INDEPENDENT LIVING & TRAINING CENTRE MALAYSIA -
(BADAN LATIHAN & HIDUP BERDIKARI MALAYSIA)
LOT NO. 112, KG. SG. DUA TAMBAHAN,
JALAN BATU ARANG, MUKIM RAWANG,
48000 RAWANG
SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN
TEL: 03-6093 6292
TEL/FAX: 03-6091 2531
Email: iltcmalaysia@gmail.com
NEW MINISTER FOR WELFARE MINISTER OF MALAYSIA
Badan Latihan dan Hidup Berdikari Malaysia (ILTC) pada 23hb Mac 2016 menyerahkan memorandum kepada ahli-ahli parlimen mendesak supaya golongan orang kurang upaya (OKU) dikecualikan daripada cukai barangan dan perkhidmatan (GST).
Disabled Members Protest
Disabled Members Protest at JPJ Wangsa Maju
ILTC Malaysia members staged a protest outside JPJ Wangsamaju KL.
Disabled group’s protest disabled drivers required to produce doc's medical report.
PETALING JAYA: The reallocation of trading spots in Taman Megah SS24 market stole the limelight at the PJ City Council full board meeting yesterday.
As had been reported by The Malay Mail last week, frozen food stall operator and wheelchair-bound Shirley Cha Shek Nee had complained her trading licence was not renewed because fellow traders had been eyeing her spot, which many viewed as being a prime location.
Her complaint was directed against councillor Tiew Way Kheng, who she claimed had discriminated against her, even though her original trading spot was allocated because it was near a wheelchair ramp.
Councillor Chan Chee Kong asked why the Taman Megah issue was not in the agenda and slammed the council for leaving him out of the loop.
"Any decision made by the council should be referred to the committee concerned," said Chan.
He also asked why disabled councillor Anthony Thanasayan, who had been championing disabled rights, was not consulted.
Thanasayan, who was also present, said the decision against Cha was clearly discriminatory.
"Why was I not consulted? As a disabled person for over 50 years, my view should be taken into consideration."
Calling for an investigation whether there was any misuse of power, Thanasayan said: "The disabled trader should be given priority.
She should never have been moved out from her spot.”
Tiew, however, said: "I am disheartened by this issue being brought up here. Why discuss the matter when it was not in the agenda? Procedures should be followed."
She also insisted there was no harassment involved and the matter was blown out of proportion.
In response, PJ mayor Datuk Roslan Sakiman said the issue would be discussed in a meeting on March 8, chaired by deputy mayor Puasa Md Taib.
"The meeting will include council's health, licensing and enforcement committees," said Roslan.
"The council will also be inviting traders involved to discuss the matter and reach an amicable solution. For the time being, all traders will stay put at their current spots.”
Asked whether disciplinary action would be taken against Tiew, Roslan said: "We can't make any decision without investigating and any disciplinary action will have to be referred to the State government first."
A Hindraf rally was foiled after police swoop down on its leaders and supporters, arresting more than 100.
VIDEO INSIDE
KUALA LUMPUR: Hindraf protesters today played a cat-and-mouse game with the police as they attempted to assemble sporadically at various spots around the city.
Their attempts were thwarted after police arrested 109 people, including Human Rights Party (HRP) pro tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar, HRP president and Hindraf coordinator W Sambulingan, Hindraf and HRP national adviser N Ganesan, information chief S Jayathas, Selangor chief K Selvam, Perak head P Ramesh and Kedah HRP chairman R Ramu.
However, police have released all of them in the late night.
City police chief Deputy Commissioner of Police Zulkifli Abdullah told FMT that they have been released in staggered stages.
He also denied that the number of supporters arrested was between 120 and 380 as claimed by Hindraf. “Do you believe our figures or theirs (Hindraf’s)?” he asked.
Meanwhile, despite the setback, Hindraf has claimed the protest was a “victory”.
“We are proud about our arrests. We don’t feel guilty. We just want justice, for the Interlok novel to be banned and racism to be stopped,” Sambulingam said, adding that he was assaulted by the police.
“We are innocent civilians without arms and we are gathering peacefully. Why do the police need to show their might?” he asked, adding that he was punched, pushed to the ground, kicked and stepped on before he was hauled in.
The protesters were supposed to have gathered at Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) at 9am this morning and march to the Dang Wangi police headquarters to lodge a police report against the government for Umno racism.
The demonstrators were also targeting the controversial Interlok novel for its derogatory remarks about the Indian community.
Earlier, reporters ran helter-skelter to capture the moments of drama as Indians, suspected to be protesters, were detained around the heavily guarded KLCC vicinity.
No one knew the actual number of Indians participating in the rally, but police said they were did not reach 500, contrary to the organisers estimation of over 2,000.
Many were arrested at the bus, taxi and railway stations before they could begin to organise themselves.
Roads sealed
Roads leading to KLCC were all sealed and roadblocks were erected in Jalan Ampang, Jalan Kepong, Jalan Cheras, Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Duta-Sungai Buloh Highway.
One of the protesters, Chandran, 45, from Klang, told reporters at the KLCC that several supporters have arrived but were unable to gather.
“Why is it so difficult to move around? We just want to be the voice of the Indian community,” he said, before being hauled away.
Uthayakumar himself was picked up at his residence at Pantai Hill Park Condominium at about 7.50am while the others were picked up later.
Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) president Kannan Ramasamy and several MMSP members were also detained.
However, a group of 30 people managed to assemble in front of the Australian High Commission at 10.15 am to protest against Interlok.
They were led by PKR members MS Arjunan (former Chenderiang PKR candidate), S Murali (Puchong division) and A Ponnusamy (Pahang deputy chief).
The protest march that did not take place in KLCC eventually took shape at Sri Kortumalai Pillaiyar temple, near Jalan Pudu, where about 300 gathered there at about 10.30am.
“To hell with (Deputy Federal Territories and Wellbeing Minister) M Saravanan,” said one protester, S Ramachandran, 36, who was referring to the MIC vice-president’s press statement in a Tamil daily asking police to arrest the protesters.
Among others, the protesters chanted slogans “Hapuskan Interlok” and “Jangan hina kaum India”.
‘Hounded like dogs’
Meanwhile, before Ganesan was arrested, he lambasted the authorities for cracking down on a peaceful protest. “We are hounded like dogs. We are not a threat to national security. Umno is the threat,” he said.
Ganesan also listed four demands: release all those detained, ban the Interlok novel, rescind the ban on Hindraf and abolish all racist policies.
There was also a small argument among the protesters at the temple as the organisers did not allow other protesters to put up their banners.
The protesters then marched to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters off Jalan Hang Tuah.
A stand-off took place as the Federal Reserve Unit was ready to charge but spokesman A Thiruvenggadam negotiated with the city police deputy chief Amar Singh, who allowed them to sit down at the parking area.
The crowd then left for Jinjang to show support for Hindraf Makkal Sakti leaders detained there.
‘No respect for law’
Meanwhile, Zulkifli expressed disappointment over the conduct of the protesters.
“I am disappointed that they have been stubborn and have acted in this manner despite our advice to them to call off the protest,” said Zulkifli.
“This shows that they do not respect the law,” he added.
Zulkifli also said that police were aided by 13 Indian NGOs which helped dissuade many Indians from participating in the rally.
While under detention, the protesters were being investigated under Section 27(5) of the Police Act for illegal assembly and the leaders under Section 45(1) of the Societies Act 1966 for inciting people to become a member of an unlawful society. A reporter and a citizen journalist were investigated under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing police.
Meanwhile, Hindraf legal adviser M Manoharan claimed that Jayathas was badly injured and unconscious when he last saw him.
“Jayathas and I were driving past the British Consulate and the police came and arrested him when he was speaking to some disabled protesters. There was a scuffle and I saw Jayathas falling to the ground and assaulted,” he said.
Manoharan said he also witnessed Uthayakumar’s arrest, adding that police had no grounds to arrest him.
Report by: K Pragalath, Teoh El Sen and B Nantha Kum
Exco Dr Xavier Jayakumar telah menghubungi Datuk Bandar Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) dan bercakap dengan beberapa individu berhubung perkara ini.
SHAH ALAM: Peniaga-peniaga Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) di pasar Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya kini mampu menarik lafaz lega apabila Exco Kerajaan Selangor Dr Xavier Jayakumar berjanji untuk mengekalkan ‘status quo’ bagi lot gerai di kawasan itu.
Xavier yang memegang portfolio Kesihatan, pekerja ladang, kemiskinan dan kerajaan prihatin berkata beliau telah menghubungi Datuk Bandar Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) dan bercakap dengan beberapa individu berhubung perkara ini.
Menurut beliau, masalah ini timbul hanya kerana salah faham dan berpendapat bahawa lot perniagaan di pasar itu perlu dikekalkan kepada golongan OKU.
“Perkara ini hanya satu salah faham dan orang yang terbabit tidak memahami fakta bahawa perkara ini dilakukan dengan cara yang baik.
“Mereka perlu undi untuk berniaga dan perkara ini telah dipersetujui oleh semua. Maka saya berpendapat bahawa kita perlu kekalkan status quo dan biarkan mereka meneruskan kerja. Saya akan berbincang secarta lanjut dalam mesyuarat exco,” katanya dalam pertemuan bersama peniaga OKU, Ahli Majlis MBSJ dan Badan Bukan Kerajaan (NGO).
Mereka hadir bagi menyerahkan memorandum yang membantah cadangan MBPJ untuk menukar lot peniaga-peniaga OKU terbabit.
Pada minggu lalu Ahli Majlis MBPJ Tiew Way Keng dilaporkan berkata cadangan penukaran itu disebabkan para peniaga dan pembeli mengadu berlaku masalah aliran trafik di barisan kedua lot pasar itu.
Menurut Tiew, para peniaga di barisan pertama dan kedua juga telah bersetuju untuk membuat pertukaran.
Sementara itu seorang peniaga OKU Cha Sher Nee,39, yang ditemui kesal dengan tindakan Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT) terbabit dan mahu agar lot itu kekal miliknya.
Menurut Cha, beliau bukan mahu mengungkit masalah yang dihadapinya, namun tindakan penukaran itu membebankan beliau.
Cha yang mula berniaga makanan sejuk beku sejak tiga bulan lalu itu merupakan penghidap asthma.
“Saya belajar berdikari,cari rezeki dan pendapatan yang saya terima hanya RM100-200 sahaja,itu pun kalau perniagaan baik.
“Saya bukan mahu jadi bos tapi mahu orang normal tahu saya boleh cari makan sendiri. Saya ada hak untuk berniaga di lot yang sedia ada itu.
“Gerai itu dibina untuk orang seperti saya. Walaupun belum ada perjanjian untuk saya keluar,tapi saya harap lot gerai itu diberi kepada saya,” kata Cha mewakili empat rakan yang turut mengalami masalah sepertinya.
Dalam pada itu, Ahli Majlis MBPJ Anthony Siva Balan Thanasayan mahu ahli parlimen Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Pua dan Tiew memohon maaf ke atas kelima-lima mangsa OKU itu.
“Kami mahu siasatan dibuat ke atas Pua dan Tiew oleh kerajaan Selangor dan tindakan dikenakan jika didapati bersalah.
“Kami mahu deklarasi agar mangsa akan terus kekal berniaga tanpa sebarang diskriminasi oleh ahli parlimen,ahli majlis atau peniaga lain kerana niat tertentu,”katanya.
Cha Seah Nee (duduk, dua dari kiri) bersama rakan-rakannya menunjukkan salinan laporan polis mengenai kekasaran yang dilakukan oleh kakitangan MBPJ di Petaling Jaya, semalam.
PETALING JAYA 24 Feb. - Usaha golongan orang kurang upaya (OKU) untuk hidup berdikari dan mencari pendapatan sendiri ternyata tidak semudah yang dijangka.
Malah, mereka turut menjadi mangsa penindasan pihak-pihak tertentu walaupun perkara berkenaan tidak sepatutnya berlaku.
Itulah yang berlaku kepada seorang peniaga OKU apabila tapak gerai yang telah diperuntukkan kepadanya sebelum ini cuba ditukar oleh Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ).
Lebih menyedihkan, pihak berkuasa tempatan itu didakwa turut mengugut dan mengasarinya dalam usaha memaksa peniaga itu dan beberapa peniaga kecil lain berpindah dari gerai yang diperuntukkan kepada mereka sebelum ini.
Insiden di pasar Taman Megah di sini itu didakwa berlaku sejak beberapa minggu lalu.
Peniaga OKU, Cha Seah Nee, 39, berkata, dia tidak menyangka kakitangan MBPJ sanggup bertindak begitu kasar terhadap OKU sepertinya.
"Saya bukan peniaga haram. Saya ada lesen dan telah diberikan tapak gerai untuk saya, sesuai dengan keupayaan saya sebagai OKU," katanya yang berkerusi roda kerana lumpuh kedua-dua belah kaki.
Seah Nee ditemui pemberita selepas bersama empat peniaga lain membuat laporan di Balai Polis Sea Park hari ini berhubung tindakan kasar serta ugutan oleh pihak MBPJ itu.
Mereka membuat laporan dengan bantuan Badan Latihan dan Hidup Berdikari (ILTC).
Kekecewaan sama turut dialami oleh Daisy Rani, 48, yang menjual bunga di kawasan itu.
Menurutnya, dia telah diberi lesen untuk berniaga di salah satu tapak bahagian hadapan di pasar berkenaan sejak beberapa bulan lalu.
"Tapi beberapa minggu lalu, pihak MBPJ tiba-tiba meminta dan mendesak kami mengosongkan tapak berkenaan dan berpindah ke bahagian belakang yang lebih jauh," katanya kesal.
Tindakan itu bukan sahaja menyukarkan kami tetapi juga akan merugikan.
"Kami tidak setuju kerana ia jauh dan menyukarkan kami untuk memunggah barang jualan," katanya.
Sementara itu, Presiden ILTC, G. Francis Siva ketika ditemui berkata, MBPJ bukan sahaja telah mendiskriminasikan golongan OKU malah menyekat peluang mereka untuk hidup berdikari.
Katanya, baru-baru ini, satu memorandum telah diserahkan kepada Ahli Majlis MBPJ, T. Anthony Siva Balan bagi membawa perkara itu kepada Datuk Bandar Petaling Jaya.
Siva Balan yang menyifatkan tindakan itu sebagai kejam meminta Datuk Bandar menyiasat perkara itu bagi mencari punca tindakan tersebut diambil oleh MBPJ.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Taman Megah market stalls issue hot topic at full board meeting
