Man held over teen’s death

Thursday October 28, 2010

Man held over teen’s death

PETALING JAYA: A foreigner has been remanded in connection with the death of an autistic teenager, who is believed to have been abused and sodomised at a centre for the disabled.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed said the 26-year-old man was picked up at Section 3 near here at 2pm on Tues­day and police obtained a seven-day remand for him yesterday.

The man was a caretaker at the centre.

Too much to bear: Chin crying as she follows the hearse carrying Goh’s (inset) body at the funeral in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

It was later found that he did not have any work permit.

“We have recorded statements from several witnesses and more people may be questioned before we wrap up investigations,” he said.

ACP Arjunaidi said investigations revealed that the centre was not registered with the Welfare Depart­ment.

It is learnt that the shelter in Section 18, believed to have started operations about three years ago, has two caretakers looking after 19 mentally-disabled patients.

The funeral of Brian Goh Kah Heng, 19, was conducted at 10am yesterday and he was buried at the Lutheran Gardens cemetery in Kampung Melayu, Subang.

His mother, Elizabeth Chin, 50, said she noticed there were bruises on her son during her last visit to the centre two weeks ago but was told by the caretaker that the boy had fallen.

Goh, who was sent to the home in May, had cerebral palsy and autism.

On Sunday, the family received a telephone call from the centre, inform­ing them that Goh was having breathing difficulties.

The family quickly took him to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem revealed that he had a ruptured spleen and severe injuries to his anus.

Doctors also found severe internal injuries and bruises on the teen.

It was learnt that police recovered a metal rod from the centre which could have been used in abusing the victim.

The case is being investigated as a murder.

When someone tells you that you can't do something...

Look around...

Consider all options...

Then GO for it!
You've gotta stick your neck out!

Use all your skills and positive attitude!

Be creative!

In the end, you will succeed and prove them wrong!

Always remember
"Nothing is impossible, if your attitude is positive!!"

Two Hundred Disabled Malaysians Enjoy DeepaRaya

Courtesy from Petpositive

DATELINE BATU CAVES, SELANGOR:

ILTC Pix: Rina and Siva

It may have been considered a late Raya gathering for some. And for others, an early Deepavali joyous celebration.

Whatever the case, it was certainly an eagerly anticipated moment for at least a couple of hundred disabled people who braved a heavy downpour last Sunday and made it to the Sri Mahamariamman Temple Devasthanam in Gombak, Selangor.

The occasion? A one-of-a-kind DeepaRaya get-together for the disabled community.

The three-hour event, jointly organised by the Independent Living and Training Centre in Rawang, Selangor and the Board of Management of the Mariamman Temple.

Representing a multireligious and multicultural group, the Dewan Kuil (temple hall) where the gathering was held quickly started to fill up from 7pm.

ILTC pix: Young dancers

Petpositive's President Anthony SB Thanasayan was invited by the ILTC to represent the Petaling Jaya City Council as its City Councillor.

Petpositive was represented by Committee Member Antony Leopold.

Within the hour, the hall was jam-packed with wheelchairs.

So much so that the organisers had to open up the verandah and porch in order to create an outside sitting and dining for the able-bodied guests.

ILTC pix: Having a ball

"We are thrilled that all of our disabled members from the state and Kuala Lumpur - numbering 200 in total - turned up despite the bad weather an hour before opening time", said a beaming Francis Siva to PET+BLOGSPOT when it was all over.

"This was the very first time that the ILTC had done something like this with the Batu Caves temple authorities," he added.

Francis also went on to point out that the temple authorities, who were also doing such a thing for the first time, were so taken up by what transpired that they are thinking of conducting repeat events each year.

As many as ten companies came forward to sponsor the DeepaRaya event.

The main sponsor was Sports Toto Malaysia.

File pix: YB Rodziah

The Selangor Government through YB Rodziah Ismail (Welfare, Women's Affairs, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee Chairman) came up with the second biggest financial support.

McDonald's Malaysia donated 300 burgers. Performances were strictly by the disabled who presented wheelchair dances. The children and young people who also performed were kids of the disabled at the event.

The handicapped turned up with their own transport in cars as well as modified motorcycles. Those that didn't have vehicles of their own were brought by their families and friends.

For more information on the ILTC, click HERE.

Umno's 'cheap shot' at animal rights ruffles feathers

Animal rights and welfare groups today demanded an apology from Selangor Umno Youth delegate Zuinuri Zainal, who had accused them of attempting to incite public hatred against the government.

“We are very upset and shocked by this statement. We were criticised for speaking up for other living beings, going beyond our (own) difficulties to think of somebody else's,” said Anthony Thanasayan, the president of Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive).

He was referring to Selangor delegate Zainuri Zainal who at the Youth debates at Umno's 61th general assembly on Wednesday blasted a disabled rights group for protesting against the Kuala Langat Municipal Council for putting nine dogs to sleep on Sept 19.

The dogs were put down by lethal tranquillisers at the poultry farm in Sungai Gadung, the scene of the alleged murder of cosmetics millionaire Sosilawati Lawiya.

Several days later disabled rights group Independent Living and Training Centre and Petpositive had staged a protest against the municipal council, saying the dogs could have been handled by the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) or other animal welfare groups.

The council has since defended their actions saying that the dogs had posed a danger to police personnel investigating the murder case.

Zainuri at the assembly described their actions as an attempt to “draw public ire against the authorities”.

“If (you) nothing positive to say about the disabled, please keep your mouth shut,” said Thanasayan of Zainuri's outburst.

“If you want to speak about the disabled at the Umno meeting speak about the problems we are having in getting jobs, and lack of support.

“But if you have the audacity to criticise us for doing something nice and right for defenceless creatures, he should be ashamed and apologise to us,” he said, chiding the Umno delegate for using them for “cheap publicity”.

Implied of being 'terrorist'

Malaysian Animal Welfare Society president Shenaaz Khan also blasted Zainuri for suggesting that the protest was instigate by the Pakatan Rakyat government.

Shenaaz said that the suggestion was absurd as the groups were there on their own independent capacity, and their protest was against the Pakatan-run municipal council.

“He has suggested that (the protestors) are cheap, shallow and that they are for sale, and he implied that they are terrorist by trying to 'instill public hatred',” she said.

“I don't know what kind of ignorance permeates through Umno. They continue to make these stupid statements.

Shenaaz added that since the protest, the Selangor government has taken their complaints into consideration and has come up with new guidelines on how municipal councils should act in such cases.

Kebas duit OKU

Khamis 21-10-2010

Kebas duit OKU

KUANG – Kerja jahat tidak mengenal mangsa. Golongan orang kurang upaya (OKU) yang sepatutnya dibantu juga tidak terlepas menjadi mangsa pihak tidak bertanggungjawab yang mengambil kesempatan terhadap kelemahan mereka.

Itulah juga yang berlaku kepada pasangan suami isteri OKU, Adam Suradi, 44 dan Mazarina Amir, 34 yang kehilangan RM1,800, sumbangan Lembaga Zakat Selangor (LZS) untuk membeli kerusi roda bagi memudahkan pergerakan mereka.

Pasangan yang menghidap tulang belakang bengkok yang mengehadkan pergerakan mereka sepatutnya berupaya menjalani kehidupan lebih selesa sejak setahun lalu, kini terus terhimpit dengan kepayahan meneruskan rutin harian.

"Semuanya gara-gara seorang individu yang mendakwa wakil syarikat pembekal kerusi roda berkunjung ke rumah kami Ogos 2009 lalu menuntut cek RM1,800 itu tetapi lesap hingga ke hari ini selepas berjanji akan menghantar kerusi roda tersebut beberapa hari selepas cek dituntut," kata Adam ketika ditemui di kediamannya, semalam.

Adam berkata, cek RM1,800 itu diperolehnya awal Ogos 2009 selepas permohonan mendapatkan kerusi roda yang dibuat melalui ibu pekabat LZS di Shah Alam diluluskan.

"Pada awal Ogos 2009 dia dimaklumkan permohonan kerusi roda itu telah lulus dan dia dimaklumkan perlu mengambil cek tersebut di cawangan Lembaga Zakat Bukit Rahman Putra.

"Saya ketika itu hanya mengikut arahan jadi saya pergi ke pejabat Lembaga Zakat di Bukit Rahman Putra untuk mengambil cek tersebut yang bernilai RM1,800 yang dipalangkan atas nama sebuah syarikat pembekal kerusi roda,” katanya.

Bagaimanapun katanya, pada 20 Ogos 2009 dia telah didatangi seorang wakil daripada syarikat pembekal kerusi di rumahnya yang mahu mengambil cek tersebut.

”Saya terus menyerahkan cek itu dan wakil syarikat terbabit berjanji akan menghantar kerusi roda ke rumah saya, namun setelah hampir dua bulan menunggu kerusi roda itu tidak dihantar menyebabkan saya terus merujuk kepada Lembaga Zakat Selangor sebelum pergi menuntut sendiri di syarikat pembekal yang dimaksudkan,” katanya.

Dalam pada itu, katanya, dia dimaklumkan bahawa wakil syarikat yang dimaksudkan belum lagi menyerahkan apa-apa wang atau cek bagi pembelian kerusi roda dan difahamkan nama syarikat yang pada cek tersebut juga berlainan.

”Saya diberitahu nama syarikat yang tertera di dalam cek tersebut lain dan saya terus membuat laporan polis,” katanya.

Menurutnya, meskipun sudah memperoleh kerusi roda sumba- ngan daripada pihak lain, dia kesal dengan kejadian tersebut.

"Duit itu adalah hak orang yang memerlukan dan tidak boleh sewenang-wenangnya disalahgunakan,” katanya.

Thursday October 21, 2010

Budget brings cheer to disabled

Budget 2011 brought some relief for the disabled.

MALAYSIANS were glued to their television and radio sets last Friday, listening to the Budget 2011 speech by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Parliament.

Chong Tuck Meng, 50, from Bentong, Pahang, was one of them.

“I am pleased to note that the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has been allocated RM1.2bil in aid, of which RM218mil will be used to assist some 80,000 disabled individuals,” says Chong.

“However, it was not stipulated how the money would be used to help them,” he adds, pointing out that previous programmes organised by the Welfare Department had not done much to improve the quality of life of the handicapped.

Chong, who was paralysed from the neck down following an accident 30 years ago, is now adviser of Perwira K9, an NGO which he founded. It has about 700 members with spinal injuries.

Chong also recalls a pre-Budget meeting called by the ministry about six months ago.

“There were too many special focus groups involved and everyone seemed to be all over the place. There wasn’t enough time for real discussion. Some of the disabled groups that turned up didn’t seem to know what they wanted.”

Now that the ministry has been given a special allocation, Chong feels that minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil should call for another meeting to fine-tune what is really important.

“The ministry should also select NGOs with the people’s interest at heart and work closely with them to achieve the PM’s goals,” says Chong.

Petaling Jaya resident Stanislaus Anthony, 61, was disappointed that the disabled did not get any increment for their present allowance of RM300.

“I was hoping that the PM would give all disabled Malaysians – whether blind, Deaf or in a wheelchair – a monthly allowance of RM500 across the board,” he says.

“It’s getting harder and harder to be a disabled person in Malaysia these days when employers don’t want to hire you because you are handicapped or you just can’t get out of the house because of the lack of public transport and accessibility,” Stanislaus laments.

“It is high time the authorities, whose job it is to help the handicapped, came down to our level to see what our problems are.

“As an individual who does his part to help other disabled people, I still have trouble getting wheelchairs for the poor.

“Just last week, a physically handicapped friend of mine was turned down financial aid because he had pay TV and a refrigerator.

“We still have hospitals like Universiti Malaya Medical Centre which treats you for free as an outpatient because of your disability card. But it ignores your card and charges you the sky if you get admitted. Many of the supposedly free medication for the disabled are often out of stock or not covered by the hospital.”

Stanislaus has been disabled since 1988. Now he uses a walking stick and a wheelchair because he has difficulty walking.

For Yam Tong Woo, 57, from Sungai Buloh, Selangor, who suddenly lost his sight two years ago following a bacterial infection, the recent Budget brought bitter-sweet news.

“The good news is the abolishment of sales tax on mobile phones and the waiver of import and sales tax on broadband equipment,” he writes via e-mail.

“The blind will be better able to use technology to help them find jobs and make new friends.

“However, many of the assistive and adaptive technology to help the blind get online are costly and out of reach unless the Government creates a subsidy for them.

“Broadband and telecommunications service-providers should be encouraged to reduce their costs to make their services affordable for blind Malaysians,” added Yam, a former automotive engineer.

Monday October 18, 2010

Shahrizat: Better benefits will boost women’s roles

PETALING JAYA: The move to grant flexible maternity leave up to 90 days to women civil servants will motivate more of them to stay in the workforce, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

She said the Government’s efforts to develop women’s roles and contribution to the economy had also been boosted with a RM30mil fund for various programmes such as the Single Mothers’ Skills Incubator.

“Such steps and others like the Small Office Home Office concept for disabled women will help the Government to achieve 55% in the participation of women in the labour force,” she said in a statement yesterday.

Sharizat said the RM1.2bil allocation in Budget 2011 for the ministry demonstrated the Government’s commitment to the people’s social welfare.

“It proves that the Government is putting more effort into improving the social welfare system in transforming the country into a high-income nation,” she said.

She said RM197mil had also been allocated under the National Key Result Areas to enable households with low earnings to live independently and seek their own income.

“This approach will definitely help more households to get out of poverty,” she added.

Shahrizat said a RM70mil allocation to help non-governmental organisations fight social illnesses was a good measure in taking a holistic approach to deal with problems at the grassroots level.

“This amount is a recognition of the NGO’s important role as a strategic partner with the Government in implementing community development programmes,” she said.

Shahrizat said the people also welcomed the waiving of excise duties for disabled people buying national cars.

“The move is in line with the ministry’s initiatives to give disabled people greater accessibility and mobility. Having a car will also improve their employability,” she said.

ILTC masih perlukan dana

Article 18/10/2010

ILTC masih perlukan dana

RAWANG – Badan Latihan dan Hidup Berdikari (ILTC) masih memerlukan dana bagi membina bangunan sendiri khas untuk golongan orang kurang upaya (OKU).

Presiden yang juga pengasas ILTC, Francis Siva berkata, mereka berjaya mengumpulkan RM380,000 dan masih memerlukan RM570,000 bagi melengkapkan pembinaan bangunan berjumlah RM950,000.

Katanya, bagaimanapun dana sedia ada buat masa ini mampu menampung kemudahan fizikal sepatutnya untuk OKU itu.

“Kami sangat terharu apabila dimaklumkan Exco Negeri, Dr Xavier Jayakumar akan berbincang dengan Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim untuk memberikan dana kira-kira 20 peratus iaitu sekitar RM200,000 daripada kos keseluruhan pembinaan ini.

“Dijangkakan bangunan seluas 1,207 meter persegi ini akan siap dalam tempoh setahun lagi,” katanya selepas majlis pecah tanah pembinaan bangunan itu disempurnakan Xavier, di Kampung Sungai Dua Tambahan, di sini.

Pada program berkenaan, Xavier yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Tetap Kesihatan, Pekerja Ladang, Kemiskinan dan Kerajaan Prihatin, melancarkan simbolik perasmian dengan menyimen batu-bata pertama bagi pembinaan bangunan OKU itu.

Hadir sama, kira-kira 60 ahli dengan pelbagai jenis kecacatan fizikal dan turut disertai penuntut Fakulti Pendidikan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) yang membuat latihan praktikal di ILTC.

Difahamkan tapak pembinaan itu pula adalah sebahagian tanah pemberian bekas Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Rawang, Datuk Tang See Hang.

Mengulas berhubung premis digunakan ILTC bagi kegunaan 180 ahlinya buat masa ini, Francis berkata, ia hanya sebuah rumah teres lot tepi, dengan sewa RM1,200 sebulan di Kuala Garing.

“Kita harap tempat baru nanti dapat memberikan kemudahan kepada semua golongan OKU dari semua kawasan dengan perkhidmatan seperti latihan memandu, menjahit, memasak, kelas komputer, kepimpinan dan lain-lain secara percuma.

“Kita jangka bangunan ini juga akan menjadi model terbaik bagi pembinaan bangunan OKU yang sepatutnya, dengan keseluruhan kos diperuntukkan termasuk kemudahan kelengkapan dan peralatan,” katanya.

Difahamkan, usaha OKU lumpuh separuh badan itu mendapat sokongan isterinya, P Gurdip Kaur yang juga berkerusi roda.

Gurdip berkhidmat sebagai Setiausaha ILTC sejak 2000.

Sesiapa berhasrat membantu golongan ini, boleh menghubungi Francis (019-3385959) atau melawat laman web iltcmalaysia.blogspot.com atau email iltcmalaysia@gmail.com.

Anger over puppy abuse photo

Article

Anger over puppy abuse photo

By Elizabeth Zachariah

KUALA LUMPUR: Animal rights groups are furious over a photograph showing two men abusing a puppy.

The photograph, which has been widely distributed over the Internet, shows two men hanging a puppy with string. Both men were showing an obscene gesture with their fingers.

Malaysian Animal Rights Society president N. Surendran said the photograph was one of the worst cases of animal abuse he had seen.

"The fact that they were posing with the puppy shows they are confident no action will be taken against them," he said after lodging a report at the Brickfields district police headquarters here.

He took a swipe at the authorities, like the Department of Veterinary Services, saying they were not doing enough to protect animals.

Surendran said he hoped the police would take the matter seriously and charge the two for their cruel act.

Pet Positive president Anthony Siva Balan Thanayasan called the act "wicked and evil" and said he was shocked and upset over the photograph.

"We have been working hard towards protecting animal rights and to see it breached like this is very sad."

It was learnt that the photograph came to light after a lawyer saw it on a well-known actress' Twitter account.

Malaysian Animal Welfare Society president Shenaaz Khan said police had no excuse but to nail the culprits for the "barbaric" act since their faces were visible in the photograph.

Also present were activists from Independent Living & Training Centre and Lawyers for Liberty.

Meanwhile, district police chief Assistant Commissioner Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid confirmed the report had been lodged.

Read more: Anger over puppy abuse photo http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/25iz/Article#ixzz12g8s9i7n

Highlights of PM’s Budget 2011

These are the highlights of Budget 2011 For The Disabled:

Last Friday, Budget for 2011 has been announced by Malaysia Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib.

ILTC seriously looking at a specific degree how it would benefit the disabled citizen of Malaysia, and how the budget would achieve Najib's objective to build 1 Malaysia Concept.

· In 2011, the Government will allocate RM1.2 bil to the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

· The Govt will launch assistance programme to benefit 80,000 disabled individuals with an allocation of RM218mil. On regards of this, ILTC sincerely need to collect more details from JKMM.

· Exemption 100% of excess duty on Malaysian made Motorcar for PWD.

Paper Article - Sinar - 17-10-2010

Wheelchair Protest At Police Station

Note: A true story from courtesy of Petpositive.

Press conference in Brickfields

NEARLY TWO DOZEN animal activists made their way to the police station to express their outrage and condemnation over a picture that has been wildly and widely circulating on the Internet recently where two youths are seen showing their finger and holding a strangled pup by a string.

Cruel and defiant: Just a joke?

The young men are smiling over the camera in shameless defiance over their action - as if to say that the killing of the innocent puppy was a notable achievement in one of their latest exploits.

The protest took place at the Brickfields police station in Kuala Lumpur at 10.30 this morning.

The police report and the press conference held immediately after was put together by several non-governmental organisations that champion animal rights and welfare in the country.

They are Roar, Maw, ILTC and Petpositive.

More than half a dozen of the protesters were persons in wheelchairs.

Speaking on behalf of Petpositive and the disabled group who were present, Anthony SB Thanasayan decried the act as a shocking and shameless act.

Shenaaz: Barbaric act

"What did the puppy do to deserve such cruelty?" he demanded. "A tiny and vulnerable pup like that could never have been a danger to anyone and it could have grown up and trained into a dog that could help the disabled or offer special companionship to the elderly.

Thanasayan is President of Petpositive, a national animal-assisted therapy society that uses pets as special friends for the handicapped and seniors.

"It's a most barbaric act," said Shenaaz Khan from Maw (Malaysian Animal Welfare). "The Department of Veterinary Services also deserves blame for being lackadaisical over animal cruelty issues resulting in monsters like this who can get away with murder realising that no one will come after them." She added.

Speaking for Roar, N Surendran described the incident as one of the worst in the country. He put the blame on the Government for not taking animal rights and welfare seriously.

Apart from the animal rights groups, there were also several lawyers who were animal lovers present.

Surihani's tweet

It is understood from one of the lawyers present that the picture first appeared on popular Malaysian actress Lisa Surihani's tweet. When the lawyer confronted Surihani on her tweet for details, the actress apparently refused to respond.

The protesters want the police to investigate on this case by questioning Surihani on relevant information in order to bring the culprits to justice.

The media who turned up at the press conference included The Star, The New Straits Times Press and Sinar.

Bernama TV also showed up and conducted an interview at the site.

Please write in and tell us what you think about the whole issue.

We have already received numerous reactions on our mobile and in Facebook.

Here are some of them:

"I came across your Blog through the Malaysiakini portal and was very upset watching the youths with the hanged puppy next to them.

I am an animal lover and have saved the lives of lots of dogs and cats. What can I do to protect animal rights in the country?"

> Zaid.

"I feel like hanging the youths just to see how they feel!"

> Grace Tan.

"They should be charged appropriately..and if I had it my way hung by their testicles!"

> Captain Isyak Ghani.

"Words cannot express how I feel just looking at the photograph. My hubby and kids are equally upset. These 2 youths will suffer for what they have done. Let God deal with them..it is an innocent life that they have taken and no one has a right to do so. Whoever who recognise these 2 should shun them for the shameful thing that they have done."

> Wendy Goh.

"What kind of a sick society are we becoming into?"

> Inderjeet Kaur

"Cruel!!!"

> Puvaneswari Narayanasamy

"I'm at a lost for words!"

> Maggie Mala Krish Muru

"Oh God...when who and where, why??"

> Daniya Subramaniam

Wednesday October 6, 2010

Basic disable-friendly amenities needed in public places

By YEE XIANG YUN

JOHOR BARU: Handicapped businessman Low Yuen Nien wants basic amenities for the disabled to access public buildings freely.

The 47-year-old who is wheel chair bound, said he lost the ability to

walk when he was three due to polio.

“Banks, shopping complexes and government buildings should install rams and have designated parking spots for the convenience of physically-impaired people.

Commendable: Low (in wheelchair) showing a certificate he received in 2000 after being chosen as tokoh for OKU while his wife Lydia Tay and Michael Tay look on.

“A lot of my friends who are physical challenged share the same frustration on the lack of disable-friendly amenities at most places here,” he said during a press conference organised by Johor Baru MCA Public Complains Bureau deputy chief Michael Tay recently.

Low urged the government and authorities to design OKU-friendly parking lots and entrance in future projects.

“Sometimes when I visit the hospital, I get told off by the security guard for parking my car near the entrance as there are no designated parking spot for the disabled.

“I feel disheartened and disappointed by the situation and I hope such circumstances will be improved soon.

“I still rely greatly on my wife and friends to manoeuvre my wheel chair whenever there are no rams installed at certain buildings,” he said.

The father of four added that laws should be enforced and fines should be imposed on those who misused parking spaces for the disable.

Speaking on Low’s plight, Tay said he had forwarded a letter to the authorities on Low’s behalf.

“I have sent a letter requesting for more amenities to be installed at public buildings to make life easier for people with such difficulties.

“I hope that that the request would be seriously considered as disabled people want to lead a normal life and be independent too,” he said.

Tay said letters have been forwarded to local councils in the state.

Group demand for disabled-friendly facilities

Saturday October 16, 2010

Group demand for disabled-friendly facilities

By CHOONG MEK ZHIN

A GROUP of Ampang’s physically disabled residents are demanding for disabled-friendly facilities such as special parking lots and ramps at banks in the area.

Though the banks provide priority counters for the disabled, those who are in wheelchairs are not able to get to it due to the lack of ramps.

Due to this the group is unable to collect their monthly disability allowance from the government, which is put directly into their bank accounts. In dire need: (Back row, from right) Tnew, Lee and Lee’s assistant Ba Lee with the disabled residents.

“We usually wait outside while someone from the bank help us withdraw our money,” 40-year-old Wan Siew Ming said, adding that it was also difficult to access public facilities such as transport and playgrounds.

“When I take my 11-year-old child to the playground, I have to wait at the side of the field due to some metal barriers that is built to prevent motorcycles,” Wan said.

He also said that installing disabled friendly facilities were provided for under both the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) and Uniform Building by laws.

“I wonder how the local council approved the construction of these business and commercial areas that do not follow the given guidelines particularly when it comes to the disabled?” Wan said.

Most of them have also experienced at one time or another, inconsiderate members of the public who misuse the limited disabled parking facilities and car stickers.

Another resident Tan Lay Har wrote in to one of the local banks in a letter on Aug 6 but he has not received any reply so far.

As a last resort, the group approached Teratai assemblyman Jenice Lee for assistance.

Lee said that she would contact the banks and assist in applying for disabled parking lots to be made available in front of the banks.

“I will also contact MPAJ and ask for better enforcement on the laws that provide for the disabled. I also urge people to think of others and be more sensitive to the needs of the disabled by not misusing facilities meant for them,” she said, adding that some people needed to be more civic-minded.

Councillor Jennifer Tnew said that she will refer the matter to the Building and Architecture Department and expediate matters of modifying business premises to make it more disabled friendly.

Below you can see some pictures of the groundbreaking ceremony of the Independent Living and Training Centre event in Rawang, Selangor.

Thursday October 14, 2010

First brick laid for new building for the disabled

LAST Friday, a ground-breaking ceremony which was like no other, took place in Rawang, Selangor. Nearly 150 people gathered at Kampung Sungai Tambahan Dua to witness the laying of the first brick of a brand new building that would bring hope to the disabled community.

Nearly half of the crowd were people with physical disabilities. I was there, too.

With their wheelchairs, walking sticks and crutches, about 60 disabled guests braved the narrow roads and rough tracks leading to an empty site surrounded by thick grass, shrubs and trees.

It is here that the disabled centre will be built. The force behind this project is an NGO called the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) which has been operating at a rented building about 2km away.

The new piece of land was given to the centre in 2005 by former Rawang assemblyman Datuk Tang See Hang. To date the ILTC has collected RM380,000 and needs another RM570,000 to make up the RM950,000 needed for the building.

Selangor executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar (right) about to lay the first brick for the new building for the Independent Living and Training Centre.

The new disabled centre has turned out to be timely for the ILTC group as the owners of their present premises want the building back. It’s now a race against time to complete the centre as they have to move out by August next year.

The groundbreaking ceremony was a simple affair. It was officiated by Selangor executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

Set up in 2000, the ILTC currently has close to a dozen citizens. Residents stay at the centre for a period of time to learn independent living skills. These include taking care of themselves and picking up new skills such as driving, cooking and computer training. These services are provided free of charge.

ILTC founder and president Francis Siva, 50, has been paralysed from the neck down following a driving accident about 25 years ago. He spent more than five years in the hospital after the accident. He was depressed and suicidal until he met two other patients who taught him the value of life.

One was a terminally ill young man on the bed to his right. He had wanted so much to live but cancer took his life the week after.

The other, a patient on his left, was worse off than Francis because he could not move his body at all. And yet he remained cheerful throughout until he died.

It took Francis a good two years to fight off his depression. When he came out of it, he reorganised his life and moved on to form the ILTC.

Francis now runs the ILTC together with help from his secretary, Gurdip Kaur, who also uses a wheelchair.

With this new building in the pipeline, the disabled can look forward to another new chapter in their lives.

Those who are able to help, can contact Francis (019-338 5959) or visit iltcmalaysia.blogspot.com or e-mail: iltcmalaysia@gmail.com.