillors.

“We do not want any conflict of interest but a focused idea of serving and improving the neighbourhoods for the people,” he said.

State local government, research and study committee chairman Ronnie Liu said the new councillors would be given a three-day training at Morib to equip them with the knowledge of the local council laws.

“Except for the Orang Besar Daerah who represent the Selangor Palace in the local councils, most of those selected are first-time councillors,” he said.

Friday June 20, 2008

Disabled rep among 24 new city councillors in MBPJ
By DEBBIE CHAN and TAN KARR WEI

THE Petaling Jaya City Council will have, for the first time, representation from the disabled community on its board of councillors.

Animal Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association president Anthony Thanasayan is one of the 24 newly chosen councillors for the MBPJ.

Anthony has been fighting for the rights of the disabled community for years and his selection as a city councillor will definitely enhance the cause of the disabled in PJ.

“If it is true that I made it to the list, it's fantastic. We have always asked to be included in the decision-making process,” he said.

“We strongly believe in the motto 'Nothing about us without us'. We must be there to make the decisions,” the wheelchair-bound Anthony said.

Among the changes the plucky crusader would like to see are designated car parks for the disabled.

The list of new councillors includes some prominent names from the non-governmental organisations.

Two such persons are Suara Rakyat Malaysia executive director Cynthia Gabriel and Transparency International executive director Richard Yeoh.

Environment activist and lawyer Derek Fernandez, who has been making newspaper headlines for being vocal on various community issues, is also on the list.

The representation from community and NGOs is part of the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government’s move to include members of the public in the decision-making process and to tap their views and expertise for the benefit of the community.

The rest of the names on the list are members of the three Pakatan Rakyat coalition partners – PKR, DAP and PAS.

However, none of the coalition’s elected representatives, whether MPs or state assemblymen, had been appointed as councillors.

This is a change from the previous Barisan Nasional state government where most of the elected representatives are appointed as councillors.

Among the people named on the list is former StarMetro reporter Mak Khuin Weng.

“There are some issues I would like to look into, like condominiums and privatisation of contracts.

These are the things that I've been following up as a reporter,” Mak said.

He looks forward to working with the other councillors to help resolve issues affecting PJ while striving for transparency and accountability.

As a reporter, Mak has met many PJ residents and worked with former MBPJ councillors.

“I would be able to draw from their experience. I look forward to working with the other councillors,” he said.

NEW COUNCILLORS FOR PETALING JAYA

1. Mohd Halil Haji Harun – Petaling Jaya Utara PKR deputy chief
2. Syed Abdul Malik Syed A Hamid Al Jafree – Subang PKR deputy chief
3. Thiruvenggadam Aamuthu – Petaling Jaya Selatan PKR deputy chief
4. Halimey Abu Bakar – Kelana Jaya PKR Youth chief
5. Mahharul Ismail – Petaling Jaya Selatan PKR Secretary
6. Latheefa Koya – Petaling Jaya Selatan PKR treasurer
7. Tang Fuie Koh – Petaling Jaya Utara PKR treasurer
8. Dr Melasutra Md Dali – Urban planner
9. Michael Soon Kwai Choy – DAP
10. Mak Khuin Weng – DAP
11. Robert Tan Siang Chok – DAP
12. Tiew Way Keng – DAP
13. Francis Chang – DAP
14. Ahmad Yusof Ludis – PAS
15. Ghazali Shaari – PAS
16. Kamarudin Suhaimi – PAS
17. Muzammil Hafiz – PAS
18. Chan Chee Keong – Social activist
19. Richard Yeoh – Transparency International executive director
20. Anthony Thanasayan – Representative of the disabled community
21. Cynthia Gabriel – Suaram executive director
22. Derek Fernandez – Environment activist and lawyer
*23. Ramakrishnan Suppiah
*24. Paneer Sivam
* The last two names are yet to be confirmed.

The Star - Metro

Central

Tuesday June 17, 2008

Final background checks being done on councillors
By JADE CHAN

THE new local council line-up in Selangor will see PKR having the majority in terms of party representation.

Sources said PKR members would make up the majority of councillors in 10 out of the 12 local councils.

The party representation in the Selangor councillors line-up would be as follows: PKR 28.5% (82 councillors), DAP 26.4% (76 councillors) and PAS 17.0% (49 councillors), while the remaining 28.1% (81 councillors) would comprise representatives from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), residents’ associations and professional groups.

The breakdown list, made available to StarMetro, showed the Petaling Jaya City Council, Subang Jaya Municpal Council and Ampang Jaya Municipal Council having the largest representation of non-political councillors.

Out of the 288 councillors, five would comprise those from the disabled group (orang kurang upaya or OKU).

The party representatives encompass senior division committee members who have strong leadership qualities as well as adequate experience and qualifications while those from NGO and professional groups comprise those who specialise in fields like urban planning, law, health and environment.

“None of the wakil rakyat’s assistants are on the councillors list. Nominated party members also cannot be involved in the construction business to avoid conflicts of interest,” a source said.

“On PKR’s side, we try to emphasise that each council has at least one Chinese and one Indian representative to reflect a multi-racial line-up.”

The source added that all the councillors’ performances would be reviewed after a year and those who had not performed would be replaced.

One of the reasons for the delay in announcing the new councillors line-up, the source said, was the early resignation of the previous batch of councillors.

“It was irresponsible of the Barisan Nasional side to have their councillors resign. The previous councillors should have completed their contracts and left once the new councillors were sworn in.”

Sources said final background checks are being conducted on the candidates and that the new line-up would be announced at the end of this week , during a celebration to mark the 100 days of the Pakatan Rakyat coming into power in Selangor.

It was also revealed that the mayors and presidents heading the present local councils would be retained, unless they resign, are unable to perform their jobs or if their contracts expired

Extra RM300 allowance for disabled workers

NST Online » Local News

2008/06/17

Extra RM300 allowance for disabled workers
By : Kristina George

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen meeting recipients of the excellence awards.

BANGI: The government yesterday announced an increase of RM300 in the monthly allowance for disabled workers. Currently, they receive RM750 a month.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said the move was aimed at motivating these workers further and helping them to be independent.

At a press conference after an excellence awards ceremony for agencies under her ministry, Ng said the move would further propel the disabled towards a "productive welfare era".

To deal with the rising inflation, the ministry has also proposed to increase the minimum household income for the hardcore poor from RM400 to RM700.

She hoped that more disabled people and the hardcore poor would register themselves with the Malaysian Community Welfare Department (MCWD).

Only those who are registered would be entitled to the benefits.

Presently, only 220,000 disabled and hardcore poor people have registered with the MCWD.

Ng disclosed that the government paid RM150 million last year to 150,000 people who were either disabled or hardcore poor and had registered with MCWD.

"They should register with the ministry if they do not want to miss out on the various benefits."

Ng presented excellence awards to 435 civil servants in recognition of their contributions.

The ministry's policy division assistant secretary S. Sharon Kumari, a recipient of the award, said she felt gratified in providing service to the public and helping to make a difference.

New breed of local councillors emerging

Saturday June 14, 2008

The Star - Metro

New breed of local councillors emerging
Valley ViewBy GEETHA KRISHNAN

THE current changed political scenario, especially in Selangor, has brought about a sort of grassroots political awakening involving a new perception and a holistic perspective on the role and scope of the local councils and councillors.

The Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171) Section 10 (2) states that “councillors of the local authority shall be appointed from among persons the majority of whom shall be persons ordinarily residents in the local authority area who in the opinion of the state authority have wide experience in local government affairs or who have achieved distinction in any profession, commerce or industry, or are otherwise capable of representing the interests of their communities in the local authority area”.

Section 10 (1) states that “the local authority shall consist of the mayor or president and not less than eight and not more than 24 other councillors to be appointed by the state authority”.

Section (3) stipulates that the term of office of each councillor shall not exceed three years while Section (6) states that a councillor shall be eligible for reappointment upon the expiry of his term of office.

Under previous state governments, it was a tradition of sorts for state assemblymen to be appointed as councillors.

“This was based on the understanding that assemblymen worked closely with local authorities in handling community issues and as such, maintained a better line of communication in dealings,” said a former assemblyman and councillor.

From a wider scope of things, their positions as councillors were clearly viewed as political appointments.

In the 1950s and 1960s, councillors were elected through local council elections but this came to what was supposed to be a temporary halt in 1963 due to the Indonesian Confrontation (Konfrantasi) against the formation of Malaysia.

Local council elections were eventually abolished in 1965 with an amendment to Section 15 of the Local Government Act.

Following the outcome of the 12th general election on March 8 this year, when the Barisan Nasional lost control of four states and failed to unseat the PAS state government in Kelantan, there have been calls to amend the Local Government Act to bring back local council elections.

In Selangor, the new Pakatan Rakyat state government has declared that elected
representatives would not be appointed local councillors in the two city councils (Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya) and 12 municipal councils in the state.

The Selangor state executive council, meanwhile, is going through a list of public nominees for councillors comprising professionals and representatives from the NGOs.

Under Section 28 of the Local Government Act, each local authority may, from time to time, appoint committees, either of a general or special nature, consisting of a chairman, councillors and such other persons as it may deem fit.

The new batch of councillors for the two city councils and 12 local councils in Selangor are also expected to sit in the relevant committees, rendering their expertise in areas like licensing, building, infrastructure and finance.

Each of the councillors of the previous administration used to serve in at least two to four committees.

Their selection to the committees is based on recommendations made by the state leaders of their respective political parties.

Section 28 also states that councillors shall be paid allowances determined by the local authority.

Contrary to general public perception, councillors are paid only a miserable monthly allowances ranging from RM500 to RM650. Not something to shout about!

An additional of RM50 or RM100 is paid for each attendance at the monthly full council meetings or a committee meeting.

According to a former councillor, each councillor was given an annual grant of RM10,000 to spend on projects in his or her area.

“But the amount was hardly sufficient for big projects.

“We usually organised gotong royong, talks and small community events and even had to fork out our own money for these events,” he said.

In the awarding of contracts, Section 34 (1) of the Local Government Act clearly states that any councillor with a pecuniary interest, whether direct or indirect, in any contract or proposed contract should withdraw from the meeting where the matter is under consideration.

There have been allegations from the public that the previous elected representatives strongly influenced decisions on the awarding of contracts in Selangor.

The present Pakatan Rakyat state government has recently announced that assemblymen and politically-appointed local councillors would no longer be allowed to sit on tender boards.

All that remains now is to keep our fingers crossed as the list is finalised and hope that better days are ahead for Selangor.

Selangor MB heads committee to select local councillors

Saturday June 14, 2008

The Star - Metro

Selangor MB heads committee to select local councillors

By ELAN PERUMAL

A SPECIAL high-profile committee headed by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has been formed to vet a list of 288 names nominated for local councillors of the 12 municipal and two city councils in the state.

The committee members include three state executive councillors – Ronnie Liu (local government and research), Datuk Hassan Mohamed Ali (Islamic affairs, Malay customs, infrastructure and public amenities) and Yaakob Sapari (agriculture, natural resources and entrepreneurial development).

“The committee is looking through the names of all those nominated to ensure that they are appointed on merit and not due to cronyism and nepotism,” Khalid said.

“There have been rumours and allegations that we are appointing our friends to the local councils and this committee is tasked with ensuring that such a scenario is not happening,” he said.

According to Khalid, the appointment of the councillors, especially those under the NGO quota, would be based only on merit and not on favouritism.

He said the committee would study carefully all individuals proposed so that only those suitable were appointed.

Khalid said the names of those recommended by the committee and endorsed by the state executive council would be announced by June 20.

Khalid said the Pakatan Rakyat state government would appoint only those who were qualified and able to perform.

He said the people expected a lot from the local councillors and those appointed should be able to perform with excellence and transparency.

“We know it used to be very rewarding under the previous state government to be appointed as local councillors in the various municipalities and city councils,” he said.

“But I can assure you that from now on, the job of a local councillor would not be a glamorous one with a lot of perks, financial gains and benefits,” he said.

Khalid said that those appointed councillors would be required to serve with dedication and sincerity.

Liu said he endorsed the mentri besar’s decision and felt that the vetting committee would enhance the merit of being appointed a local councillor.

“It is good for the government and the people,” he said.

PETPOSITIVE AT THE WOMEN, FAMILY & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

PETPOSITIVE AT THE WOMEN, FAMILY & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY

PETPOSITIVE received a last-minute telephone call and fax from the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development in Kuala Lumpur requesting for us to be present at a meeting at 4.30pm in the building with the Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

The call was made on Monday at noon. I immediately made a call to Francis Siva, President of the Independent Living and Training Centre in Rawang, Selangor and the next thing I knew, we were all at the Ministry by 3.30pm.

Petpositive was also represented by Stanislaus Anthony who is a person with walking difficulties. The meeting was held to discuss what special measures in terms of finance was needed for the disabled community in the light of the price hikes that the Government introduced last week.

Representatives of nearly a dozen disabled organisations - together with ours - were also present as we deliberated for two-and-the-half-hours with the Ministry, as well as the Welfare Department about our needs.

The disabled unanimously suggested that a financial aid of RM500 a month be given to all disabled persons - whether they have cars or not.
He also suggested that the same help be given to our family caregivers.

There were other suggestions too. Some suggested that the current excise duty for the purchase of cars for the disabled be done away with.
Others wanted significant cuts in Internet bills so that all disabled persons can afford them.Dr Ng Yen Yen was quick to concur by saying that the Internet was a "necessity" for the handicapped.

Dr Ng also invited the disabled to give their frank feedback regarding the services they receive from her Ministry as well as that of the Welfare.

She promised that quick action will be taken to our requests.The meeting ended with the Minister requesting all the participants to send in their final proposals within the week.

She will then take our requests to the Ministry of Finance, she said, and lobby for our cause.
Well, let's keep our fingers crossed everybody, that something good and helpful will come out of the meeting to help us all.One of the things that I was personally disappointed was that no date or follow up meeting was decided on when we left the building.

Let's hope that we will all be called again to the Ministry so that we can effectively tackle many of the other issues that plague the disabled in our Malaysian society.The meeting was attended by the physically handicapped, the blind, Deaf and a parent or two of the disabled.

PETPOSITIVE was quick to point out that the group present only represented a small section of the disabled.

Others like persons with Parkinson's disease, stroke sufferers, diabetics who became disabled were not present and that all of these persons and more need to be sought to help improve their quality of lives as well.

Yen Yen: Disabled need help in facing price hikes

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

News
Home > News > Nation

Yen Yen: Disabled need help in facing price hikes

KUALA LUMPUR: The disabled need help in facing the challenges and difficulties of global inflation, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

The ministry, at its dialogue yesterday with various organisations representing the disabled, touched on several issues which could affect their lives as a result of the recent price hikes of goods and materials.

Dr Ng said the majority of the disabled did not earn much.

“The global inflation will definitely affect them.

One for the album: Dr Ng (centre, in white) taking a group photo with Wanita MCA members (seated from left) Chew Poh Thoi, Datuk Chang Yok Ying, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun and Yayasan Nanyang Press executive director Ann Woo. At back row (from left) are Carol Chew, Datuk Kian Sit Har, Sarryan Cho of Yayasan Nanyang Press and Chew Lee Geok.

In fact, 98% of these people earn less than RM3,000 a month,” she said after receiving 500 tickets for Disney's Beauty and the Beast – The Broadway Musical, courtesy of show organiser Yvents!

The tickets will be distributed to various homes under the ministry's purview.

Among the issues highlighted at the dialogue were for a reduction in excise duty and no road tax for all cars owned by the disabled.

At present, road tax is free for all national cars owned by the disabled.

“We are getting input from these organisations on how we (Government) can work together to help reduce the challenges faced,” she said.

Other issues include enhancement of the transport system as well as reduction in toll rates.

“There is a need to work out how we can give them a definite support system,” Dr Ng said, adding that at present families who were looking after a handicapped or chronically-ill person were given RM300 per family.

“The organisations have asked for an increase in the amount,” she said.

Dr Ng said her ministry would study the input provided before submitting a proposal to the Finance Ministry.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast – The Broadway Musical will be held from June 24 to July 3 at the Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

For booking details, contact Ticketcharge at 03-2241 9999 or Yvents! at 03-2287 2811.

The Star is the official newspaper for the musical.

All New Policies To Be Streamlined - Dr Ng

General

June 03, 2008 17:40 PM

All New Policies To Be Streamlined - Dr Ng

SANDAKAN, June 3 (Bernama) -- The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will streamline all the new policies introduced and these will also be implemented in Sabah and Sarawak.

Its minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said this was to ensure that all the target groups in every corner of the country could benefit from the implementation of the policies.

"The streamlining of the policies is in line with the ministry's effort to transform its welfare programmes throughout the country that will involve upgrading of services," she told reporters after visiting a care centre for disabled children here Tuesday.

She said the working papers on the matter were ready and would be tabled before the cabinet soon.

"Among the policies to be streamlined is on the aid scheme for the disabled, senior citizens and single mothers.

"For example, the allowance for caring for family members with chronic illness or who are disabled only covers Peninsular Malaysia currently. "

So too is the assistance scheme for single mothers and their children where the amount given by the federal government and the state governments is not the same," she added.

In another development, Dr Ng said a review was needed on placing of the disabled, senior citizens and mental patients in the care centres to ensure that they were housed at the right institutions with suitable facilities and staff to care for them.

"This is because some of the disabled and senior citizens at the welfare homes or care centres have mental problems and suffer from other diseases as well. "

The old folk's homes and care centres for the disabled are only meant for these groups of people and not for those with mental disease," she explained.

Dr Ng said she had informed the Health Ministry about the matter and would hold further discussions on it. -- BERNAMA

Empowering the disabled

Thursday June 5, 2008

The Star Two - Wheel Power

Empowering the disabled
Wheel PowerBy ANTHONY THANASAYAN

The wheelchair-bound learn the art of self-defence.

ABOUT 50 disabled persons took part in a most unusual workshop in Kuala Lumpur a fortnight ago. The majority of the participants – in wheelchairs and some with artificial limbs – who turned up at the Commonwealth Hall in Bukit Jalil where the event was held began their first session by punching each other and learning to fall off their wheelchairs.

“It was one of the wildest moments that I had ever experienced,” said a gleeful Gurdip Kaur – better known as Rina – to Wheel Power last week.

“When our members enrolled to participate in the self-defence workshop, we had no idea how it was going to be conducted,” confessed Rina, from the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) in Rawang, Selangor.

“Although the four-day workshop sessions from May 20 to 23 left us with aching bodies in the end, it was all worth it,” she said, beaming from ear to ear.

Rina, who also serves as the secretary for the ILTC, added that what made the workshop even more interesting was the fact that it was conducted by a woman in a wheelchair herself.

The person in question was Lydia La Riviere Zijdel. She is an educational trainer on violence against disabled people from the Netherlands.

According to Rina, the Dutch expert became a paraplegic after she met with a car accident in 1982. She also uses a hearing aid owing to a chronic infection that she has.

Nearing 60 years of age, Lydia has black belts in three self-defence arts: Aikido, Karate and Shuri-Ryu.

The eight-hour workshop that started at 10am was organised by the National Sports Council of Malaysia.

Even though it was specifically a self-defence workshop for girls and women with disabilities, handicapped men were also among the participants.

The sessions began with participants forming a circle. Each was asked to introduce themselves.
According to Rina, some were shy and did not say much because of the language barrier.

Fortunately, Lydia had a Bahasa Malaysia translator on hand.

“We were first asked to box one another gently,” said Rina, who has been using a wheelchair for 15 years following a fall from a two-storey building.

“Then we were asked to shout out as we executed each physical action that we had been taught,” Rina went on.

The disabled participants were showed how they could effectively break out of a position if they were attacked from behind with an elbow lock to their neck.

“We were taught how to put our arms around our attacker’s neck. Doing so will inevitably cause us to be separated from our wheelchairs.

“However, we were instructed to hold on tight to our assailant and then deal a sharp blow with our elbows to his chest.

“This will at once release his grip on us,” Rina explained.

The participants were also given numerous demonstrations on a variety of other “attack” actions and how to counter them in their wheelchairs.

One of them was how to break the steely grip of someone grabbing their wrists.

Pillows were brought in to encourage disabled persons to use their fists to protect themselves.

When they were not fighting, they were separated into smaller groups to solve problems through simulated sessions.

One of the sessions was what to do if your car breaks down on a lonely road. (A good answer is to prevent such a thing from happening in the first place by always ensuring that their vehicles are properly maintained.)

Other situations include how to make complaints effectively, for example, if a supermarket tried to make disabled patrons enter through the back instead of using the front entrance.

“All in all, the entire workshop was not only absorbing all the way but also extremely empowering for disabled persons,” said Rina.

“The lack of disabled-friendly facilities and support systems in our society make us vulnerable, especially as women with handicaps.

“Even the building where the workshop was conducted had a four-inch step to the toilet which made things unnecessarily difficult for us,” she added.

“Some of the volunteers who were available were also not properly trained in handling wheelchairs, which was frustrating.”

However, Rina said that the the workshop was good in that disabled people had the chance to meet others like themselves and that each participant was given a daily allowance of RM70 per day during the workshop.

“With public transportation still not conducive for disabled Malaysians, this helped a lot by at least making it possible for them to attend the event,” she concluded.

According to Rina, Lydia will be back in November to conduct more sessions.

For further information, contact the ILTC (03-6093 6292) or e-mail iltcmalaysia@gmail.com

Petrol Price Hike: Killer Tsunami For The Disabled - Malaysiakini

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Malaysiakini

Petrol Price Hike: Killer Tsunami For The Disabled - Malaysiakini

The drastic 40 percent rise in petrol price and 64 percent increase in diesel price, effective midnight, is seen as a “killer tsunami” and a “catastrophe”.

MCPXMotorists and motorcyclists will pay RM2.70 and RM2.58 for a litre of petrol and diesel respectively.Social activists, political analysts and consumer groups have their say.

Anthony Thanasayan, coordinator, Malaysians Against Discrimination of the Disabled

This is a terrible tsunami for the disabled. We have suffered enough from several fuel hikes before this. The disabled are forgotten by the government. The last fuel hike saw assistance to some groups but the disabled were forgotten.

We can only be independent if we are able to leave our house. How are we supposed to be independent if the fuel price keeps going up? Some of us have managed to get our own cars, and that’s a great. But increasing the fuel price will result in the cars becoming white elephants.

Previous hikes may be tsunamis but this one is a killer. The government will have compensate us immediately. I suggest a rebate of about RM500 for each disabled person. (Former premier) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) was a little more considerate.

A few years ago, he waived road tax for the disabled. (Prime Minister) Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi) has to understand the disadvantages that the disabled face.

Human rights activist Zaiton dies

Thursday June 5, 2008

Human rights activist Zaiton dies

SHAH ALAM: Human and women’s rights activist Zaiton Kasim (pic) passed away at 5am yesterday, after months of battling cancer. She was 41.

Zaiton, affectionately known as Toni, died in her sleep at her sister’s home in Batu Tiga, Shah Alam.

She was laid to rest at 1pm at the Batu Tiga Muslim cemetery.

Her peers described her as “witty, passionate, a wonderfully caring person, one who had an infectious smile and a great sense of humour, a defender of human rights, and one whose heart and soul was in her advocacy”.

Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (Arrow) director Saira Shameem said she was “multi-diverse and a very strong lady”.

“She was involved in so many things – film, TV, drama, human rights advocacy, women’s rights, Islam, AIDS and so many other issues.

“Toni was the kind of person who never said no to any challenge, especially if it was about helping others,” she said.

Among the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Zaiton was involved in was Sisters-in-Islam (SIS), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), Joint Action Committee (JAC), Arrow and Women’s Candidacy Initiative (WCI), where she became the first independent woman candidate to run in the 1999 general election.

“She contested for the Selayang seat. She didn’t win, but she reduced the majority-vote by 30,000.

“She was planning to run again in the recent general election, but she was already ill then,” Saira said.

Zaiton was diagnosed with fourth-stage duodenal cancer in February, and underwent chemotherapy once. She also practised reiki as an alternative treatment.

Women’s Aid Organisation president Meera Samanther said the best thing about Zaiton was her ability to relate and reach out to the “everyday folks”.

“She had that knack and ability that not many people have,” she said.

SIS programme manager Norhayati Kaprawi said Zaiton’s passing was “a great loss to all of us”.

“Advocacy was her life,” she added.

Another burden for us, say the disabled

Thursday June 5, 2008

The Star - News

Another burden for us, say the disabled

PETALING JAYA: The disabled are unhappy with the fuel price increase because many of them, especially those who are wheelchair-bound, are also drivers and it is inconvenient for them to take public transport.

“The disabled, who are weighed down with expensive medical bills, will be further burdened with the increase in the price of petrol,” said Anthony Thanasayan, president of the Malaysian Animal Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association.

Some of the disabled pay RM300 a month in medical bills and a good wheelchair costs about RM5,000, he added.

He said the disabled spent a large portion of their income on petrol, adding that the association had repeatedly asked the Government for a RM500 monthly allowance for each disabled individual, but had yet to receive a positive answer.

“Now is as good a time as any for the Government to grant us this monthly allowance, considering the significant rise in the petrol price,” he said.

Three months on, Selangor councillors list still not finalised

Tuesday June 3, 2008

Three months on, Selangor councillors list still not finalised

THE Selangor government’s delay in finalising the list of councillors for the 12 local authorities in the state is causing unnecessary problems.

It has been almost three months since the general election yet the new list of 288 councillors for Selangor has yet to be finalised. StarMetro has learnt that all local authorities in Selangor were supposed to have conducted swearing-in ceremonies yesterday, but at the last minute, the state government called it off.

This is ridiculous. The councillors should have been sworn in at the end of April or May at the latest. We do not understand why the state government is delaying the announcement,” an officer in the Shah Alam City Council said on condition of anonymity.

Because of the delay, none of the local councils have held the monthly full board meetings, which are crucial for the day-to-day administration of the municipalities and city councils, the officer said, adding that even the standard committee meetings that require councillors, like finance, planning and infrastructure were not being held.

According to a state government official, the delay in the appointment of the councillors is due to the difficulty in coming to a mutual agreement on the allocation of seats between the Pakatan Rakyat members namely PKR, DAP and PAS.

“The appointment for those from the NGO and professional groups is straight-forward but for those from the political parties, it is quite problematic as three parties are still haggling on the number of councillors posts” the official said.

Among those who would be appointed as councillors are lawyers, NGO leaders, doctors, academics, journalists and retired government officials.

The official said lawyer Derek Fernandez, Malaysians Against the Discrimination of the Disabled coordinator Anthony Thanasayan and Independent Living and Training Centre secretary Gurdip Kaur are among those tipped to be appointed as local councillors.

“We need a diverse group of professionals and experts to lend their expertise to serve a society which demands not only prompt service from the local governments but also transparency and accountability for the use of ratepayers’ money,” the official said.

The list would also include ex-policemen, former magistrates and retired Anti-Corruption Agency officers.

The ratio of women serving in the councils would also be higher to reflect the Pakatan Rakyat government’s commitment to ensure women have an adequate say at the grassroots level.

Though the final list for the 288 local councillors to serve the 12 local authorities in Selangor is ready, last-minute lobbying, especially from politicians, has forced Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to delay the announcement.

More than 1,000 applications were received two months ago by the Selangor government to fill the posts.

SS2 Residents Association president Lim Theng Kau said the delay did not affect him but he was looking forward to the announcement.

Resident Jack Nadarajah said the new state government seemed to be taking a long time to announce the list of councillors.

“Though it is important to appoint the best, the state government should not delay naming the councillors as it may affect the overall running of the councils, “ said Nadarajah

Malaysiakini: A BIG BOUQUET TO SULTAN OF SELANGOR

Monday, June 02, 2008

Malaysiakini: A BIG BOUQUET TO SULTAN OF SELANGOR

Today's Malaysiakini Letter:

The Malaysian Animal-assisted Therapy for the Disabled and the Elderly Association (PetPositive) would like to applaud the Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah from the bottom of our hearts for his most timely call to make our public gardens friendly to all Malaysians with handicaps.

The sultan mentioned the disabled’s plight when he ordered the Klang Royal Garden landscape consultant - Tajul Landart - to scrap a number of items costing RM7.5mil, saying it was a waste of public funds.

The fact that the Selangor Sultan stopped to consider the needs of the handicapped when most people and local governments seem to only care about development at any cost shows what a truly caring leader Tuanku is.

His timely call and forward-thinking view will contribute significantly to how people will view the handicapped from now on. They should never be seen as persons who are punished by God, or as ‘patients’, ‘sick persons’ or ‘charity cases’ for the rest of their lives.

Taking the cue from our royalty, people can now start to see disabled Malaysians as also equal citizens who should be given the same rights and facilities to enjoy public recreational parks like others.

All recreational parks should be completely wheelchair-friendly and must provide disabled- friendly toilets. Playgrounds for children must be made with special facilities that disabled children can also use them. (Such facilities are commonly available overseas and our local governments should make an effort to bring them here too.)

Wheelchairs should also be provided for persons with walking difficulties or the elderly who may require them. Special consideration should also be given to pets that play a positive role in the lives of disabled persons. Recreational parks that currently disallow dogs and other animals should be willing to make exceptions to their rule.

Dogs can help the blind find their way about independently. They can help wheelchair-users to by pulling them along. They can help epileptics when they have an attack, by warning them of an oncoming attack and staying by their side until the episode is over. Canines are also a deterrent for crime and provide comfort and happiness for the elderly.

The writer is president, PetPositive.