Traders in dispute over stall allocation

Traders in dispute over stall allocation

2011/02/24
By Sheila Sri Priya and Siti Aminah Abdullah
streets@nstp.com.my

Cha Seak Nee said vegetable sellers had been harassing her and trying to get her to move to a more remote location.

NGO representatives protesting in support of Cha Seak Nee (in pink). — Pictures by Syed Putra Syed Abdul Rahman

V. Sundrum says the stalls were assigned by drawing lots last year

T. Anthony says the dispute will be looked into seriously because of the harassment

PETALING JAYA: A group of stallholders, including a disabled individual, held a peaceful protest at the Taman Megah market in SS24, here, recently.

They were protesting because of a dispute with other stallholders over the allocation of stalls.

Last year, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) had assigned the stalls by drawing lots in the presence of the traders.

In the middle of last year, 59 traders who had been operating their stalls illegally were moved to the new Taman Megah market. MBPJ issued business licences to them.

There were claims that a disabled trader and a few able-bodied traders were given better stall sites than the vegetable sellers who were assigned stalls deep inside the market.

NGO representatives protesting in support of Cha Seak Nee (in pink). — Pictures by Syed Putra Syed Abdul Rahman

Wheelchair-bound Cha Seak Nee was assigned a stall that was built specifically for the disabled. The 39-year-old who sells frozen foods such as otak-otak claimed that she had been harassed by some vegetable sellers. She said they told her to move to another stall located deep inside the building.

Flower seller Daisy Rani, 45, claimed that she had been given a different stall number in her new business licence.

"My business licence which was issued last year by the council had the stall number 005 which I drew.

"However, recently, two MBPJ enforcement officers gave me a new licence with the number 015. I was told to move to my new lot.

V. Sundrum says the stalls were assigned by drawing lots last year

"The vegetable sellers are constantly tell us to move to our new lots because they want to occupy our space," she said.

Daisy has lodged a police report on the matter because she felt her rights had been violated by the council.

Wet spice seller V. Sundrum, 40, said the vegetable sellers had also told him to move to a another stall. He said this was not fair as the stalls were assigned by drawing lots last year.

Representatives of NGOs such as The Malaysian Animal Assisted Therapy For The Elderly and The Disabled, Independent Living and Training Centre and Malaysians Against The Discrimination of The Disabled were at the protest to show their support for Cha.

T. Anthony says the dispute will be looked into seriously because of the harassment

A memorandum was submitted to councillor T. Anthony. He said the matter would be looked into seriously as several stallholders, and in particular a disabled person had been harassed.

Anthony said the memorandum would be handed over to Mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman.

Taman Megah residents association chairman Francis Lee said Cha's stall was designed for the disabled as a ramp had been constructed in front of her lot.

Lee also highlighted the fact that Cha was only making a small profit and added that her business would be affected if she were to move to a more remote location.

Area councillor Tiew Way Keng said she had received reports from consumers and stall holders that the location of the vegetable stalls were unsuitable.

"I received complaints that the walkway was narrow. People have slipped and taken a tumble while trying to buy vegetables and fruits."

Tiew said she had asked the public and stallholders to submit suggestions and had given them three options -- retain the current stall allotments, move the fruit stalls to the front and move the vegetable stalls outside.

She said most stallholders chose the third option.

Tiew said Cha had also agreed to move to another lot.

"I spoke to Cha and she agreed to move. The council did not bully her. But now I hear a different story," she said.

Tiew said the council would handle the matter in a diplomatic manner. Also present during the protest was Damansara Utama assemblyman Dr Cheah Wing Yin.

Friday February 25, 2011

Butchers and councillors want to dislodge paraplegic trader

BUTCHERS and fishmongers at the Taman Megah Market, in cahoots with some heartless councillors, are hounding paraplegic trader Seak Nee, 39 and four others to give up their trading spots and move to the back.

Seak Nee, whose stall is just next to the specially designed ramp for the disabled, along with four other traders suffering from poor health who also occupy the front row, are facing undue pressure to give up their trading spots.

The big time traders with the insidious support of some councillors are said to be exerting pressure on these unfortunate traders so they can have the premium lots.

Giving support: Seak Nee (in pink track suit pants), Francis on her left and other well wishers stop to chat with Khoo (right) near the Taman Megah market after a press conference to highlight Seak Nee’s plight

The traders managed to get the licensing department to change four of the traders’ lot numbers when their licences came up for renewal.

But Seak Lee, paralysed from waist downwards since birth, is fighting back despite being attacked on all fronts, even from people close to her, with telephone calls and nasty remarks.

“I make something like RM700 to RM800 monthly selling frozen foodstuffs and from that I have to pay RM330 for my room rent and this trading sport is all I have,” said Seak, who wheels herself some 15 minutes daily back and forth to the market.

Although her parents are staying in Old Klang Road, she wants to be independent and spent the last six years selling frozen food stuffs in front of the market in a makeshit kiosk until the local residents association chairman Francis Lee and other well-wishers moved the council to get her a proper tradering lot.

After nearly a year she is facing pressure from other traders.

“Many times the traders there have approached me to move to the back portion of the market and offered to foot the renovation and other enhancement to the kiosk,” Seak Nee told StarMetro recently.

One of the prime movers of the protest is Francis Siva, the president of Independent Living and Training Centre (ICTC), a non-governmental organisation, which trains the disabled to be self-sufficient.

“We want the council to step in and tell off the traders who are trying to dislodge them.”

Blaming councillor Tiew Way Keng, the DAP representative for Seak Nee’s plight for pandering to the demands of the well-to-do traders and forsaking Seak Nee’s needs, Francis said the councillor should be in the forefront of her plight.

“She knows about Seak Nee’s plight and she did nothing to protect her interest,” he said, adding that MBPJ was kind enough to specially construct the kiosks, ramp and other handicap-friendly amenities.

Chairman of the MBPJ Technical Committee on Disabilities T. Anthony, who is also an MBPJ councillor said it is a blatant act of discrimination.

He said he has forwarded Seak Nee’s letter to deputy mayor Puasa Md Taib and have asked MBPJ to conduct a full investigation into her claim of harassment by the relevant councillor and traders.

Former councillor and one time Kampung Tunku State assemblyman Khoo Ooi Seng who stopped by to see the commotion was visibly upset after listening to Seak Nee’s plight.

“I agree there are some shortcomings in the BN but we never stole from the handicap,” said the MCA member.

Friday February 25, 2011

Councillor denies traders’ claims

COUNCILLOR Tiew Way Keng, facing mounting pressure from the public for having a hand in a move to dislodge a disabled trader from a prominent spot at the Taman Megah market came out in the open to defend herself.

“Earlier she agreed to move but now she has changed her mind,” Tiew said, adding the traders and consumers had requested that she be moved to the centre.

Asked why in the first place she was given the spot at the disabled row, Tiew said it was done before her time.

She told StarMetro in a telephone interview after a press conference to clarify her position that the ramp for the disabled was not built solely for Seak Nee but for wheelchair-bound consumers.

Long-time Taman Megah resident G. Thong said as far as he knew there was no representation made by the residents or consumers in that area.

“I have been living here and I doubt any decent minded consumer or resident would have the heart to make life difficult for the handicap,” he said.

Besides, the kiosks were specially constructed for the disabled and why can’t they be there. Is it because other big time traders are holding the councillor to ransom by threatening to withhold their support for her,” he asked.

In a related development, the affected five traders and two non-governmental organisations made police reports at the SS2 police station against Tiew for abuse of power.

The president of Independent Living & Training Centre, Francis Siva, called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency to investigate Tiew and Member of Parliament Tony Pua for their alleged hand in the victimising the disabled traders.

No easy access for the disabled

No easy access for the disabled

February 24, 2011

Many disabled people in the country find it hard to move around because most public places are not disabled-friendly.

KUALA LUMPUR: Ramlan (not his full name) who is physically challenged lamented that he often cannot get into banks or restaurants as they do not provide the basic amenities for disabled people.

“Whenever I need to perform transactions at the bank counters or decide to dine with my family in restaurants, I would be faced with difficulties as these establishments do not have facilities like wheel ramps, lifts or proper handrails for the disabled people,” said Ramlan.

He also said he had difficulties in withdrawing cash from the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

“Most of the ATMs are located in buildings and petrol stations. It is difficult to get into these buildings as they are not disabled-friendly”, said Ramlan who is a polio victim and wheelchair-bound.

This is the case for many disabled people in the country. Many banks and restaurants are not disabled-friendly.

Reluctant to go for holidays

K Muthu, whose right leg was amputated because of a road crash, said he is reluctant to go for a vacation at tourist destinations in the country as most hotels do not have facilities for the physically challenged.

“A few may have facilities like alleys for those on wheelchair but what about the shower room.

“I find it difficult to use the toilet (in hotels), hence I refrain from going for vacations and prefer to stay home”, he said.

Muthu said despite the presence of the Persons With Disabilities Act, many banks and restaurants as well as hotels do not provide the basic amenities like ramps, ramps with entrance, proper signage and lifts as well as toilets for the disabled.

“Some of the hotels at renowned tourist destinations in the country even do not have elevators. So how can people like me go for holidays,” he said.

Persons with Disablities Act

The Persons With Disabilities Act (PWD Act) was passed in Parliament on Dec 24 in 2007 and was gazetted on Jan 24, 2008. The Act came into force on July 7, 2008.

According to lawyers, many disabled people have been complaining that the PWD Act 2008 is purely an administrative Act and toothless as there are no punitive measures for non-compliance or acts of discrimination.

A restaurant owner in Rawang, Ismail Kassim said: “I am not aware of the law on that and anyhow my restaurant is located in an old building so it is impossible to make the necessary renovations for it to be friendly for the disabled.

He said many of the buildings that have restaurants and banks as well as hotels were built more than 10 years ago when the PWD Act had yet to be gazetted and came into force.

Another restaurant owner, in Kota Damansara, who wished to be known as Vijay, said his restaurant has a ground floor seating arrangements for the disabled and when any handicapped person visits the restaurant, his workers would render assistance to the person.
“However, we only occasionally receive disabled customers but when they come we will provide assistance. We try to help them as much as we can,” he said, adding that the absence of facilities for the handicapped may have deterred them from visiting his restaurant.

There are no clear regulations which spelled out that buildings should have facilities for the handicapped and it is for this reason that many public and private buildings do not have amenities for the physically challenged.

-Bernama

Hawkers report ‘threat’ by PJ councillor

Hawkers report ‘threat’ by PJ councillor

Tashny Sukumaran | February 24, 2011

A disabled trader and four others refuse to move to a congested part of the Taman Megah market

KUALA LUMPUR: Five hawkers from the Taman Megah market today filed a police report against MBPJ councillor Tiew Way Keng, accusing him of harassment and intimidation.

The five included wheelchair user Sek Nee, who last Tuesday sought the Petaling Jaya mayor’s help against what she said was pressure by other hawkers for her to move her stall to an area less friendly to the disabled.

The report alleges that Tiew yesterday threatened the five with the loss of their licences if they refused to move their businesses to stalls in the back part of the market.

This morning, Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua visited the market with Tiew and Pastor Siew Chin of the Beautiful Gate foundation, where Sek Nee used to reside. They agreed that the market should be redesigned to accommodate the wishes of all the occupants.

Anthony Thanasayan, who is also a MBPJ councillor as well as chairman of an association that helps the disabled and elderly, accused Pua of trying to bully Sek Nee into moving from her disabled-friendly stall to a more congested area of the market.

“This is hypocrisy at its finest,” he said of Pua’s decision to take the pastor with him to the market.

“They don’t care about the disabled; they are just politicising the situation and pitting us against each other.”

Pua said the situation was being blown out of proportion.

“According to a survey done last year,” he said, “people found that the lanes at the back were too congested for the stalls there, which sell fruits and vegetables. Obviously these stalls attract more traffic as people take time choosing these items, which is why the egg and flower stalls at the front are being moved to the back.”

Pua also said that the back rows would be converted to be disabled-friendly, and that a new ramp would be constructed to make it convenient for Sek Nee and other disabled people. Sek Nee would not be asked to move until the conversion was done, he added.

“Her business will not suffer as it’s still a peak lane. So I don’t think she loses out at all should a move be executed. To me it looks like a prime spot.”

MBPJ is calling for a dialog on Friday next week.

Councillor: No discrimination against disabled trader

Councillor: No discrimination against disabled trader

Submitted by shaza on Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Thursday, February 24th, 2011 14:41:00

UNITED: Disabled hawkers showing their dissatisfaction over their treatment at the Taman Megah market yesterday — Pic: Arif Kartono

PETALING JAYA: The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is reviewing the layout of the Taman Megah SS24
market following disputes over allocation of trading lots and the market set-up.

Councillor Tiew Way Kheng said she received complaints from market traders, mostly concerning narrow pathways and limited space at stalls for traders to operate.

The council meeting next week will decide on the new market layout and operations.

She said she conducted checks on the market over the last few months to discover some 40 per cent of consumers opted to go to other markets due to discomfort at Taman Megah market.

"Traders worry for loss of customers. We are thinking how to achieve the best for all parties and hope to reach an amicable solution," she told a Press conference at the market this morning.

Tiew previously come under fire by a stall operator, wheelchairbound Shirley Cha Shek Nee, who accused Tiew of discrimination following the trader's failure to renew her operating licence.

Cha, 29, a frozen foods seller, was allocated a stall in front of the market, which was near a wheelchair ramp and complained of being harassed by fellow traders, whom she claimed wanted to secure her spot due to its prime location.

Cha claimed other traders insulted her and even switched off her refrigerator when she was not around. This could ruin her food and business.

It is understood the fate of the trading licences of stall operators will be known once the meeting of councillors concludes next week

Peniaga OKU teraniaya

23/02/2011

Peniaga OKU teraniaya

SS 24 – Seorang peniaga orang kurang upaya (OKU) di Pasar Besar Taman Megah SS 24 dekat sini tidak berpuas hati apabila gerainya dipindahkan ke tapak lain atas alasan yang tidak kukuh.

Peniaga terbabit, Cha Seah Nee, 39, berkata, tindakan ahli majlis mengubah tempatnya berniaga adalah tidak wajar.

“Seperti yang dipersetujui sejak awal lagi, tempat saya berniaga adalah di bahagian hadapan pasar ini bagi memudahkan saya keluar dan masuk berikutan kemudahan yang telah disediakan di sini,” katanya.

Menurutnya, keadaan itu mendatangkan kesukaran kepadanya untuk berniaga kerana terpaksa memunggah barangan jualan agak jauh.

“Saya OKU, sepatutnya bahagian hadapan premis ini perlu dikhaskan kepada golongan seperti saya tetapi sejak dipindahkan ke bahagian belakang sejak seminggu yang lalu perniagaan saya agak merosot,” katanya ketika ditemui semalam pada sidang media di Pasar Taman Megah. Hadir sama, Persatuan Badan Latihan dan Hidup Berdikari, Francis Siva dan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Damansara, Dr Cheah Win Ying.

Selain Seah Nee, lima peniaga lain juga turut diarahkan untuk berpindah.

Peniaga bunga, Daisy Rani, 45, berkata, pada mesyuarat 20 Oktober 2010 lalu, dia dan peniaga lain tidak bersetuju untuk dipindahkan.

“Kami sudah menyatakan yang kami tidak bersetuju namun 28 Januari lalu lesen yang dikeluarkan kepada kami telah secara rasmi ditukarkan kepada nombor tapak niaga yang lain,” katanya.

Menurutnya, dia yang menghidap penyakit asma berharap perkara tersebut diberi perhatian sewajarnya oleh Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ).

Sementara itu, Ahli Majlis MBPJ Zon 13, Anthony Siva Balan berkata, beliau akan menghantar memorandum bantahan kepada Datuk Bandar Petaling Jaya berhubung perkara berkenaan.

“Perkara ini juga saya akan bawa ke mesyuarat penuh MBPJ akan datang kerana tindakan sedemikian seolah-olah mendiskriminasikan golongan OKU dan ia sangat melampau,” katanya.

Dalam pada itu, Ahli Majlis MBPJ Zon 6, Tiew Way Keng ketika dihubungi enggan mengulas lanjut berkenaan isu terbabit.

Sebaliknya beliau memberitahu akan mengadakan sidang media di Pasar Taman Megah pada hari ini.

”Saya tidak boleh jelaskannya di sini (telefon) kerana agak panjang, saya akan kemukakan bukti pada sidang media keesokan harinya,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Serious Issue Of Disabled Discrimination In Taman Megah Market

Disabled trader claims harassment

Tashny Sukumaran | February 22, 2011

Wheelchair-bound vendor at Taman Megah Market seeks mayor’s intercession

PETALING JAYA: A wheelchair-bound seller of frozen foods is seeking the mayor’s help to keep her space at the Taman Megah Market.

Sher Nee claims she is being harassed by other vendors to move towards the back of the market.
Her stall is designed for people with disabilities; it is close to a ramp and has extra space in front of it to accommodate her wheelchair. The fruit and vegetable vendors in the rear areas of the market have been complaining about congestion.

MBPJ councillor Anthony Thanasayan, Taman Megah Resident’s Association (Temara) chairman Francis Lee and the president of Independent Living and Training Centre, Francis Siva, highlighted her plight at a press conference today.

According to Lee, Temara approached MBPJ councillor Tiew Way Keng for help in seeking a solution but he has not been cooperative. Nee said Tiew even scolded her.

She submitted a memorandum to Thanasayan today to seek the mayor’s intercession.

Thanasayan said he would investigate the matter. “This is a serious issue as it touches upon the discrimination of the disabled,” he said.

Nee said she would not be able to continue doing business if she were to move to the back because the stalls there were not disabled-friendly.

The front stalls are occupied by vendors who are elderly, disabled or in poor health.

PJ Utara MP Tony Pua told FMT the issue had less to do with discrimination of the disabled and more with the market being badly designed for traffic flow.

He said there would be another press conference on the issue this Thursday and that Temara, MBPJ and the Hawkers’ Association would be represented. Tiew would also be there, he added.

Disabled Forced To Apologise To MBPJ Councillor

22/2/2011

Disabled Forced To Apologise To MBPJ Councillor

Malaysiakini news by Leven Woon.

A lot swap conflict involving the relocation of five underprivileged vendors away from their designated lots at Taman Megah Market has triggered outcries from several NGOs, who turned up at the market today to protest the relocation.

Organised by Independent Learning and Training Centre, the event saw Damansara Utama assemblyman Cheah Wing Soon, MBPJ’s disabled councillor Anthony Thanasayan, and Taman Megah resident association chairman Francis Lee gather around 12pm and carry placards chiding discrimination against the disabled.

The five vendors, who are either wheelchairs bound or suffering from diseases, were allegedly pressured by local councillor Tiew Way Keng to vacant their current lots at the front row (lot B1-B5) of the market and shift to lots situated at middle row (lot B11-B15).

The move, as Tiew told them, if for the convenience of vegetable vendors at the middle row who complained of inadequate trading space.

However, Lee said the lots allocation has been balloted prior to the opening of the market.

“It was agreed upon that the first row which faces the main road and near to a ramp should be given to less capable vendors to sell dry goods,” he said.

The conflict reared ever since the first week of the market operation in September last year after vegetable vendors began demanding for a lot swap with the first row’s owners.

Disabled forced to apologise to Tiew
Tiew, who was informed about the matter latter, allegedly only reacted on the vegetable vendors’ demand.

The conflicts escalated when the front row’s owners were denied license renewal by MBPJ’s officers last month. They also claimed to have been harassed by both MBPJ enforcement officers and the vegetable vendors since last month.

Cho Seak Nee, a wheelchair bound vendor who sells frozen foods, claimed she was told by the vegetable vendors last week to apologise to Tiew.

“They asked me to say sorry to Tiew because without her, I will not be what I am today,” said the disabled who used to travel around Puchong and Old Klang road areas to earn a living.

Thanasayan decried the incident as an attempt to sideline the disabled.

“Are they trying to push us to the (middle row) so that nobody can see us? This is not the society we want,” he said.

He said the disabled’s lots at the front row is totally legitimate and there is no reason for a swap.

The Petpositive chairman said he will “battle till the very end” to ensure MBPJ does not shift the front row vendors.

不滿獲市會優待‧同行嗆殘障小販

不滿獲市會優待‧同行嗆殘障小販

2011-02-22 20:44

• 

  隆雪無障礙協會成員與小販於美嘉園展開和平糾察，極力為障友爭取應有的權利。前排左起為自立及訓練中心主席法蘭斯西華、安東尼、謝雪妮以及行動黨百樂鎮州議員謝永賢。（圖：光明日報）

（吉隆坡22日訊）5檔小販在未獲通知的情況下，被市議會命令更換檔口的位置，其中一名冷凍食品的殘障女小販申訴，她基於行動不便，便要求當局讓她保留在原檔經營，結果卻引起其他小販不滿，並對她說：“若沒有我們，你也不會在這裡！”，令她唉嘆賺錢養活自己也這麼難。

美嘉園巴剎中心於2010年9月20日建竣，一共有60檔小販經營，但不到一個星期，八打靈再也市議會的官員便接獲許多顧客的投訴，指菜販的位置太窄，不方便越過，於是當局指示第一排的檔主搬到後面去，以讓出前排位置給菜販。

其中一名被逼遷出第一排檔口的小販謝雪妮（39歲）是一名先天性殘障人士，必須依靠輪椅才能行動。她說，她是於今年1月28日接獲八打靈再也市議會官員告知，要她在新年後搬到巴剎中心最後第三排的位置。

恐收入受影響

她說，被安排在後排營業，恐會加劇她行動上的不便，因此她向市議會表明希望能獲得“優待”，繼續在前排做生意，但此舉卻引來菜販的不滿。

“我做小販生意已7年，只是想靠自己的能力維持生活，現在的情況令我感到很不開心。”

謝雪妮指出，她做生意賺取的收入除了應付日常生活開銷外，每個月會給父母一些生活費，目前她的收入她勉強還可以支撐生活。

另外，雞蛋小販曾憲鉅說，市議會官員向他披露，有關決定是因為當局接獲許多民眾的投訴，指售賣蔬菜和水果的小販位置太窄。因此，在經過調查和各方面的意見後，決定將第一排的小販移到第三排，就是與蔬菜小販對換位置。

障友權益不受尊重

針對殘障小販謝雪妮面對苦況，八打靈再也市議員安東尼週二召開記者會說，最近幾年政府都在推廣讓殘障人士自力更生，並協助障友成為社會的一份子，如今殘障人士的權益不受尊重，他認為這是一項很嚴重的問題。

也是隆雪無障礙協會主席的他指出，若將謝雪妮的檔口移去後排，將為她帶來許多不便，因為後排的攤位並沒有殘障人設備。

他認為，有關單位應該配合，而不是加劇殘障人士的困難。

“我將在這幾天內會見吉隆坡市長，並呈上關備忘錄，要求有關部門展開調查，這項安排到底是受誰的指示。同時，我也將會為殘障朋友的權利爭取到底。”

市議員：小販可作證
“殘障小販同意換檔位”

八打靈再也市議員張菲倩指出，殘障小販謝雪妮早前已經同意與菜販對換攤位，而許多小販也願意無條件協助和配合，因此她不明白為何會出現這項莫須有的指責。

她週二接受本報電訪時說，在巴剎剛啟用時，她接獲許多顧客投訴位置排在中間的蔬菜和水果小販非常擁擠，令人寸步難行，更曾經有人因此而跌倒，所以，小販認為檔口有必要調整。

“當時我曾經發出一份調查表格，讓小販和當地消費者決定要保持原狀、還是要水果小販或蔬菜小販搬離，結果最後都一面倒要蔬菜小販調位。”

張菲倩也說，當時她有向謝雪妮解釋事情的來龍去脈，而對方也非常善解人意，同意搬遷。“還有一名菜販自願無條件為謝雪妮重新安裝小販殘障設備，大家都願意配合。”

對指責感莫名其妙

“後來我接獲市議員安東尼的電話，對方一開口便指責我沒關照殘障人士，讓我覺得莫名其妙，而他也一直不願將電話交給雪妮聽。”

她指出，謝雪妮一直沒有針對此事聯絡她。“菜販知道謝雪妮不願搬後，都覺得很失望，才會一時說出重話。”

此外，張菲倩也提出質疑，為何安東尼要在中午才舉行記者會，而不是在巴剎顧客最多的時候召開記者會？”

光明日報‧2011.02.22

Council's move lauded

2011/02/15

Council's move lauded

The disabled are applauding the council's effort to provide the necessary facilities for the group. They hoped that in future, local councils would not take too much time to ensure that public facilities were also disabled-friendly.

Francis Siva suggests disabled-friendly toilets, shelter from the elements.

Independent Living and Training Centre president Francis Siva welcomed the upgrades. He suggested that the parks be also equipped with disabled-friendly toilets, have road accessibility and shelter from the elements.

Gurdip Kaur is glad that the disabled can now enjoy a more active lifetstyle.

Gurdip Kaur, a former Selayang Municipal councillor who is wheelchair-bound, was elated that the park now allowed thedisabled to enjoy an active lifestyle.

Anthony Siva Balan Thanasayan, says the upgrade shows th e council’s commitment.

MBPJ Zone 13 councillor Anthony Siva Balan Thanasayan, who oversees Section 6, said the upgrade showed the council's commitment of to bring a change to the disabled.

Section 6 neighbourhood watch committee chairman Rajesh Mansukhlal said the disabled-friendly parks would also benefit the elderly as they could now venture into the park without fear of snatch thieves, who commonly operate on motorcycles.

Read more: Council's move lauded http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/gooku2/Article#ixzz1E6Q6ntDF

MBPJ First To Build Disabled Friendly Park

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

MBPJ First To Build Disabled Friendly Park - NST

PETALING JAYA: The wheelchair-bound in the city can now look forward to a day in the park as the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is embarking on a mission to make its parks accessible to the disabled.

For a start, MBPJ has installed a small neighbourhood park in Jalan 6/14 with disabled-friendly features such as ramps for easy mobility, tactile flooring for the blind, accessible entrances and wider footways.

Mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman said the upgrade was a first for state municipalities, and part of MBPJ's corporate social responsibility effort to make PJ a barrier-free city for the disabled.

"This park will be a model for the rest of the public parks in the municipality, and the design will be according to global standards that prioritise user-friendly features," said Roslan.

He hoped the disabled and elderly would use the parks for recreation and socialising.

Roslan said PJ had over 400 parks but only 384 parks were under the council. The rest were under development or were yet to be surrendered to the council.

He said RM1.5 million had been set aside this year for the maintenance of the parks. This includes the repair and replacement of park equipment and playground amenities.

A big concern, said Roslan, was vandalism. He urged the community to share the responsibility of caring for and protecting the facilities.

The council has placed metal bars poles with width fit for wheelchairs at the appropriate entrances of the park as a measure to block motorcyclists from entering the park.

"I hope the residents will adopt the park as their own and together, safeguard it from being vandalised," said Roslan at the disabled-friendly park, which was launched by state exco for tourism, consumer affairs and environment Elizabeth Wong.

Wong and Roslan placed the disabled sign at the entrance of the park to mark it as a disabled-friendly park.

Wong said the council's move to make its parks disabled-friendly was a ground- breaking achievement.

MBPJ landscaping department director Zuraidah Sainan the council had made it compulsory for developers to allot 10 per cent of land for open space and to equip the development with disabled-friendly

Sunday February 13, 2011

Ministry finalising new set of rules for welfare homes, says Shahrizat

By P. ARUNA
aruna@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: A new set of guidelines is being finalised by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to step up enforcement against the rising cases of abuse and negligence in welfare homes.

“The guidelines are to ensure that welfare home operators abide by existing laws pertaining to the welfare of their residents,” said minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

She said the government would not tolerate any form of abuse or negligence and urged welfare home operators and caretakers to be more responsible towards the people under their care.

She called on the public to immediately report to the ministry if they suspect residents of orphanages or old folks’ homes were being abused or neglected.

“Prevention is the way to go.

Speaking up: The young lawyers and chambering students of loyarburuk (from left) Bon, Van Geyzel, Azira, Fahri and Leu have opened an avenue for the young to voice their thoughts.

“We don’t want to only take action after a child is abused,” she said, adding that the ministry would soon be meeting with welfare home operators to brief them on the new guidelines.

Shahrizat said this after launching charity initiative “Mari Beramal Bersama Colgate” which saw the company donate RM200,000 to 12 charity homes in the country.

Local Councils In S'gor To Set Up Disability Committees By Feb End

Story & Pictures Courtesy from Petpositive

Local Councils In S'gor To Set Up Disability Committees By Feb End

aNt, Sharipah & Ronnie with guidebook

DATELINE SELANGOR STATE SECRETARIAT OFFICE, SHAH ALAM:

MALAYSIANS WITH DISABILITIES in Selangor have good reason for plenty of cheer on this Chinese Lunar New Year.

They will finally be able to see some positive changes happening for them in the state soon.

Disabled directive

All 12 local councils in Selangor have been ordered to set up disability committees within a month as part of the state government's plan to improve the quality of lives of disabled Malaysians in towns and cities.

The instructions, which came from Selangor's local council (PBT) chief Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew on Monday last week in an official meeting of local councils, gives each PBTs one month to comply with the directive.

MBPJ Disabled Committee on the ground

The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), however, has been exempted from the ruling as they already have a very active disability committee going within its council since the Pakatan government was formed in 2008.

All the 11 other councils will have to set up their committees by the end of February next month.

Technical advice to KTM

Those that have been meeting irregularly will have to meet more regularly now.

They will have to actively include and work with people with disabilities with all types of categories at least once a month.

This is so as to make sure that the agenda for the handicapped in each local councils are actively pursued within the local government.

MBPJ's disabled committee in progress

This development came about after town planning expert Sharipah Marhaini and MBPJ Councillor met up with Liu on January 21 at his office.

Marhaini handed over to him a detailed guidebook on how local councils can effectively set up disability committees of their own.

This will be handed to every local councils soon.

The MBPJ's Technical Committee for Disability will be launched after Chinese New Year and a special seminar for all local councils in Selangor on disability will be held soon after.

Find and arrest duo, pet lovers urge cops

Friday January 28, 2011

Find and arrest duo, pet lovers urge cops

By STEVEN CHIEW

KUALA LUMPUR: More groups have lodged reports urging police to track down and arrest the two people implicated in the dog abuse video.

They also want the police to immediately rescue the dog if it is still alive.

The report was lodged by Malaysian Animal Rights Society president N. Surendran, who also represented the Malaysian Animal Welfare Society, Independent Living & Training Centre and Lawyers for Liberty at the Dang Wangi police headquarters here yesterday.

Surendran said Bukit Aman should set up a task force jointly with the Veterinary Services Department to investigate and prosecute the two.

“The duo should be penalised because if they could do this to an animal, they could do it to anybody.

“The fact that they posed with the puppy showed they were confident no action would be taken against them,” he added.

Surendran also said the Veterinary Services Department was not doing enough to protect animals.

“If no action is taken after lodging the report, we will look for the two people involved, arrest them and hand them over to the police,” he added.

He described the acts caught on the video as one of the worst cases of animal abuse he had ever seen.

The groups also called on the Government to amend the law to provide better protection for pets from being abused.

In the video, a man is seen using brute force on a poodle in an attempt to force the dog to stand on its hind legs

More police reports by animal lovers

More groups are urging the police to track down and arrest the two people implicated in the dog abuse video.

You Tube video above is from The Star.

Hunt the poodle abusers within 24 hours – or risk vigilante action!

Hunt the poodle abusers within 24 hours – or risk vigilante action!

Submitted by Najiah on Thursday, January 27th, 2011

THASHA JAYAMANOGARAN

Thursday, January 27th, 2011 18:02:00

24-HOUR ULTIMATUM: Surendran (standing, fifth from left) and other representatives of animal welfare and animal right groups showing their support at the Dang Wangi police headquarters this morning — Pic: Razak Ghazali

KUALA LUMPUR: Animal lovers have vowed vigilante action against a couple involved in the torture of a poodle as efforts intensified to save the cuddly dog.

Representatives of animal welfare and animal rights groups told The Malay Mail today that they would hunt the couple if the authorities failed to take any action within 24 hours.

They said the couple who had been implicated in the “Save the Poodle” Facebook groups should be hauled up for questioning by the police and the Veterinary Services Department.

This morning, Malaysian Animal Rights Society (ROAR) president, N .Surendran, lodged a police report on the abuse of the poodle at the Dang Wangi police station.

The report was also made on behalf of Petpositive, Malaysian Animal Welfare Society (MAW), Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) and Lawyers for Liberty (LFL).

In the report, the groups urged the police to immediately track down and arrest two suspects in connection with the torture of a small brown poodle.

The video of a man with tattoos on his arms filmed by a woman had gone viral and triggered angry reaction from animal lovers, including from abroad.

One woman from California even offered a reward leading to the arrests of the abusers.

It is not known when this cruel act occurred but animal lovers stand firm that it was not about when it happened, rather about the cruelty that was “shocking and despicable”.

The identity and whereabouts of the alleged abusers were also revealed and passed on the police.

Surendran told The Paper That Cares that he was disappointed with the Veterinary Services Department for failing to respond quickly to public uproar.

He said the police had also failed to investigate the matter promptly under Section 44 of the Animal Act 1953.

Petpositive president, T. Anthony, said animal abuse was getting bolder because of the authorities’ ignorance.

“Poodle is one of the best partners for the disabled as they are hearing dogs and help in our quality living,” said Anthony, who feels the act was boldly recorded because the abuser thought the authorities would not waste time with such cases.

He said: “Are dogs dangerous to humans or are humans dangerous to them?”

The 15-minute video clip continues to be the most viewed this week. It shows a man hitting, choking and throwing the dog across a room in a bid to teach it to stand on its hind legs.

It began as a link on Facebook by a woman who apparently found a pen drive containing the video clip at a mall recently. It went viral after it was posted on YouTube.

Latest checks show that “Save the Poodle” groups on facebook are fast growing.

One such site, Andrew & Michelle's "Save the Poodle" Mission on Facebook garnered hundreds of supporters shortly after it was set up on Tuesday.

The creator, identifying himself as Andrew Boey, said he had viewed the video clip several times and had highlighted several "clues", including the tattoo on the man's arm, so he could be identified.

Boey had posted several updates from SPCA Selangor and SPCA Singapore.

READ: Maximum fine likely to go up from RM200 to RM50,000

ANIMAL RIGHTS & welfare groups (Independent Living & Training Centre) to make police report @ IPD Dang Wangi KL at 11.30am tomorrow, Thursday. Details: 012-220 3146

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Howls over dog-beater video

By JOSHUA FOONG
PETALING JAYA: A video of a man abusing a dog has sparked a heated response from canine lovers on social networking site Facebook and triggered a nationwide hunt for him.

In the widely-circulated video, the unidentified man, believed to be a Malaysian, is seen using brutal force on a poodle in his attempt to get the dog to stand up on its hind legs.

Some of those who viewed the video have said the man is a Malaysian.

Several people also claimed to know his close friends.

Harsh lessons: The poodle being abused by the unidentified man in the video.

In one scene, when the dog returned to standing on its four legs, the man in frustration gave it a violent smack, sending the poodle flying.

The Facebook user who uploaded the 15-minute video last Friday said she had discovered it in a thumbdrive which she had found in a Kuala Lumpur shopping mall.

Thousands of animal lovers, shocked and angered by the man’s act, immediately called for his arrest.

“This is an outrage! Swift action ought to be taken on this man,” one Facebook user commented.

“The guy in the video is crazy to have done such a thing to the helpless animal,” another said. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is getting complaints and leads from callers.

“We have been receiving a lot of calls on the matter but we have no confirmation on the man’s identity,” SPCA office manager M. Shelvy said.

She also asked those with information to call the SPCA at 03-42565312 or 03-42535179.

Disabled see red over suspension of aid

G Vinod

| January 25, 2011

The Welfare Department suspends the aid to check on the employment status of the recipients, but this has landed many in a financial quandary.

PETALING JAYA: The disabled are upset with the Welfare Department for suspending their monthly disabled workers allowance (EPC) without any proper notice since December.

The RM300 aid is given to employed disabled people earning less than RM1,200 a month.

Fearing repercussions, many of the disabled people who aired their grouses to FMT wished to remain anonymous.

According to one of them, who is self-employed, he had gone to the Federal Territories Department to check on the matter when he did not receive the money.

“They said it was because I did not submit any letters confirming my employment since 1993,” added the 40-year-old wheelchair-bound individual, whose wife is also disabled.

He said an officer claimed that without any proof of his employment, the department could not determine if the money was taken by him or others.

“It was illogical for them to say that. The bank requires my thumbprint on some forms before I can withdraw the money. So who is going to fake my thumbrint?” he said.

After submitting his documents two weeks ago, the department promised that the oustanding payment would be credited into his account in two months.

“They should have notified us properly, instead of just stopping the payment. Many of us are dependent on this aid,” he said.

Another recipient, a visually impaired father, also saw red over the matter, saying that he was finding it difficult to make ends meet.

The 48-year-old masseur, whose wife was also visually impaired, said the couple relied on both their allowances to settle their utility bills.

“I haven’t paid my electricity and water bills. I need to buy books and stationery for my son who is in school. Now everything is stuck.

“They think just because we are disabled, they can do anything to us, and we won’t complain. We are not beggars, but we need the money to run our families. We are not rich,” he said.

“Perhaps they are using the money for the Tenang by-election,” he added.

Proper notification should have been given

Commenting on the matter, Independent Living and Training Centre president Francis Siva said his organisation had met with Federal Territories Welfare Department officers last year to iron out several issues.

Among them being the Welfare Department redirecting the funds to the Treasury if the recipient did not collect it within 10 days.

“However, we argued that not everyone can take the money out on time especially those who are bed-ridden,” he said.

Siva added that the officials then promised that the money would not be taken out but now this issue had cropped up.

He also condemned the Welfare Department for only allocating RM150 for disabled people who could not work.

“The working ones get RM300 but those who cannot work only get RM150. Something is wrong with their mindset,” he said.

Siva said that more aid should be given to those who cannot work, especially those who were bed-ridden, as the latter normally required additional medical assistance.

“They need to purchase food, medicine, diapers and other things. Without money, many disabled people are driven to commit suicide,” said Siva, who himself had friends who took their own lives.

Marginalised minorities to form power bloc

23/01/2011

Marginalised minorities to form power bloc

Hazlan Zakaria (Malaysiakini)

Smarting under the yoke of what they claimed to be the 53-year tyranny of BN’s “majority rule” and whetted by the tsunami of 2008, minority groups have banded together, hoping to create a new power bloc in Malaysian politics.

What they are trying to recreate, though on a much grander scale, is the flashpoint ignited by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and the free and fair elections advocacy group Bersih, which many believed swayed the last general election.

Both NGOs were responsible for galvanising the groundswell of public support that was said to have helped reverse BN’s once hegemonic hold on the two-thirds majority in Parliament and as well as wrest control of five states.

The 2008 experience has proven that small dedicated groups of minorities can cause a lot of waves if they work together.

It is towards this government-influencing, if not government changing critical mass that a collage of self-described “marginalised minorities” has decided to embark upon.

“We have suffered from the centrifugal force which continues to victimise us. We need a change,” said moderator N Ganesan (left) at the National Human Rights Conference on The Future of Marginalised Communities in Malaysia at the KL-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall today.

Hailing from the length and breadth of the Borneo isle and the peninsula, the panel for today’s discussion included representatives of groups contending that they have been disenfranchised – the Indians, Dayaks, Orang Aslis and the disabled.

However, this time, they have decided not to peg their hopes on any political party but will look more to their own interests, aiming to hold whoever is contesting at ransom, their votes for solutions to their concerns.

‘We need change’

“After 2008, we were hoping that Pakatan would improve things for us. But to be honest, Pakatan did nothing for the disabled. We need change, we need good leaders who can deliver,” lamented Independent Living Training Center coordinator Francis Siva in his speech to the 150-strong audience.

His main grouse, something which he said is shared by the disabled community, is the indifference with which the authorities, even in Pakatan states, treat their requests and concerns.

On the other hand are there are the Dayaks and the Orang Asli whose main grouses are centred on their relationship with their customs, the land and surrounding forest.

They claim this is being denied to them by a federal government keen on developing and extracting natural resources, so much so that it saw no wrong in stealing land owned by the Orang Asli and Dayaks.

“Timber is extracted and nature’s treasures destroyed,” accused Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia Pahang chapter chairperson Yusri Jahut.

The government’s hunger for land and resources, they said, is threatening their livelihood, and poised to sever the ties to those things they hold so dear.

“We are being treated like the Red Indians of America, about a hundred years ago,” lamented John Ryan Anthony of the Sarawak Dayak National Union.

He was joined by Hindraf national coordinator W Sambulingan who criticised government policies of the NEP and ‘ketuanan Melayu’ which he said continue to cow the Indians, warning against a possible ‘Tunisia’ style popular uprising.

Memo to PM

The conference came up with a list of resolutions which they will compile into a memorandum that will be sent to the PM in a month’s time.

The memorandum is but a starting point as the groups all agree to move forward into a collective response to encroachments into their basic rights.

“If you tell me to go to war, then we go to war. We just lack expertise, if you provide the expertise, we will provide the muscle,” said Anthony displaying his commitment to the new alliance.

Former Sabah PKR leader Jeffrey Kitingan (right) joined the panel though he did not gave a speech. He was joined by another former PKR leader Zaid Ibrahim who made a cameo appearance, but just sat quietly in the audience.

“I am here just to listen,” said Zaid when asked to join the panel.

The conference was organised by the Hindraf, jointly with Human Rights Foundation, Borneo Resource Institute (BRI), Common Interest Group of Sabah and Sarawak (Cigma), Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) and several other NGOs.

17 Organizations for Disabled Persons Receive Laptops

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 JANUARY, 2011: Residents at 17 homes for disabled persons in the country can now conduct activities and programmes to learn more about information technology by just clicking on homegrown iDOLA laptop computers.

The laptops, invented by Mimos Bhd, were given to the organisations today, courtesy of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and Yayasan Innovation Malaysia, a foundation governed by the ministry.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said each organisation was given at least three laptops according to their needs.

"I hope they will utilise the iDola well including for their residents to learn more about ICT as well as for use during training and their programmes," he said in a statement here, today.

Dr Ongkili said the target groups would also be able to enjoy the technology available with the iDola, specifically the Intelligent Service Delivery Platform (iSDP) application, which enable users to access platforms such as online newspapers and government e-services with by clicking the icons.