Keep disabled man as PJ councillor, S'gor urged

Keep Thanasayan As MBPJ Councillor Says Strongman Chong

 

Koh Jun Lin
11:21AM Mar 13, 2012

Keep disabled man as PJ councillor, S'gor urged

Five NGOs involved in the welfare of disabled people have handed over a memorandum to the Selangor government in support of embattled Petaling Jaya city councillor Anthony Siva Balan Thanasayan.

The delegation of about 20 arrived at the state government headquarters in Shah Alam about 11am yesterday to submit the memorandum to Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and the exco member in charge of local government Ronnie Liu.

Persatuan Warga Istimewa dan Rehabilitasi Anggota K9 (Perwira K9) founding chairperson Chong Tuck Meng told Malaysiakini the memo, among others, calls for Anthony to be allowed to continue his work for disabled people.

“He is doing a very good and professional job in areas such as accessibility issues at car parks and toilets for wheelchair-bound persons. He dares to challenge other councillors to make things right,” Chong said.

Other groups present were the Dyslexia Association of Malaysia, Malaysian Animal-assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive), Community Services for the Deaf and Independent Living and Training Centre.

Petition against Anthony

The memo also calls on the state to form a ‘technical committee for the disabled’ and to ensure that disabled persons are represented in local councils, including those other than the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

“They are the ones who know what to expect, what to change and what to modify to suit our needs,” said Chong.

English daily New Straits Times reported last Thursday that two NGOs, one for disabled persons and the other for animal welfare, were opposing Anthony’s reappointment as MBPJ councillor.

It quoted Warga OKU PJ vice-president Azlan Elias as saying that Anthony had failed in his duty because few places in Petaling Jaya have facilities for the disabled, while a Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better spokesperson complained that he interfered with their animal welfare efforts.

The second group is also collecting signatures against Anthony, garnering 1,254 signatures as of 7.15pm yesterday.

End or article

Meanwhile, here is the memo that was sent to the Menteri Besar:

MEMORANDUM

Y.A.B. TAN SRI DATO` ABD KHALID BIN IBRAHIM
DATO` MENTERI BESAR SELANGOR

PEJABAT DATO` MENTERI BESAR SELANGOR
TINGKAT 21, BANGUNAN SSAAS

40503 SHAH ALAM

SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN

Y.B. TUAN RONNIE LIU TIAN KHIEW
 PENGERUSI JAWATANKUASA TETAP KERAJAAN TEMPATAN, KAJIAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN

PEJABAT AHLI MAJLIS MESYUARAT KERAJAAN NEGERI SELANGOR

TINGKAT 15, BANGUNAN SSAAS

40503 SHAH ALAM

SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN

We, representatives of nationally registered societies for the disabled in the country are alarmed and dismayed by the recent attempts by some quarter’s criticism to try and stop Anthony Siva Balan Thanasayan from becoming councillor of the city of Petaling Jaya.

Thanasayan had already been selected to serve the 2012/2013 term and we deeply regret that the personal attacks by a disgruntled few have resulted in his delay in being appointed as councillor.

As such, we would like to strongly urge the Menteri Besar not to be influenced by the baseless allegations made by the some individuals.

Rather we would like Tan Sri Khalid to immediately reappoint Thanasayan as councillor as planned and judge him by his impeccable performance. 

Thanasayan was responsible to bring not one, but two outstanding OKU awards for MBPJ during his tenure.

The first one is called Anugerah Khas Kemudahan OKU 2009/2010 untuk Anugerah Alam Sekitar Bandar Lestari Anjuran KPKT. The second one is Anugerah Khas Kemudahan OKU 2010/2011 Anjuran SUK.

In addition to that, we want Thanasayan back for the following key reasons:

• To complete all the projects and programmes that Thanasayan pioneered for the benefit for people with disabilities and the elderly in Petaling Jaya. These include never before covered car parks for the handicapped, outreach programmes to renovate toilets and living conditions for the disabled and elderly in poorer parts of PJ such as Taman Medan and PPR flats in Kota Damansara.
• Thanasayan also pioneered the State to set up disability committees in all 12 of its councils. Thanasayan was assigned with his special committee by YB Ronnie Liu to follow up with each councils with visits and support to ensure that the special committees are up and running. The setting up of such committees in each PBT is vital to ensure that the needs of the disabled especially in accessibility is met.
• Thanasayan has also been working with a broad group of people with disabilities – not only with people in wheelchairs but the blind, Deaf, little people, people with stroke, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and even people with mental illness.
• We urge the Selangor State Government to appoint more disabled councillors in the PBT’s. The disabled communities hereby would like to highlight there are no new disabled councillors appointed for the new term’s.      

The abovementioned statement is endorsed by:

1. Independent Living and Training Centre Malaysia
2. Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive) 
3. Persatuan Warga Istimewa & Rehabilitasi Anggota K9, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Perwira K9 Malaysia
4. Community Services for the Deaf
5. Dyslexia Association of Malaysia
6. Friends of Kota Damansara.

Thursday March 8, 2012

A chance to be heard

 The disabled want greater accessibility and job opportunities, not pity.

MORE than 10,000 people, including the disabled, had a great time when they gathered at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, last Sunday.

They were there at a function to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

Representatives from as many as 1,000 NGOs turned up at the gathering under the 1Malaysia people’s welfare programme (KAR1SMA).

Shahrizat gave each one of them a rousing tribute, saying that “without (your untiring work), we would be nowhere”.

On his part, the Prime Minister pointed out the need to reach out to every disabled person.

“Persons with disabilities do not want our pity; they deserve equal opportunities instead and we must give them that,” Najib said.

Several NGOs were given an opportunity to make their requests directly to the Prime Minister. Organisations that work with people with disabilities asked for greater accessibility, jobs to help them eke out a living, and representation of their issues in Parliament.

There were, however, some glitches at the event which I hope the organisers will look into for future programmes.

Only one lift was in working order in the stadium. This resulted in “traffic jams” for wheelchairs, especially during breaks. Not every wheelchair-user had assistance during mealtimes. We were put in the awkward position of asking the waiters for help.

On another note, the Faculty of Creative Multimedia at the Multimedia University (MMU) in Cyberjaya put together an interesting talk last Friday.

Prof Julio Abascal, an accessibility expert from Spain, spoke on “Universal accessibility to ubiquitous services: Supporting the everyday life of people with restrictions.”

Blind activist Yam Tong Woo, 58, e-mailed me his views on the event.

“All my blind friends and those in wheelchairs who attended the talk agreed it was one of the best sessions we have been to in recent times. We all listened in rapt attention as Prof Abascal disclosed how advances in Internet technology and computer software are revolutionising the lives of the disabled and elderly citizens in Europe.

“He pointed out how ubiquitous computing can help vulnerable people stay safe by providing useful information for their specific needs, whether it is at home, in the office or in the streets.”

According to Prof Abascal, elderly people who live alone can now be better monitored at home through computer technology and interfaces.

“Such information is vital in community nursing homes and independent living centres for the severely handicapped.

“Special devises and sensors to detect movements and other activities, can help monitor the safety and health of the individual. Say, if an elderly person slips in the bathroom or elsewhere and sustains a fall, an alert would be triggered within seconds to a medical control centre that will send help immediately.”

Prof Abascal gave an interesting insight into ways in which ubiquitous computering can enhance accessibility for the disabled and the elderly.

“A mobile device could be linked via interface to an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) kiosk ito revolutionise how disabled people manage their banking transactions. Those who would benefit from this technology are the blind, little people and wheelchair users.”

Out of bounds

Yam notes that it is a shame that in Malaysia, ATM kiosks remain out of bounds to the blind community.

“ATMs are not user-friendly for the visually impaired. Worse still, local banks do not allow us to own ATM cards; overseas countries have no problems with such issues.

“Prof Abascal showed us how a universal remote device that could enable disabled persons to be more independent – whether indoors or outdoors – is currently undergoing prototype testing.

“A wheelchair-user or the visually impaired could, for example, use the mobile device to operate the lift’s control panel, switch on the lights, or turn on electrical and electronic appliances and gadgets.

Prof Abascal reminded everyone that accessibility was an issue which would become of increasing concern in an ageing population, added Yam.

On a final note, it is regretful that MMU’s toilet for the disabled was out of order.

The management should make it a point to keep the toilet in working condition throughout the year.

‘Revoking aid to disabled farmer a shameful act’

K Pragalath

 | March 6, 2012

PKR vice president N Surendran says that the aid termination for disabled Sarawak farmer Frusis Lebi is a high-handed, unlawful, intolerant and shameful act.

PETALING JAYA: PKR vice president N Surendran said denying aid to a disabled farmer in Sarawak was a high-handed and a shameful act by the BN led Sarawak government.

Fifty-one-year-old Frusis Lebi’s hands and feet are deformed. So it came as a double blow to him when he discovered last year that both his welfare allowance and his subsidies for fertilitiser and seedlings were revoked.

Lebi, who lives in Entulang longhouse in Sri Aman, is an opposition supporter who believes he has been victimised by Mong Dagang, the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief, who is also the State Assistant Minister of Agriculture (research and marketing).

Lebi’s biggest mistake was  that he openly supported the opposition in the last state election and hoisted a PKR flag in front of his house.

He added that the (Sarawak Chief Minister) Taib Mahmud administration breached the constitution and that BN’s action was against democracy.

“By punishing Frusis Lebi for supporting the opposition, the Sarawak state government has breached his constitutional right to freedom of association under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

“What the BN has done in Frusis Lebi’s case goes against the very basis of our democratic system of government. It also makes nonsense of Prime Minister Najib’s promises of reform and a fairer administration,” said Surendran in a press statement.

Surendran also accused BN of being insensitive to the needs of the disabled community and failed to hear the plight of the disabled as echoed by disabled advocacy groups.

“Indeed, the BN government acts as if the disabled do not exist.

“The BN has a long track record of complete insensitivity to the needs of the disabled.

“The needs of the disabled in terms of education, access to public facilities and employment opportunities have long been neglected under the BN,” he said.

Surendran further charged that Mong Dagang’s actions was a reflection of BN’s track record in coercing support for the party.

“This disgraceful act is also consistent with Barisan Nasional’s long history of misusing government powers to bribe, threaten, terrorise and illegally pressure citizens into supporting the BN.”

He also wants the Sarawak state government to apologise to Lebi with both welfare and subsidies restored.

Disabled ‘punished’ for supporting PKR

Disabled ‘punished’ for supporting PKR

Joseph Tawie

 | March 5, 2012

A Sarawak State Assistant Minister allegedly showed his 'cruel' side when he instructed two government departments to revoke aid to a deformed man.

SRI AMAN: Fifty-one-year-old Frusis Lebi’s hands and feet are deformed. So it came as a double blow to him when he discovered last year that both his welfare allowance and his subsidies for fertilitiser and seedlings were revoked.

Lebi, who lives in Entulang longhouse in Sri Aman, is an opposition supporter who believes he has been victimised by Mong Dagang, the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief, who is also the State Assistant Minister of Agriculture (research and marketing)

Lebi’s biggest mistake is that he openly supported the opposition in the last state election and hoisted a PKR flag in front of his house.

A “heartless” Dagang had apparently instructed his officers to cancel Lebi’s subsidies and allegedly advised the Welfare Department to do the same. Both forms of aid stopped in October last year.

Armed with the letter allegedly from Dagang, Lebi sought the help of the Sri Aman DAP branch chairman, Leon Jimat Donald.

Together they lodged a police report last Friday against Dagang, for allegedly abusing his power against a disabled man.

“I am extremely shocked to read the letter believed to be from Dagang to the Departments of Agriculture and Welfare instructing them to revoke agricultural subsidies and welfare allowance for him on grounds that Lebi openly supported the opposition.

“I couldn’t believe that Dagang is so cruel and heartless against a disabled man on the grounds that he supported the opposition and hoisted a PKR flag in front of his house, and that he was against government policy.

“Dagang also allegedly accused Lebi of permitting the opposition to use his house as an operation centre” said Jimat.

Cruel act

Jimat said that Lebi did not deny that he was supporting the opposition during the last state election.

But he has vehemently denied that his house was the operation centre for the opposition.

“All he did was to put up the PKR flag in front of his house,” Jimat said, adding that the party was appalled by this excessive punishment and inhumane treatment of Lebi.

He said Dagang had no right to be “so cruel” to a disabled man, especially since the government aid came from the taxpayers.

“How can Dagang be so cruel to deny Lebi, a disabled man, his government aid? It is not Dagang’s personal money, neither is it Barisan Nasional’s money.

“It is the taxpayers’ money. All Malaysians pay taxes regardless whether they support Pakatan Rakyat or BN.

‘Unfair policies’

“I believe Lebi is not against government policy per se, but he is surely against the unfair and unjust policies of BN, which happens to be the government of the day.

“He was probably hoisting the PKR flag during the election with the hope that Pakatan would be the next state government,” Jimat said.

Jimat said that Dagang’s letter clearly reflected his total disregard and utter contempt for Lebi’s democratic rights.

Demanding that Dagang apologise to Lebi and his family, he also said the former should restore Lebi’s government subsidies and welfare allowance.

“Being government departments, the Welfare and Agriculture Departments should not allow themselves to be used as political tools of Dagang,” he said.

“They (government departments) cannot take part in politics, otherwise everything will go haywire when the Pakatan forms the next government,” he added.

Article - The Star on 02-03-2012

Selangor adopts training centre

Friday, March 2, 2012

Selangor adopts training centre

THE Independent Living and Training Centre Malaysia (ILTC Malaysia) will be adopted by the state to run programmes for the disabled.

Rawang assemblyman Gan Pei Nei, who pledged RM10,000 to ILTC for its new building, said the state was impressed with how ILTCM helped the disabled community.

Gan, who has been appointed special assistant to Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, said she would bring State Welfare Committee chairman Rodziah Salleh to visit the ILTCM new building in Kampung Sungai Bakau Tambahan in Rawang.

“ILTCM is a role model for the disabled community. Currently, there are many public facilities that are not disabled-friendly like public transportation, banks and car parks,’’ said Gan during ILTCM fund-raising dinner held at Restoran Yau Kee in Rawang.

Selayang Parliamentary coordinator Jessie Ooi pledged RM10,000 while Selayang MP William Leong pledged RM3,000.

The major pledges were from Tan Sri Halim Ali, who is Gapurna Sdn Bhd chairman, giving RM50,000 and a group of individuals from Bala and Anand pledging RM5,000.

ILTCM president Francis Siva said that the centre’s target was almost half-way there after raising RM130,000 during the dinner.

“We need RM300,000 to complete our own building in Kampung Sungai Bakau Tambahan.

“So far, ILTCM has forked out about RM400,000 and their one-storey building is about 70% complete.

“At present, the training centre for the disabled is situated in a bungalow at Taman Garing in Rawang where the association has been renting for 12 years.

“We need a building that can accommodate and train about 20 to 30 disabled people at a time.

“In 2005, the previous state government had given us a 30,400sq ft lot in Kg Sg Dua Tambahan and we had purchased an additional 13,000sq ft of land in October 2010 next to our existing plot to make the area bigger,’’ said Francis.

Friday February 17, 2012

 ILTCM in need of funds

INDEPENDENT Living and Training Centre Malaysia (ILTCM) needs about RM300,000 to complete their own building in Kampung Sungai Bakau Tambahan in Rawang.

So far, ILTCM has forked out about RM400,000 and their one-storey building is about 70% complete.

“At present, the training centre for the disabled is situated in a bungalow at Taman Garing in Rawang where the association has been renting for 12 years

Work in progress: The disabled people from ILTCM looking at the building in Kampung Sungai Bakau Tambahan.

“We need a building that can accommodate and train about 20 to 30 disabled people at any given time.

“In 2005, the previous state government had given us a 30,400sq ft lot in Kg Sg Dua Tambahan and we had purchased an additional 13,000sq ft of land in October 2010 next to our existing plot to make the area bigger,’’ said Francis during a visit.

ILTCM secretary Gurdip Kaur hopes that the Federal Govern-ment or state government would provide the funds to complete the building.

“We are hoping to raise funds through a charity dinner at Restoran Yau Kee in Taman Sri Hijau, Rawang at 7.30pm on Feb 18,’’ she said.

Those who want to donate to ILTCM can contact Francis at 019-338 5959.

16 February 2012 | last updated at 11:49pm

Suhakam sets up task force for disabled

By NURADILLA NOORAZAM
KUALA LUMPUR
news@nst.com.my 

Commission seeks improvement in public services for people with disabilities

  THE Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has initiated a task force to come up with a  system to monitor  public facilities and policies for the disabled with the aim of providing a better living and working environment for them.

  Suhakam commissioner James Deva Nayagam said the task force would look into public transport services, facilities in buildings,  healthcare and education to ensure that the rights of the disabled were taken care of.

"More needs to be done to raise awareness of society on the rights of the disabled community and the problems that they face in their daily lives.

  "Basic facilities in buildings and other amenities are still lacking. Many still face problems in securing jobs. Some even have problem in renting and buying properties.

  "This has resulted in some of them preferring to stay at home," he said after a meeting organised by Suhakam with government agencies and the disabled community here yesterday.

   Nayagam said despite the establishment of the Persons with Disabilities Act in 2008, the law was still not fully enforced.

   For example, he said the disabled were not entitled to insurance.

   "How do we go about protecting them and their families when there is an emergency?" asked another Su-hakam commissioner Muammad Sha'ani Abdullah.

   He said although there was a quota in the workforce for person with disabilities, employers were still reluctant to hire them.

   Nayagam said the task force needed to get feedback from the public and also from the disabled community.

   "We need their perspectives to understand their situation better."

   Nayagam said the task force would come up with a report on the monitoring system, which was expected to be completed next month.

On the bright side of things

Thursday February 9, 2012 

On the bright side of things 

What may come across as a stroke of bad luck might be a blessing in disguise.

IT’S often said that true love has a sure way of finding you – no matter where you are or what you do.

Recently, I discovered how marvellously true this saying is.

And best of all, it doesn’t matter if you happen to be a person with a disability.

I had the pleasure of meeting an inspiring gentleman by the name of Theeban Vengadesh recently.

For six years, Theeban was in a happy relationship with a girl who had agreed to marry him. He worked as a lorry assistant and driver and took every opportunity to visit his sweetheart whenever he passed her way on his job routes around the country. They had met each other’s parents and everything had been set for their big day.

Music man: Theeban Vengadesh (foreground) lost the use of his legs in a terrible accident, but he has not lost his zest for life.

Testing faith

Then something horrible happened that changed everything.

Two years ago, Theeban was fixing the canvas on his lorry when a forklift driven by another worker crashed into his lorry. The impact was so great that it caused Theeban to be thrown off the lorry. He flew several feet in the air and landed on his back.

The dazed Theeban recalled being helped by his co-workers, but when they attempted to lift the young man off the ground, Theeban heard his spinal cord snap and he passed out.

When he finally woke up, he was in hospital surrounded by health professionals. The doctors broke the hard news to him that he would not be able to walk again.

That was hard to accept, but he did not expect the reaction of his fiancée.

“She visited me only once in the hospital,” said Theeban.

“When she discovered that I was paralysed, she stopped coming. She refused to take my calls. Her family’s reaction towards me also soured,” Theeban added.

Even his doctors felt sorry for their patient. They thought that he would not be able to pull through his depression.

However, after a failed suicide attempt the young man bounced back. He decided to give life all he had.

Theeban went through gruelling physiotherapy at the hospital for nearly nine months and learnt to live again.

It was during this time that he met his new girlfriend, a nurse named Anu, who turned his life around.

“It wasn’t a typical ‘love at first sight’ encounter,” Theeban laughed, when I asked him about it.

“I was about to cross the road to get to the hospital when I noticed this kind nurse who was looking at me.

“I beckoned to her for help. And that was the start of a whole new world for me, as well as for her.

“She looks after me as no one possibly can. I love her deeply and care for her tremendously.
“Anu and I go about almost anywhere,” said Theeban. “She is never shy or afraid to take me out in her car.”

In fact, when people stop to stare at the couple, Anu or Theeban just smile at them and say they are very much in love – and that the date for their wedding is being discussed.

Both sides of the family are delighted by the latest developments.

For both Anu and Theeban, it is a life that neither had expected.

Theeban has organised a surprise outing for Anu on Valentine’s Day on Tuesday.

When I tried to get some hints on what he was planning to do, Theeban was completely tight-lipped about it.

Zest for life

All he was willing to say was how foolish he felt for trying to take his life before.

Theeban, who currently lives and trains at the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) in Rawang, Selangor, is out to take life as it comes his way.

“What initially seemed to be a stroke of bad luck turned out to be a good thing for me,” said a beaming Theeban.

His advice to others in the same position is never to give up on life, no matter what.

“Just when you think that life is not worth living, hang in there for true love will eventually find you,” he concluded.

Theeban is currently learning social skills, and how to use the computer and ride a motorcycle at the ILTC.

He and his future wife intend to adopt a toy dog as a pet.

Thursday February 2, 2012

Quietude amid the revelry

Festive occasions are a good time to reflect on what’s important in life.

LAST week’s Chinese New Year (CNY) celebrations may have gone down as one of the noisiest and most spectacular occasions for many in recent times. There was no way of snuffing out the flamboyance and magic of the fire-breathing Black Water Dragon even for those who chose to spend the occasion away from the usual revelry.

Retired audio technician Francis Chan from Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, was one of them. Chan, 64, decided to get away from it all and spend the holidays at his sister’s home in Pekan Nanas in Pontian, Johor. His 73-year-old sister is the only surviving member among his five siblings.

“There is plenty of peace and tranquillity in Pekan Nanas compared to the much faster pace in KL,” relates Francis, who became blind nearly 30 years ago. “But unlike in Brickfields, the residents in this sleepy pineapple town have much to learn about the blind. The few people that I met and talked to treated me as if I was an alien. When they saw me using my mobile, they thought I was bluffing when I told them I am blind.”

Chan discovered that the blind in Pekan Nanas are hardly seen in public; most of them spend their time at home.

“This attitude needs to be changed through counselling which can best be offered by NGOs working with the blind,” says Chan who works part-time as a masseur.

M. Murugan, 31, from Rasah Jaya in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, had a most unusual CNY this year. Instead of joining his handicapped friends in visiting open houses in Rawang, Selangor, he decided to stay behind at the training centre for the disabled to look after the place.

Murugan, who became a paraplegic following a motorcycle accident in 2010, enrolled at the centre last November. He was at a loss as to how to continue his new life in a wheelchair. He joined the disabled centre because he wanted to meet others who are in a similar situation.

Murugan said the quiet time he spent during the holidays helped him greatly. It gave him time to think about what’s important in life. Now he has the confidence to face the challenges ahead.

Murugan recalled his nightmare two years ago when he woke up in the hospital bed to find both his legs amputated. Now he has comes to terms with his disability. “Life goes on even if you are in a wheelchair!” Murugan adds.

For seasoned wheelchair-user Chong Tuck Meng, there is so much more that needs to be done by the relevant authorities for the disabled community in the country. Chong, 50, who hails from Bentong in Pahang, feels that the disabled should be part and parcel of any festive celebration.

“Always be prepared to go the extra mile,” urges Chong, who is president of five NGOs working for the handicapped. Quite an accomplishment, considering that Chong is unable to feed or dress himself as he is paralysed from the neck down following a motorcycle accident three decades ago.

Chong reminds those who invite the disabled to functions, to look into their transportation needs.

Born in the Year of the Ox, Chong says he is taking the opportunity of the Dragon’s irrepressible and free spirit to champion and speak up more for the rights and concerns of the disabled over the next 12 months.

“Society needs to be reminded that people with disabilities are part of the community. The disabled should be our chief concern and we should lend them a helping hand. We must never forget that one day, we could very well become disabled, too!” Chong adds.

Progress Report: Updates - Photos of Construction Progress at ILTC Project on 02/02/2012

PROGRESS REPORT: Updates - Photos of Construction Progress at ILTC Project on 02/02/2012 

News - Malaysia Nanban Daily 1-2-2012