Bathamavathi, the second disabled senator to be appointed to Parliament, receives flak from OKU leaders, challenging her to deliver on OKU issues.
COMMENT
The swearing in of Bathmavathi Krishnan, 59, as Malaysia’s second disabled senator to be appointed, on Nov 18, came as a surprise to everyone.
Even many members of the media apparently were unaware, until the very last minute, about the appointment of a wheelchair-user senator into Parliament House.
Rumour in the disabled community only a couple of days earlier were rife that “someone in a wheelchair” was going to fill the senator post.
But no one knew who the person was going to be.
There were other stories also being circulated that the government was again going to choose a blind senator – as was the first senator – or possibly even a Deaf one.
Trying to get a confirmation even a day before, from some of my top contacts in the Welfare Department proved fruitless as they were all very tight-lipped.
The final response I got was, “Just wait and see who gets into the Dewan Negara seat tomorrow.”
After her swearing in, Bathamavathi was reported to have described to a media journalist that her appointment was her “best birthday gift” as her birthday was just a day earlier.
She also said that she would make accessibility issues of the disabled her priority.
The swearing in reportedly took place before Dewan Negara speaker Abu Zahar Ujang and was witnessed by several representatives from NGOs for the disabled.
Meanwhile, FMT reported that Bathmavathi was afterwards congratulated by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak via his tweet and by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim.
So how did the disabled community receive the news?
Not very well, I must say – and for good reasons. First of all, why was there so much secrecy behind the appointment?
Selection process
Many in the disabled community – especially amongst the activists – are questioning the selection process that went into the final choice.
“Who made the decision? Able bodied persons or the handicapped themselves?” asks G Francis Siva, president of the Independent Living and Training Centre Malaysia based in Rawang, Selangor.
“Why were we, the disabled leaders not called in by the ministry and asked what kind of a leader the disabled community would want to represent us in Parliament? Surely, our views are vital in this matter!,” added Francis.
Francis, who works with the grassroots poor disabled community went on to say that they would have much preferred to have someone who had a strong proven record and a big heart for helping the handicapped rather than the current senator.
“The ministry should have at least sought the views of all the major disabled groups such as those representing the blind, Deaf, learning disabled and physically disabled after the candidate names had been shortlisted, in order to get further feedback from the community about what they thought about the potential candidates before making their choice,” pointed out Francis who is paralysed from the neck down.
Another strong critic, a tetraplegic like Francis was Chong Tuck Meng, 52, from Bentong, Pahang.
Disabled for more than 30 years and having worked for the disabled cause during most of his handicapped life, Chong says it would be a disaster to see a “repeat failure” of a disabled senator in Parliament, like the last one.
“The previous senator – a professor – hardly spoke up or showed interest in basic disabled rights issues when it mattered,” Chong opined.
“Bathmavathi has never joined us in any of our public protests demanding for our basic rights against the authorities of the day.
“In fact, when we conducted a spot check on RapidKL’s bus service purportedly ‘for the disabled’, we found many faults and declared it unsuitable and unsafe for us,” he added.
Chong went on to point out that he was extremely disappointed that despite the disabled groups’ findings, Bathamavathi teamed up with RapidKL and the authorities, giving the project her ‘thumbs up’.
Francis cited another incident when he took JPJ, the road transport authorities to task, insisting in a press statement for JPJ personnel to come out to the cars of disabled drivers at their offices, to help them out.
Bathmavathi held another press conference and contradicted what Francis was advocating by saying that the disabled were “independent” and thus didn’t need such assistance.”
The following day several disabled leaders blasted Bathmavathi for her comments, accusing her of speaking in such a manner because she was in a well to do position, with a maid who could do things for her whereas the poor could not afford such luxuries.
“A disabled senator should be true to his or her calling and not be a ‘rubber stamp’ for any party. A senator should speak up for the truth without fear or favour for anybody!” Chong pointed out.
Increase the allowance
Chong said there were still no changes in his town in Bentong with regards handicapped friendly facilities. Even the town’s upbeat Bentong Vegamall has no wheelchair ramps or toilets for wheelchair users.
“Most disabled people stay imprisoned in our houses because of apathy. People with profound disabilities like me require help to get in and out of bed, in an out of our wheelchair and the bathroom.
“We need help to be fed as well as tending to our other basic needs – unlike the disabled senator who enjoys a considerable amount of independence compared to tetraplegics.”
“It is for this reason that I believe the selection of a disabled senator should have been a person who has an excellent track record.
“This includes one who knows what hardship, poverty and struggle is all about and has a genuine interest to help other disabled persons more than themselves.
“The appointment as a senator has got nothing to do with being given a ‘birthday present’. It is a solemn and heavy responsibility to be used as a gift to helping other disabled Malaysians improve their quality of life.
“We are sick and tired of seeing people who are paid to help us, exploiting their position by staying in fancy hotels, attending paid seminars with meals provided and enjoying overseas trips in the name of the disabled, while we continue to suffer,” he said.
Chong added that with the spiralling cost of living it was high time a review be done to seriously look into the allowance given for the disabled.
“A budget of RM500 per month should be given to every disabled citizen in the country in addition to whatever some of them are currently getting. This is what I would like to challenge the new senator to achieve in the next 100 days,” said Chong.
“This is where most of us are hurting and struggling – for our very survival. Some of us are no longer able to see the doctor because of increased taxi costs and increased costs for our other needs.
“Special financial aid should be given to profoundly disabled persons who require personal assistants to help us in our daily living.
“If the disabled senator is unable to get this for us, then she should just get out of her post and let someone else in, someone who can do the job!” concluded Chong who is president of the Malaysian Wheelchair Rugby and Pahang Wheelchair Basketball associations.
Anthony SB Thanasayan is a wheelchair and animal activist. He is also a city councillor.
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