Building Committee Meeting

Building Committee Meeting held on 9th July 2012 at Lot 114, Kg. Sungai Dua Tambahan, Taman Garing , 48000 Rawang, Selangor Darul Ehsan

President of ILTC Malaysia thanked the all the Members for their presence to the 2nd Committee Meeting.

INVITED TO TALK AT HELP UNIVERSITY

Ms. Rina (Secretary of ILTC Malaysia) formally invited her to speak approximately 150 students at HELP University, 2nd Year Psychology students, on the topic “Living with Physical Disability in Malaysia” with sharing of her experiences as person with disability living in Malaysia.

Date: 19th June 2012, Tuesday

Time: 9.30am - 10. 30am

Venue: Department of Psychology, WISMA HELP, Jalan Dungu, Pusat Bandar Damansara.

Topic: Living with Physical Disability in Malaysia:

She was given a little background about her and shared about her life in general some of the challenges she faced daily as a disabled person in Malaysia.

She was shared the support available to help physically disabled people gain independence and functional living skills.

She was shared the attitudes of the Malaysian society towards disabilities and how do these help or hinder her lifestyle.

In conclusion, she advice that how we can do as a society to help improve the quality of life of disabled people in our own community.

There were also have attended lectures on other areas of exceptional development such as intellectual disabilities, autism, dyslexia, ADHD and language disorders.

At the end of the her talk, she answered all the questions from students at the floor.

ILTC Malaysia would like to thanks Ms Tan Cheng Yi (Chartered Educational Psychologist) for given this opportunity. 

Wednesday August 1, 2012

Disabled by the abled

So Aunty, So What?
By JUNE H.L. WONG

American comedian Jerry Lewis might have joked about it – ‘Pity? You don’t want to be pitied because you’re a cripple in a wheelchair? Stay in your house!’ – but there’s nothing funny about being denied access to most things the able-bodied take for granted.

IT’S Saturday night and the mall is packed. The crowd is building up in front of the lifts and everyone is watching eagle-eyed to see which lift doors will open to take them up or down.

Getting in requires strategy: you place yourself close to the doors, ease in as soon as you can, sometimes not waiting for people to exit even. Otherwise, you might just miss the ride.

That’s what the able-bodied do. Now imagine if you have someone in a wheelchair. You would think people would be nice enough to give way, right?

Forget it. If anything, when they see someone in a wheelchair, people will deliberately stand in front of the wheelchair and thereby effectively cutting off access to the lift.

No, when you have someone in a wheelchair, you need a different kind of strategy. You push the wheelchair as close to the doors as possible. You also look mean as if you are prepared to run over toes; and that’s a real possibility because you will need space to reverse the wheelchair into the lift.

Lots of other people don’t understand that. But just think: when you enter a lift, do you stand facing the back of the lift or you turn around to face the doors? So why do you think a person in a wheelchair should not do the same?

Indeed, I speak from personal experience. I am not in a wheelchair but I certainly spend enough time pushing someone in a wheelchair and believe you me there are pitifully few places that are disabled friendly.

Forget taking the wheelchair-bound for an evening “stroll” because in most neighbourhoods, except maybe in some new, swanky and gated ones, there aren’t even paved sidewalks to do that.

Shopping malls are your best bet because of their long, flat and generally smooth floors.

Even then beware: There are many hidden obstacles and inconveniences. For one, walkalators can be scary because the front wheels can get caught at the end of the walkway.

Scarier still are the disabled toilets because they are predictably dirty, wet and missing soap and toilet paper.

A sad irony, again from experience, is the shocking state of disabled toilets even in hospitals. The able-bodied can roll up pants, hover over toilet bowls in wet, filthy loos.

But what if you have to sit down to do your business? How would you feel if the toilet seat is missing and there isn’t even toilet paper to line the porcelain rim?

Access ramps at many hospitals are so steeped and sharp-angled, you really have to be strong to prevent the wheelchair from crashing. No way can a disabled person manage to wheel him or herself up or down such ramps.

The bad planning extends to the doors which are usually narrow and difficult to open.

But really, it doesn’t need a lot to make it easier for the disabled. All it takes is a bit of thoughtfulness and common sense. If we need an example, I will point south.

When I needed to take my dad to Singapore’s National University Hospital (NUH), I never worried about getting a wheelchair for him. There were always plenty parked in convenient bays at every entrance. And unlike here, you don’t need to hand over any ID to take one.

At NUH, every clinic and department has automatic sliding doors and the toilets are pristine.

Yes, I am on a bit of a warpath today because so many things make my blood boil where accessibility and facilities for the old and disabled are concerned.

As mentioned earlier, the shopping mall is usually the safest bet if we want a day out with my dad. My family tends to go to Gardens Mid-Valley Megamall simply because it has decent parking and long, smooth stretches of corridors with lots to see and do. Other families have the same idea. So on a weekend, it’s like Wheelchair Central there.

Even then, as I said, it’s a struggle to get into the lifts and the state of the toilets is always suspect.

So I worry for my dad and for myself because we are a nation that is slowly but surely tottering towards old age.

It has been reported Malaysia is expected to reach ageing nation status by 2035 with the number of people above the age of 60 making up 15% of the population. (According to the United Nations definition, a country with 10% of its population above 60 is an ageing nation.)

But do we need to wait for that to happen before we really provide safe and easy access for the disabled and the elderly? What about the ones who need such facilities right now?

True, it’s probably better now than say 15, 20 years ago. Awareness is higher and there are some basic concessions to the disabled like special parking lots. For that, I am to say The Star has played a key role.

We are the only newspaper to have regular columns on disability, first with Anthony Thanasayan’s Star2 column, Wheel Power, and more recently, with Ida Nerina whose column, Crazy, Sexy, Honestly, appears in Star2 on Sunday. Both are wheelchair users.

Anthony started writing almost 20 years ago. Today he is a Petaling Jaya City councillor and influencing PJ city policies and practices regarding the needs of the disabled. Ida, who is an actor, director and producer, is adding her voice from her unique perspective.

So there is progress but mostly on the facilities, the so-called hardware. But ultimately, like our recent stories on Ugly Malaysians and their rude behaviour, it boils down to people’s attitude and sense of civic-mindedness and decency.

Animal rights activists often quote Mahatma Gandhi for their cause: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

I would like to say that nation’s greatness and moral progress should also be judged by how we treat the old and the infirm for the simple reason that all of us, if we live long enough, can become either or both.

> The writer belongs to the sandwich generation: baby boomers who still have children to raise on one side and ageing parents to look after on the other. Sometimes that can be quite a tight squeeze.

Inner Wheel Club Subang 2nd Installation Dinner

Inner Wheel Club Subang 2nd Installation Dinner & Wheelchair giving ceremony at Holiday Villa Subang Jaya Selangor

Updates on the above said event held on 28/07/2012 from 1930 - 2130 a total of nine person representing ILTC was there to witness the handover of a new sport wheelchair to Mr Murugan a/l  Mariappan of ILTC. Everybody was having a good time buka puasa with good food, entertainments (Indian, Chinese & Malay songs), wheelchair dancing by Mr Murugan and catwalk by the beautiful models.

Attached with some photos

.

Thursday July 12, 2012

Tough guy

WHEEL POWER
By ANTHONY THANASAYAN

Disability and hardship serve as a motivating force for Chong Tuck Meng.

THIRTY years ago on July 4, my chum Chong Tuck Meng encountered the darkest moment in his life. Chong was riding pillion on a motorbike when it skidded. Chong and his best friend were flung onto the highway. The latter died on the spot. Chong survived the accident, but he was paralysed from the chest down.

Chong now needs assistance to carry out his daily activities. He needs help from the moment he wakes up. Someone has to help him into his wheelchair and to the bathroom. The same applies for dressing up and even eating his meals.

‘Giving up was never an option,’ says Chong Tuck Meng.

“It has been three decades since but a shiver still runs down my spine each time I think about the accident,” says Chong, 51, who hails from Bentong, Pahang.

Chong has undergone more than 30 surgeries to deal with various medical problems, but he has emerged stronger from each episode.

Chong is an inspiration to the disabled community in Malaysia. He has a number of feathers in his cap: he founded Perwira K9 Malaysia, an association that supports people with spinal cord injuries, 10 years ago. Chong is also into wheelchair sports: he is president of the Malaysian Wheelchair Rugby Federation.

Chong is married to Elizabeth Roxas, a Filipina, and the couple have a daughter who is studying in Universiti Malaya.

Rather than give up on life, Chong uses every opportunity to help others who are in the same predicament.

“My disability and the hardship I have endured motivate me to push on. Giving up was never an option,” says Chong. “Many doctors back then gave me a poor prognosis. But it is fantastic that I have survived the past 30 years and look forward to many more.”

Chong shares some pointers on what we can all do to make a difference in the lives of the handicapped. They include:

> All persons with disabilities – especially those with spinal injuries – should find out as much as they can about their condition. Healthcare professionals should ensure that every individual is given the right information regarding his or her disability or at least directed to an NGO or source where they can get the necessary information.

> It is important for all who work with the handicapped to note that it is not the individual alone who may suffer from neglect or lack of support. Their families and caregivers go through the same experience, so they need help and support, too. Many of them need a break. For example, they like to be able to go shopping or take a holiday.

> Exceptions should be made for persons with profound disabilities. They should never be discharged from hospital and sent home when they still need medical care for conditions like pressure sores. Quite a few of them have died as a result of the lack of care or their families did not know how to treat pressure sores. If hospitals are short of beds, then an alternative healthcare home should be made available so that they can have access to expert caregivers trained in medicine. These should be provided free for those who cannot afford to pay.

> A new rehabilitation hospital in Kuala Lumpur will be launched by the end of this year. It is said to be the best of its kind in South-East Asia. It will have modern and proper facilities and services. Whilst this is a very positive move by the Health Ministry, the Government should always think outside the box to ensure that disabled and elderly people who do not have access to such outfits are ensured of specialised homecare and help when their families are no longer around to look after them. One way is to provide caregivers, sponsored by the Government, to help the bedridden at home.

Chong hopes to see special allowances in the coming Budget for such caregivers, waiver of levy on foreign caregivers for the disabled, and a prompt replacement – without charge – if these foreign caregivers abscond. For stay-at-home patients, nursing care to dress wounds and free medicine should be provided by the nearest government hospital.

Thursday July 26, 2012

A chance to voice out

Wheel Power
By ANTHONY THANASAYAN

It is about time that our city pay attention to the needs of the disabled and build with them in mind.

MORE than 200 participants attended the PJ Liveable City Conference 2012 – City of Your Choice conference, organised by the Petaling Jaya City Council and the Malaysian Institute of Planners.

This was the second time the organisers were holding such an event after four years.

The purpose of the seminar, from my perspective, was to review, check and fine tune the goals of the 2008 conference. The vision was to make Petaling Jaya more “liveable” for all its residents with diverse needs.

It was good to see participants with disabilities at the seminar. The blind with their noticeable white canes and people in wheelchairs as well as the elderly were present.

The deaf were also invited, along with their sign-language interpreters. Judging from their participation, they certainly did not hesitate to express their views and concerns.

The talks that got my attention most were those by foreign experts who were invited to speak at the seminar. These included a husband and wife team, who were managing directors and consultants from Perth in Australia. The other trainer was from Canada.

The speakers offered valuable insight on how to effectively engage with the local government.

In terms of the local council, they reminded the authorities of the importance of including stakeholders in their planning and development projects.

No matter how critical some groups may be, it is still vital to embrace all residents and their special needs, they stressed. They then went on to point out the weaknesses in their own local governments and societies, as a learning curve for the benefit of the participants.

One of the things that made the disabled community sit up and pay attention was when one the experts suggested putting able-bodied local council heads, town planners and even architects, in wheelchairs for a day.

It was pointed out that this would be the most effective way to get people in positions of power to understand the needs of the handicapped community.

A blind participant said that he was thrilled to be invited to talk about his city’s future, especially as far as his needs as a blind resident was concerned.

He was delighted to be able to mingle with town planners, architects and Residents Association representatives.

“Many of the sighted persons were surprised that I had so much to contribute, even though I can’t see a thing,” he shared with me later.

He brought up the example of hotel facilities which were often not friendly towards the handicapped like him.

He had even met architects who hadn’t a clue about tactile flooring which are meant to assist the blind find their own way independently.

Another common problem was non-talking lifts. Since there are no voice synthesisers, blind people have no idea which floor they are getting off.

Braille buttons only help them decide which floor they want to get to.

A wheelchair-user said he always worries about accessibility whenever he goes out in his wheelchair.

“Hotels that don’t provide disabled-friendly car parks right at the entrance with wheelchair logos are actually saying to handicapped people that they don’t want us there. This is the message we indirectly get from them,” said the 51-year-old participant.

A liveable city for wheelchair users should have smooth pavements for wheelchairs, covered-up manholes, ramps in entrances of buildings and handicapped-friendly toilets on every floor, he pointed out.

An able-bodied participant, who is involved in several major development projects in the Klang Valley, said that it is high time that the handicapped and the elderly’s needs are taken into account in every aspect of city-building.

“Malaysia can no longer afford to be lackadaisical about this,” he added.

“Creating a community which is accessible and inclusive will help the disabled immensely. It is important for the government of the day (at state and federal levels) to prepare for access for the disabled and have an inclusive plan for Malaysians with special needs. Such a plan is much needed, considering the current trend where more and more people are growing older and becoming disabled.

“One can ask what does access and inclusion mean? It means different things to different people. By providing information, services and facilities that are accessible to people with various disabilities, an authority is reducing barriers to participation, and promoting inclusion in the activities and functions of that community,” he concluded.

The Liveable City Conference certainly opened up the eyes and hearts of many a participant that day.

Tukar kad OKU sebelum 31 Julai

Tukar kad OKU sebelum 31 Julai

WARTAWAN SINAR HARIAN
11 Julai 2012

Rosni (kiri) menunjukkan kad OKU yang baru manakala Penyelaras Unit OKU Jajahan Tumpat, Mazilah Othman (kanan) menunjukkan kad OKU lama.

TUMPAT – Semua pemegang kad orang kurang upaya (OKU) yang berdaftar dengan Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM) di daerah ini diminta menukar kad OKU yang lama kepada yang baru sebelum 31 Julai ini.

Pegawai JKM Tumpat, Rosni Yaakob berkata, masih ramai OKU di daerah ini belum menukar kad baru kerana berdasarkan rekod di jabatan mendapati seramai 1,570 orang masih memegang kad OKU lama.

“Pemegang kad OKU di daerah ini seramai 3,100 orang, namun yang sudah menukar kad tersebut hanya seramai 1,530 orang sahaja.

“Manakala yang belum menuntut kad OKU baru yang sudah siap seramai 443 orang,” katanya ketika ditemui di pejabatnya, kelmarin.

Rosni berkata, diingatkan kepada semua OKU, penukaran kad OKU versi baru yang mirip Mykad ini perlu untuk memastikan mereka terus menikmati kemudahan yang disediakan JKM.

“Penukaran kad ini perlu dilakukan selewat-lewatnya sebelum 31 Julai ini di pejabat JKM Tumpat.

“Mana-mana OKU yang masih memegang kad OKU lama perlu menukarnya dengan segera,” katanya.

Menurutnya, kad keahlian OKU baru yang bersaiz dan bercirikan seperti Mykad itu mula diperkenalkan sejak Ogos tahun lalu bagi menantikan kad sedia ada yang berbentuk plastik.

“Kad OKU yang baru ini tahan lasak serta dikeluarkan dalam satu warna sahaja, kad lama sebelum ini mempunyai pelbagai warna,” katanya.

Thank you for highlighting

ILTC Malaysia would like to thanking YB. Gan Pei Nei for bringing up the matter at the Sidang Dewan Negeri Selangor to set up OKU Technical Committee at the PBT’s in Selangor. 

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UCAPAN DEWAN TENTANG RANG UNDANG-UNDANG PEMBEKALAN TAMBAHAN 2012

Posted July 11, 2012 by Gan Pei Nei for RAWANG in Selangor, Sidang Dewan Negeri Selangor. 

Teks Ucapan saya pada Mesyuarat Ke-2 Persidangan Penggal Ke-5, Dewan Negeri Selangor Yang Ke-12.

Sidang DUN 2012

Terima kasih, Tuan Speaker kerana memberi peluang kepada Rawang untuk turut serta dalam perbahasan rang undang-undang pembekalan tambahan 2012.

Sebelum saya mengulas lebih lanjut, ingin saya ingatkan wakil-wakil rakyat daripada  BN, yang mewakili rakyat di Negeri Selangor, bahawa rakyat Selangor  menyumbangkan RM16 bilion ringgit kepada persekutuan setiap tahun dalam bentuk cukai, tetapi peruntukan yang disalurkan kembali untuk pembangunan Selangor adalah RM400 juta sahaja setiap tahun.  Sekiranya BN betul utamakan rakyat, saya cabar  wakil-wakill rakyat BN suruh Kerajaan Persekutuan salurkan peruntukan yang adil dan setimpal balik kepada Selangor.  Dengan ini, saya yakin Kerajaan Selangor boleh melaksanakan lebih banyak polisi dan program yang boleh memberi manfaat kepada rakyat Selangor, termasuk pendidikan percuma yang begitu diminati oleh pihak pembangkang.

Walaubagaimana pun, saya ingin mengucapkan syabas kepada Kerajaan PR di bawah pimpinan Menteri Besar Y.A.B Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim serta barisan EXCO kerana berjaya meneruskan Dasar Merakyatkan Ekonomi Negeri Selangor yang berpaksikan kepedulian kepada rakyat, walaupun menghadapi sekatan peruntukan daripada Kerajaan Persekutuan di bawah Barisan Nasional.

Dasar ini harus diteruskan dengan usaha bersepadu daripada semua pihak bagi membantu rakyat daripada golongan yang memerlukan, melalui sistem yang telus dan cekap, tanpa perlu melalui birokrasi yang banyak supaya rakyat boleh terus menikmati manfaat ini.

Tuan Speaker dan Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat Sekalian:

1)Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan

a) Tabung Keselamatan

Aspek keselamatan memang menjadi semakin runcing dan dibimbangi oleh rakyat.  Walaupun Menteri Dalam Negeri telah menolak tawaran Kerajaan Negeri Selangor bagi menempatkan polis bantuan untuk mengurangkan kadar jenayah dan menjaga keselamatan warga negeri Selangor, namun saya ingin mencadangkan kepada pihak kerajaan negeri supaya menggunakan peruntukkan negeri yang sedia ada untuk mewujudkan dana keselamatan di setiap Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT) melalui Jawatankuasa Bandar Selamat untuk menaik tarafkan ciri-ciri keselamatan infrastruktur khasnya seperti memasang spot-light, lampu jalan di tempat-tempat awam yang gelap.  Dana ini juga harus terbuka kepada persatuan penduduk serta NGO yang selama ini terlibat dalam aktiviti menjaga keselamatan di komuniti mereka.

b) Jawatankuasa Teknikal Orang Kelainan Upaya (OKU)

Rawang juga ingin mengetahui status terkini tentang Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT) yang manakah telah menubuhkan Jawatankuasa Teknikal Kemudahan Orang Kelainan Upaya (OKU) bagi merancang dasar di setiap PBT mewujudka demi suasana persekitaran yang Bebas Kekangan (Free Barrier) dan senang diakses oleh golongan kelainan upaya.  Cadangan Rawang adalah supaya setiap PBT membuat laporan audit kemudahan OKU bagi mengenal pasti sejauh manakah perancangan perbandaran adalah mesra OKU dan cadangan pembaikan yang perlu dilaksanakan.  Kerajaan Negeri Selangor juga harus memberi latihan dan wujudkan sistem sokongan bagi membolehkan ahli jawatankuasa sentiasa peka terhadap perkembangan terkini berkenaan keperluan dan polisi untuk golongan OKU.

c) Zon BERSIH

Pembersihan dan pengurusan sisa pepejal merupakan satu aspek yang penting bagi menjamin kesejahteraan komuniti tempatan.   Kerajaan negeri perlu mewujudkan satu perancangan yang lebih holistik yang memberi penumpuan bukan sahaja kepada mengambil alih aspek pembersihan daripada Alam Flora dan memulihkan tapak pelupusan sampah; malahan saya ingin mencadangkan supaya industri pengurusan sisa pepejal ini distrukturkan semula dengan menubuhkan sebuah konsortium yang memungut, memantau dan mengitar semula sisa pepejal yang dikutip.

Konsep Zon Bersih, yang mana sekarang wujudnya zon hijau, sepatutnya diintegrasikan menjadi Zon Mampan, (sustainable zone) dengan izin supaya fokus kepada inovatif untuk menggabungkan sumber alam seperti air, solar serta sisa sampah yang ada dalam sesuatu komuniti itu untuk mewujudkan suasana persekitaran yang mampan.  Kempen kesedaran kepada masyarakat umum untuk mengasingkan sampah, menjalankan kompos di rumah, mengkitar semula sampah yang dibuang dan dikutip bagi menjaga alam sekitar haruslah dipergiatkan.  Hasil sampah yang dikutip ini boleh dikitar semula menjadi barang yang mesra alam dan seterusnya dijual untuk menjadi sumber ekonomi Kerajaan Negeri Selangor.  Sebagai contohnya di Taiwan, Kerajaan Tempatannya menggunakan minyak masak yang dikutip dan dikitar semula menjadi sabun untukk dijual.

Dengan ini, saya ingin mencadangkan supaya Kerajaan Negeri juga menambahkan peruntukan untuk Alam Sekitar supaya kempen-kempen seperti Forum Hijau boleh diadakan di setiap DUN di Negeri Selangor.  Program ini membolehkan Y.B EXCO untuk turun padang dan mendekati komuniti tempatan bagi menjelaskan dasar alam sekitar kerajaan dan seterusnya memberi ruang kepada orang ramai untuk mmemberi maklum balas.  Seperti contoh, Forum Hijau yang diadakan di Rawang sempena Hari Alam Sekitar pada tahun lepas telah mendapat sambutan yang baik daripada penduduk tempatan yang mana ramai melontarkan idea dan keprihatinan mereka terhadap isu alam sekitar di tempat tinggal mereka seperti pembanguan di cerun bukit, pencemaran alam sekitar dan sebagainya.  Y.B Kajang juga telah adakan Karnival Hari Bumi yang melibatkan kampung-kampung di kawasan Kajang bagi memupuk kesedaran tentang cinta terhadap alam sekitar.  Usaha seperti ini perlu diteruskan supaya rakyat memahami polisi kerajaan dan seterusnya melibatkan diri untuk bersama-sama melindungi alam sekitar di Selangor.

Tuan Speaker dan Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat Sekalian:

2) Pendidikan

a) Tabung Pendidikan Anak-anak Syarikat Negeri Selangor

Rawang menyambut baik usaha Kerajaan Negeri Selangor yang telah mewujudkan Tabung Pendidikan Anak-anak dan badan-badan berkanun negeri yang berjumlah RM10juta pada bulan Mac tahun ini untuk memberi biasiswa, dermasiswa dan bantuan kepada warga kerja anak-anak syarikat kerajaan negeri dan anak-anak mereka yang berkelayakan untuk melanjutkan pengajian ke peringkkat yang lebih tinggi.

Rawang ingin tahu berapa orangkah yang mendapat manfaat daripada tabung ini.  Saya juga ingin mencadangkan supaya Kerajaan Negeri Selangor membuka tawaran biasiswa/pinjaman pendidikan Anak Syarikat Selangor tersebut kepada orang awam memandangkan permintaan untuk permohonan adalah begitu tinggi sejajar dengan dasar Kerajaan Negeri Selangor yang hendak melahirkan warga negeri yang berilmu.  Mereka yang telah menamatkan pengajian juga harus ditawarkan peluang pekerjaan untuk bekerja dengan anak-anak syarikat Kerajaan Negeri Sel dan agensi-agensi Kerajaan Negeri Sel supaya ilmu kepakaran mereka boleh digarap dan disumbangkan balik kepada pembangunan masyarakat dan negeri Sel.

3) WIFI PERCUMA

 Selain itu, Rawang juga meyambut baik inisiatif kerajaan negeri untuk mengadakan WIFI percuma di seluruh negeri Selangor, namun usaha ini perlu disegerakan.  Rawang ingin mencadangkan supaya Info Desa yang ada sekarang boleh dikaji bilangannya dan ditambahkan, serta diadakan kelas komputer percuma untuk warga desa bagi mengurangkan jurang infomasi antara desa dan bandar.

Kerajaan Negeri juga harus memberi komputer secara percuma kepada pelajar-pelajar daripada keluarga yang kurang mampu supaya mereka juga boleh menerima manfaat daripada dasar kerajaan ini untuk mengurangkan jurang informasi yang sedia ada.

Akhir sekali, saya juga ingin mmengambil kesempatan ini untuk mencadangkan supaya Kerajaan Negeri Selangor mengkaji semula kadar gaji untuk kerani kawasan yang bertugas di Pejabat ADUN sekarang memandangkan skop kerja mereka semakin meningkat.  Kadar gaji yang sedia ada adala RM1,400 sahaja dan ini adalah di bawah garis kemiskinan yang ditentukan oleh kerajaan.  Kenaikan gaji adalah perlu memandangkan skop kerja kerani kawasan semakin meningkat.  Mereka sekarang bukan sahaja perlu menerima aduan di pejabat, tetapi juga perlu menguruskan Program JOM SHOPPING untuk Skim Mesra Usia Emas dan TAWAS.  Saya ingin cadangkan supaya Kerajaan Negeri Selangor memberi latihan kemahiran yang memadai supaya mereka boleh menawarkan perkhidmatan yang terbaik dan mesra rakyat.

Sekian, ucapan saya.  Terima kasih.

Thursday July 5, 2012

Visible difference

WHEEL POWER by ANTHONY THANASAYAN

A blind man has an eye-opening experience on holiday.

FOR many people, suddenly losing their sight in both eyes can be a disaster.

But not for Yam Tong Woo. The 58-year-old former engineer from Sungei Buloh, Selangor, became completely blind within a week in 2008 after a severe bacterial infection. He says being blind today has, ironically, been an eye-opening experience to a lot of finer things in the world around him.

Yam and his sighted wife Ooi Pak Hong have just spent a month-long holiday in Britain. Returning last week, he spoke to me about some of his experiences as a blind man in Malaysia and abroad. One was in the way he was treated.

The Yams on their holiday in Britain, with the White Cliffs of Dover in the background.

At the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, no one paid any attention to Yam although he was using a white cane to get around and he and his wife had struggled with their bags.

“We weren’t offered any help from the airport staff or members of the public even though it was plain as day that Hong had trouble being my guide and handling our luggage at the same time,” said Yam.

“We struggled through the entire airport, the long queue at the check-in and to the immigration. We also had to put up with some impatient, grumpy passengers,” added Yam.

At London’s Heathrow airport, it was a totally different picture.

Despite being one of the busiest airports in the world, the Yams were spotted immediately.

“My wife and I were approached within moments of disembarking,” Yam pointed out.

“We were asked if we required assistance and when we nodded, we were personally guided through a fast-track priority lane meant for disabled and elderly passengers.

“Thanks to them we were finished in no time all the way to the immigration section before retrieving our baggage from the carousel.”

Yam is an activist for the blind who conducts audit access analyses of disabled-friendly buildings with the Petaling Jaya City Council’s team of experts on disability access.

Another grouse he had was with the toilets at KLIA.

“One of the biggest problems is the incredibly strong and heavy doors into the disabled loo that make access virtually impossible.

“Even as a blind person I was trapped in the toilet until my wife came to my rescue and opened the door for me to get out! What more for someone in a wheelchair?”

Yam noticed a different attitude to the disabled in London compared to what he has encountered here.

Despite using the Tube during peak hours, the Yams were always offered assistance from the service staff.

“People with disabilities are obviously a top priority for them even during the mad rush hours,” Yam noted.

“Even the passengers displayed a caring attitude that touched us deeply.

“For instance, sighted passengers would gladly give up their seats when they saw me standing. Some even offered a seat to Hong as well!

“With an attitude like that, it is no wonder why so many elderly and disabled people are able to leave their homes and be in public.”

Yam said that not only were the access points into buses level with the street, but it was also a great help to disabled people that public transport was reliable and on time.

“Just imagine a blind person waiting for a bus, and not knowing whether the bus will turn up or not!”

During a trip from Glasgow, Scotland, to Dublin, Ireland, the Yams had to travel on a budget airline. Despite the lower cost, they were delighted to note that disabled passengers were provided with an ambulift in place of an aerobridge.

No additional fees were imposed for special assistance.

On the return journey to Malaysia, however, the Yams did meet helpful Malaysians.

The person manning the airline counter asked the couple if they needed special assistance when they checked in. And they were once again taken on the fast-track special lane which avoided the queue.

On the flight back, there was some air turbulence while Yam was in the toilet.

He was pleasantly greeted by one of the crew when he emerged and was guided back to his seat.

More good news welcomed the couple at KLIA when they came across a special counter at immigration for the elderly and the disabled.

But there were still those horribly heavy toilet doors at the arrival hall!

Thursday June 21, 2012

Volunteers’ helping tool

By YVONNE LIM
yvonnelim@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: Always wanted to do volunteer work but didn't know where to start?

Log on to The Star's Do Good. Volunteer online portal which connects those who want to lend a helping hand to the less fortunate, with non-profit organisations (NPO) in Malaysia.

“Whether they can volunteer four days a week or have only an hour a week to spare, the portal links those interested in doing volunteer work to the appropriate organisations, based on their interests, skill sets and availability,” said Leaderonomics CEO Roshan Thiran at a briefing on the portal.

The volunteer matching portal (dogoodvolunteer.com), which is a joint effort between Leaderonomics and The Star, will be launched on June 30.

All hands on deck: Representatives from various NPOs posing for a photo after the briefing on the Do Good.Volunteer online portal at Menara Star.

The briefing held at Menara Star yesterday was attended by representatives from 80 NPOs.

To date, 300 NPOs championing various causes have signed up as partners for the initiative. The portal, which is currently running on beta version, has also seen 1,000 volunteers pre-registering.

While registering her organisation on the portal after the briefing, Rumah Juara home supervisor Elizabeth Ratnam commended the project, saying it was a great way to channel volunteers based on how they could help.

“We could always do with more volunteers to help out with things like fund-raising or giving tuition to the children at the home,” she said.

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals marketing and communications manager Helen Chan said there were many people who were willing to lend a hand but they did not know what they could do or were unable to commit to long hours.

“Even if they can only afford to volunteer half an hour of their time, we welcome them.

“Every little bit we do counts to make the living conditions a little more comfortable for the animals at the shelter,” she said.

Thursday June 14, 2012

Show of unity

WHEEL POWER 
By ANTHONY THANASAYAN
star2@thestar.com.my

A big show of support gets a disabled elderly couple a low cost flat to stay in.

LAST week was unbelievable! It started on a very happy and positive note. The long and much anticipated swearing-in ceremony of the remaining four city councillors of Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) was finally announced. The solemn event took place on Monday afternoon in the mayor’s office.

My name appeared on the list with three newcomers. I was simply overjoyed to be given another chance to serve the residents of Petaling Jaya.

As it turned out, the three-month wait was a blessing in disguise. It gave me time to do a lot of serious thinking and soul-searching about all that I had done under the council. It also helped me to decide what I want to prioritise and do in future.

The experience not only helped strengthen my resolve as a councillor, but it also enabled me to develop newer strategies for success, in particular, over my two pet projects – disability and animal welfare.

No sooner had I gotten in, I was swamped with congratulatory messages. People also wanted to know when I could start following up on their issues again.

One resident leader, for instance, wanted me to get MBPJ to take action against the illegal hawkers who were causing a nightmare in the neighbourhood with their rubbish, noise and weekend traffic jams.

Another call was about a drain-repair promise that was not fulfilled. A dangerous pothole was also waiting to be fixed.

A chief project on my plate, however, is to work with the engineering department to build a disabled-friendly carpark and wheelchair ramp for a state assemblyperson’s service centre in a poor area of PJ. This will involve making numerous visits to the site to make sure the specifications are followed to the letter.

Last Friday, I had the privilege of being invited by the almost 90-year-old Malaysian Kennel Association (MKA) to join them in an important meeting with the Subang Jaya council (MPSJ) over last month’s dog attack that killed an elderly jogger.

The presentation by the MKA was brilliant. We saw a number of statistical data from other countries where banning dog breeds did not reduce dog attacks. Rather, it was education about responsible pet ownership that eventually brought about positive results.

The highlight of the week, however, was clearly the protest organised by about 30 wheelchair-users against the Kuala Lumpur city council (DBKL).

I joined them, too. The experience was incredibly eye-opening. We were there to show our dissatisfaction and disgust in the way a 60-year-old wheelchair-user’s plea to City Hall for a unit in a low-cost flat fell on deaf ears for over two years.

The elderly man, who had polio as a child, works as a toilet cleaner and has been forced to sleep in his car in the carpark of the flat all this while.

Even the Welfare Department, according to him, had turned down his request for help only the week before, saying that there was nothing that they could do.

This sad state of affairs prompted the handicapped community to come together and declare that such apathy was totally unacceptable in any government and society.

Even though it took them an hour or two just to get ready, they arrived in their wheelchairs and walking sticks. Several of them had no transport of their own. They took taxis to get there, even though they could ill afford to. Others came in their three-wheeled motorcycles. One or two came in their own cars.

The sight of such strong support from the disabled community made the elderly man and his wife choke back their tears as they poignantly told their story to the press.

We said we would not go back home until the DBKL gave the couple a unit to stay that very day.

Some of us even suggested that until City Hall provided the unit, the gentleman and his wife should be put up in a hotel as the local council’s guests.

We said this because DBKL had given him a letter in early 2011, promising him a unit.

The episode fortunately ended with good news. The top brass instructed that a unit be prepared and given to him within 48 hours.

Despite all the difficulty it took to hold the press conference, all of us were glad that the couple would soon have a proper place to sleep in at night.

But the question that keeps burning in our hearts is: does it have to take such a big show of support for people with special needs for local councils to take notice of them?

The Star Article - 13-06-2012