Rehab centre for injured workers biggest in region

2009/02/17

Rehab centre for injured workers biggest in region

KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resources Ministry is planning to build its first rehabilitation centre for the Socso Return-to-Work (RTW) programme for injured and disabled workers.

The state-of-the-art one-stop centre in Malacca will be one of the biggest in the region.

To be ready in two years, the 150-bed facility on a 24.28ha site will provide comprehensive rehabilitation programmes for about 200 injured and disabled workers.

Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said the centre will provide physical and psychological rehabilitation, vocational preparation and job-training to maximise independence and help people adapt and rebuild their lives, either at their existing work place or in a new work environment.

"We believe that people disabled by work-related injuries or illnesses can still be productive if given innovative care.

They can return to work if taught new skills appropriate to their new reality," he told the New Straits Times.

He said the ministry was focusing on the RTW programme as many injured people, given proper rehabilitation and job skills training, could return to work.

Socso is spending almost RM300 million a year on permanent disability claims, with the bill rising by 10 to 15 per cent a year. Temporary disablement benefit payouts total RM94 million a year.

Subramaniam said 731 workers who applied for permanent and temporary disablement benefits last year were placed on the RTW programme with 339 returning to work.

"The others are still being motivated and trained," he said, adding that of the 339 workers, 242 went back to their original employer, while the rest were working with new employers.

The RTW programme was launched in 2005 with a pilot project involving 127 workers -- 70 completed the programme and 49 returned to work.

Currently, Socso sends workers to government hospitals or private centres for rehabilitation programmes.

Socso is also increasing the number of case managers from eight to 25, to identify suitable rehabilitation centres for workers nationwide to enable them to return to work, and to manage injury and disease.

Kalliyaney's tale of inspiration

2009/02/17




Kalliyaney's tale of inspiration
By : Annie Freeda Cruez

KUALA LUMPUR: Kalliyaney Kuppan's world came crashing down when she was paralysed after an accident in 1989.

The quadriplegic felt that life would never be the same again and that she would have to be at the mercy of others for life.But there were things in store for her that went beyond her imagination.

She came to know about the Human Resource Ministry's "Return to Work" programme and her life has never been the same again.

Today, she runs a hawker stall at Pusat Penjaja Bagan Lalang where she is known for her never-give-up spirit that has encouraged many.

Kalliyaney set up the stall last October with grants from the Gujarati Association Wilayah Persekutuan & Selangor and the Vijayaratnam Foundation.

"I was determined to get my life going, and the programme helped me become what I am today," she said."I feel great. I can earn a living despite being a quadriplegic. If I can do it, why not others?"

Mohan Letchumanan, a steriliser operator at Tennamaram palm oil mill, has a similar tale to tell.

He fractured a leg while at work and expected the worst as he could not walk properly after the injury healed.

"I thought I'd no longer be able to work. But I am at work today," said Mohan, who wears an ankle brace to provide stability while walking.

Socso case managers sought the cooperation of his superiors to offer him a suitable job that would take his disability into account."My employers were very supportive.

They even provided transport to the Rawang Socso office when I was on medical leave to take part in the RTW rehabilitation programme," he said.

For Pisallulhakimi Abd Rahman, the RTW programme was a lifesaver after he suffered a fracture of the leg.

He was given light duties at LSG SKY Chefs Brahim after the injury with time spent at RTW learning to adapt to normal working life.

"After my accident in 2006, I had physiotherapy, electrotherapy, therapeutic exercises besides doing a home exercise programme," he said.

A. Anbuchelvan, 36, who suffered a stroke in 2006, is back at work as a cleaner with Alam Flora after a programme that included neurological and musculosketal rehabilitation at the Sau Seng Lum Rehab centre.

MPAJ beri pendedahan bantu OKU

Rabu 18-2-2009




MPAJ beri pendedahan bantu OKU

PANDAN PERDANA -Orang kurang upaya (OKU) mem-punyai hak kemanusiaan dan peluang untuk menyertai masyarakat seperti mana dasar OKU yang telah ditubuhkan bagi memberi pengiktirafan serta penerimaan prinsip bahawa OKU bebas daripada halangan fizikal, sosial, ekonomi, budaya dan sikap.

Dasar OKU juga bertujuan untuk menghapuskan diskriminasi terhadap golongan OKU atas sebab ketidakupayaan mereka dan mendidik serta meningkatkan kesedaran masyarakat mengenai hak kelompok tersebut.

Timbalan Yang Dipertua Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ), Abdul Hamid Hussain berkata, kemudahan infrastruktur dalam kalangan OKU telah disediakan di pusat-pusat membeli belah dan beberapa kawasan lain.

“Di dewan-dewan MPAJ juga telah disediakan kemudahan kepada golongan OKU. Selain itu, di Pandan Indah juga turut disediakan tempat letak kenderaan yang dikhaskan.

Bagaimanapun, penyediaan infrastruktur itu masih belum menyeluruh dan agak terhad di beberapa tempat sahaja di bawah kawasan pentadbiran MPAJ.

“Oleh itu, kami mengadakan seminar dan sesi dialog ini bertujuan memberi pendedahan kepada peserta untuk pelaksanaannya pada masa akan datang.

Peserta juga turut didedahkan betapa pentingnya peranan MPAJ dan agensi-agensi lain di dalam memastikan pelaksanaan pembangunan yang tidak mengabaikan golongan OKU,” katanya ketika Sidang Media di dalam Majlis Seminar dan Sesi Dialog OKU, Agensi Kerajaan dan Swasta di Pandan Lake Club di sini, semalam.

Seramai 80 peserta terdiri daripada Jabatan Kebajikan Malaysia (JKM), ahli-ahli majlis MPAJ, pihak pemaju dan persatuan-persatuan OKU hadir bagi membantu MPAJ melaksanakan dasar OKU mengikut garis panduan dan peraturan-peraturan yang telah ditetapkan dengan kerjasama semua.

Menurutnya, seminar itu bertujuan bagi mengkaji dan menangani masalah berkaitan hak dan kepentingan golongan OKU dengan cara yang lebih sistematik.

“Melalui program ini, kami akan mengenal pasti cadangan dan idea yang dikemukakan untuk pelaksanaan.

Ia melibatkan jangka masa yang panjang kerana untuk dilaksanakan segera ia agak sukar.

“MPAJ tiada peruntukan khusus untuk menyediakan infrastruktur kepada golongan OKU tetapi jika ia perlu disediakan kami akan mendapatkan peruntukan daripada kementerian yang terlibat untuk direalisasikan pelaksanaannya,” katanya.

Abdul Hamid berkata, pihaknya akan mendapatkan data lengkap jumlah penduduk OKU di kawasan pentadbirannya bagi mengkaji penyesuaian pelaksanaan akses OKU tersebut.

MPAJ bersedia melak-sanakan kemudahan kepada golongan OKU setelah adanya cadangan dan pandangan ia perlu dilaksanakan melalui pelan pembangunan baru.

“Kemudahan tersebut sebenarnya memberi kepentingan kepada semua pihak antaranya ibu mengandung, orang tua, dan OKU sendiri. Saya melihat ia wajar dilaksanakan kerana memberi manfaat kepada semua.

“Terlebih dahulu, kita akan menilai keperluan utama yang diperlukan oleh golongan OKU. Kita juga akan melihat semula infrastruktur yang sedia ada, setakat ini ia tidak mendatangkan masalah, jika ubah sedikit ia sudah boleh digunakan oleh semua pihak,” katanya.

Menurut beliau, Akta OKU telah diwujudkan bagi menyediakan peruntukan pendaftaran, perlindungan, rehabilitasi, pembangunan dan kesejahteraan OKU.

Oleh itu, apabila akta itu sudah dikuatkuasakan, MPAJ akan memastikan setiap pihak terlibat melaksanakan sebaik mungkin dan jika perlu MPAJ juga akan bertindak mengeluarkan arahan supaya mereka mengikut akta yang ditetapkan.

Plight of the disabled

Saturday February 14, 2009



Plight of the disabled
By LOOI SUE-CHERN

TOILETS for the disabled are often too small or are locked.

These are some of the problems faced by the disabled at some places in Penang, said Society of Disabled Persons (Penang) former president Tan Kuan Aw.

Tan, who is wheelchair-bound, said there were also toilets for the disabled which had been turned into storerooms because the managements of buildings where these toilets are located think not many people use them.

He said there were specifications that must be complied with when facilities for the disabled are provided such as handrails for ramps.

But after studying the situation in Penang for a decade, Tan did not think the local authorities were serious when it came to ensuring that these specfications were adhered to.

“The setting up of a barrier-free facility like a toilet for people with disabilities just for the sake of it is a misunderstood concept. There are Sirim standards and requirements that need to be followed,” he said in an interview.

A check by The Star in public places around Penang proved Tan’s descriptions of several public toilets accurate.

One such toilet in a building along the Jelutong Expressway was so small that a disabled person in a wheelchair would find great difficulty to close the toilet door from the inside.

Tight space: A woman in wheelchair demonstrating how difficult it is to use the cramped toilet for disabled persons.

The reason for this, apart from the size of the toilet, is that the toilet door opens the wrong way. It opens inward, instead of outward or sliding.

Another toilet for the disabled persons in a shopping mall is occasionally locked and those who want to use the facility must find the cleaner who has the key, as instructed by a sign stuck to the door.

As for ramps, Tan said some were built without handrails. But in the case of the ramp at the Taman Sri Pinang flats on River Road, it was crossbars that has become a barrier for the disabled.

Stumbling block: A ramp with handrails is provided at Taman Sri Pinang but disabled persons, especially those in wheelchairs, cannot proceed further with the locked crossbars blocking the building's entrance.

Although the ramp has handrails, it is not barrier-free as there are crossbars at the bottom to prevent motorcyclists from using the ramp.

Women’s Centre for Change (WCC) committee member Lim Kah Cheng, who is an ardent activist for people with special needs, said the bars could also be a hindrance during emergencies like fires.

She said ramps could be designed in a way that motorcyclists could not misuse them, adding that the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) had agreed to look into the matter.

“Instead of a ramp, a winding path that motorcyclists will find difficult to manoeuvre their vehicles on can be considered. The council already has the design which is not costly to follow,” said Lim, who is also an MPPP councillor.

Her other complaints include the putting up of signboards, road signs, advertisement boards and other obstructing objects in the middle of pavements or walkways; and high pavements.

Lim said the trick would be to get things right the first time - constructing buildings and providing public facilities that were universal.

“If you build a ramp, build one that is for everybody. What is good for the disabled is good for everyone else,” she added.

Danger lurks: This bus stop at Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong is unsafe for disabled persons, especially for the visually impaired and those in wheelchairs.

MPPP president Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman, when contacted, said the council would take serious note of the problems faced by the disabled with the existing facilites.

“Our officers will conduct checks on these facilities to see if they comply with the required standards. If developers do not comply with building requirements, we will not grant them the CFs,” he added.

2009/02/12

PUTRAJAYA: The government will spend RM158 million this year, compared with RM102 million last year, for disabled children.

Education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom said yesterday this was because the disabled children's special allowance was being increased from RM50 to RM150 a month this year.

"We would also be spending RM35 million on upgrading 701 schools with special education facilities," he said after attending a function where Tenaga Nasional Bhd adopted Putrajaya Special Education Service Centre (3PK) at the Education Ministry yesterday.

He said RM440 million had been allocated under the Ninth Malaysia Plan for 3,532 projects to improve and build new institutes for disabled children."Some of the projects include building two vocational special education schools in Merbok, Kedah, and in Kuantan, Pahang."

Earlier, TNB chairman Tan Sri Amar Leo Moggie handed a cheque for RM492,500 to 3PK patron Tengku Datin Seri Marsilla Tengku Abdullah, wife of Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

New member of the family

Thursday February 12, 2009




New member of the family
WHEEL POWERBy ANTHONY THANASAYAN

The passing of a faithful service dog ... and the arrival of a new one.

A FORTNIGHT ago, I wrote about the death of my first service dog Vai, I never imagined the response the article would elicit from readers. My e-mail, Facebook and blog were inundated with messages of condolences and words of comfort.

Among the first to react to Vai’s passing were the heads and staff of the planning and health departments of the Petaling Jaya Town Council (MBPJ).

Even though many of them have never kept dogs as pets, they deeply sympathised with my loss. They had seen Vai in action on video, helping me to get out of my bed in the morning, opening the door for me, and running up and down the stairs as he carried important items in his mouth at my instruction.

The video was screened at MBPJ’s board meeting shortly after I became councillor.

The video screening was used to highlight the special role that canines play in the lives of the handicapped. Dogs with special training can help the disabled achieve a higher quality of life through animal-assisted therapy.

My dream is to see people with disabilities being accompanied by their service dogs in public so that they do not have to depend on human help all the time.

These canines should be regarded with the same respect and rights given to police dogs, search-and-rescue, and drug-sniffing dogs.

MBPJ is looking into giving free dog licences to the disabled and elderly whose pets play a therapeutic role in their lives. The Shah Alam Town Council is giving disabled pet owners free dog licences and a 50% discount for the elderly.

Many advised me that one of the best ways to work through the grief of losing a pet is to get another one. The process of healing is faster if we focus our attention on caring for a new dog.

Last week, I drove down to Seremban to visit a dog farm. It was love at first sight when I met a four-month-old Alsatian whose parents are German imports. Named Zeus VK Haras, I could tell that this was the one for me. Except that he wasn’t going to be all mine, but shared with my pal Andrew Martin.

Zeus will play a dual role of being with Andrew during the night, and staying with me during the day. For more than a week now, the pup has taken to his new job brilliantly.

He is currently attending wheelchair-etiquette classes in my home. This includes getting out of the path of my wheelchair but staying close by me at all times. He is also learning to pick up all sorts of things, including my valuables which he quickly hides in his crate.

When Zeus is not looking, Biman III, my now senior service dog, will dash into his crate and retrieve all the items for me. Each time he does that, it will be accompanied by vehement protests from the pup.

Soo, my Golden Retriever, is happy to have a new pal as long as he doesn’t occupy his favourite place in my room, which is under my bed.

Reba, Andrew’s Shetland Sheepdog which I babysit daily for him whilst he is at work, is thrilled to have a new “boyfriend” to take home with her each night.

Vai had been her companion over the past six years after I retired him from his service dog duties.

Reba is, however, cautious about Zeus’ size. The pup is almost as tall as Soo. In order to sniff at him when she checks on him, Reba has to wait till the pup is asleep.

Sleep on, Zeus, my little pal. There is a great task ahead of you as you learn to fit into the giant paws of Vai, my canine hero.

February deadline for welfare homes to register

Tuesday February 3, 2009





February deadline for welfare homes to register

Reaching out to more people

KUALA LUMPUR: Welfare homes and non-governmental organisations caring for the needy have until the end of the month to register with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

“This will enable such homes to enjoy subsidies provided by the Government.

Season’s greetings: Dr Ng sharing a light moment with Lee Soon Mun, 84, from Rumah Victory during the Chinese New Year celebration with senior citizens at The Pavilion in Kuala Lumpur.

“Those registered will receive a daily subsidy of RM8 for each occupant for food and necessities as long as the homes fulfil the minimum requirements set out by the ministry,” said minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

She said the ministry would check on the condition of each home to ensure there was adequate infrastructure and that the premises were kept clean and not congested.

As for the number of underprivileged people receiving aid from the Social Welfare Department under ‘projek cari’ (search project), Dr Ng said the figure had increased from 16,739 to 40,000.

The project, launched last July, would continue to look for those deserving of help.

“The ministry also called up family members of senior citizens identified under the project.

“We advised the children to look after their aged parents as this is a duty the ministry is not able to undertake,” Dr Ng said at a Chinese New Year celebration with senior citizens hosted by the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

She handed out ang pows and hampers to 108 senior citizens from Rumah Charis, Rumah Victory, Rumah Sejahtera Seri Setia and Caring Old Folks Home.

Comments from ILTC on Regarding Yen Yen: Not enough welfare officers

Quick comments from ILTC on Regarding Dr. Ng Yen Yen's the statement on Star today.

Not enough welfare officers.......

Do the Ministry allowed disabled volunteers to help the Ministry?

ILTC have a great shock to hear the statement from the Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

We could not digest this at all.

Kindly take note of this matter urgently due to lack of services from welfare Department.

Yen Yen: Not enough welfare officers

Sunday February 1, 2009






Yen Yen: Not enough welfare officers


KOTA BARU: Welfare officers are not able to find as many poor people because they have to service up to 600 people per person, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

She said at the moment the ratio was one welfare officer to 600 poor people when it should be one to 30.

“Currently there are only 6,000 officers nationwide providing services to millions of people. The only thing my ministry is going to do is beef up the manpower.

“The other alternative is to get the co-operation of local leaders and volunteers and I am bent to locate as many poor people as I can so they will be given financial help to continue with life,” Dr Ng told reporters at the Kelantan MCA Chinese New Year do here yesterday.

She also commended her officers who managed to process at least 25% of the 44,000 hardcore poor cases.

“The most difficult is identifying the fake from the genuine cases. ” she added.

Dr Ng added that Malaysia was already a welfare state as the poor, physically handicapped, unfortunate individuals, school children and senior citizens receive handouts from several ministries.

Disabled given 90pc discount on rates

Saturday, 31 January 2009





Disabled given 90pc discount on rates
K. Harinderan
The disabled may pay a minimum of RM5 in assessment fee

SELAYANG: The new year has brought good tidings for the disabled living in the district.

They have been given a 90 per cent reduction on the assessment rates charged for their premises.Following the move, which is effective from Jan 1, the disabled would pay a minimum of RM5 on their assessment rates.

The announcement was made by the Selayang Municipal Council president Datuk Zainal Abidin Azim at the first full board meeting for the year, which was held at the council's headquarters yesterday.

Zainal, however, said there were conditions which the disabled had to abide by.

Among others, a disabled person would have to apply to the council with supporting documents to prove his disability.

The premises must also be wholly owned by the disabled person and the application needs to be renewed annually.

Disabled people who earned less than RM1,500 a month would also qualify for the reduction in assessment rates.

Previously, the disabled were charged the full assessment rates which ranged from eight per cent of the value of the property for a low-cost flat to 10.8 per cent for a commercial building.

Zainal Abidin also said that the council had opened a drive-through counter at the entrance of the council's headquarters to facilitate the payment of assessment rates as well as payments to other local authorities and land offices in Selangor.

The counter will be opened till Feb 28 and will operate from 8.30am to 4.30pm daily.

At the board meeting, Zainal Abidin also said that up to November last year, the council's financial deficit had been reduced to RM10.38 million from RM15.8 million for the same period in 2007.

"We are stepping up measures to improve the collection of revenue through the council's enforcement department to ensure that more money is available to develop Selayang," he said.

The announcement came under fire from various councillors who said that collection of revenue was still poor.

They argued that there were many ways for the council to earn revenue and new methods had to be implemented to collect the amounts owing.

Happy Chinese New Year 2009

To All The Well-wishers,

On Behalf of ILTC, Wishing You A Happy & Prosperous Chinese New Year 2009!

May the year of Ox bring you and your family Good health, peace, love and prosperity.

G. Francis Siva

President of ILTC

BIG ANG POWS...Amidst an economic slowdown, Resorts World Berhad

Sunday, January 25, 2009




BIG ANG POWS...Amidst an economic slowdown, Resorts World Berhad kicked off the Chinese New Year celebrations with a hefty RM268,000 donation to 67 organisations. Picture show RWB deputy chairman Tun Mohamed Haniff Omar (second from right) spreading some festive cheer to representaitves of the organisation yesterday

A little help for the disabled

Friday January 23, 2009

A little help for the disabled
JAYAGANDI JAYARAJ at the MPS full board meeting

THE Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) is reducing the assessment rate for premises owned by the disabled by 90% starting this year.

The reduction is applicable to owners of both residential and business premises, with the minimum assessment charge of RM5.

MPS president Datuk Zainal Abidin Azim said although there were not many disabled owners within its jurisdiction, the move aimed to ease the burden of this group.

“After a 90% deduction and if the figure calculated is below RM5, the owner still has to pay RM5, that is our minimal charge,” he said yesterday.

Zainal: The premises also has to be an applicant’s first property.

However, only complete applications will be processed by the council’s Assestment and Asset Management Department. There are also some other conditions.

These include presenting all the necessary documents requested by the department, having a registered Orang Kurang Upaya card and earning less than RM1,500 a month to be eligible for the deduction.

“The premises also has to be an applicant’s first property and he or she also has to reside there or use the premises. The premises shouldn’t be rented out to a third party.

“Once approved, the application has to be renewed every year before Dec 1 and it must get the council president’s approval,” Zainal added.

Councillor Gurdip Kaur proposed the idea at a meeting last year.

Pembinaan ‘tembok’ perlu kelulusan

Selasa 20-1-2009

Pembinaan ‘tembok’ perlu kelulusan

RAWANG – Penduduk yang tinggal di kawasan kediaman rumah teres diharap lebih bertanggungjawab dan tidak membina ‘tembok’ pembahagi dengan kediaman jiran sehingga melebihi tiga meter.

Ahli Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS) Zon 16, P Gurdip Kaur berkata tindakan membina ‘tembok’ berkenaan bukan sahaja menjadi halangan konsep berjiran, tetapi juga boleh menimbulkan masalah keselamatan.

Menurut Gurdip, sepatutnya sebelum sesuatu pengubahsuaian termasuk pembinaan dinding pagar luar rumah dilakukan, pemilik kediaman perlulah mendapatkan kebenaran dan kelulusan daripada pihak MPS melalui jabatan terbabit.

“Kita akan melihat perkara ini dan membawanya untuk perhatian pihak MPS. Peraturan adalah peraturan, jika benar jiran berkenaan tidak mempunyai kelulusan daripada MPS untuk membina tembok setinggi itu, mungkin kita terpaksa mengambil tindakan dengan memecahkan dinding tersebut.

“Ini disebabkan, keadaan dinding yang tinggi itu mampu menghalang pemandangan orang ramai sehingga menyebabkan pihak tidak bertanggungjawab seperti penjenayah, mengambil kesempatan untuk memecah masuk ke rumah jiran dan sebagainya,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas melawat sebuah keluarga di Taman Sri Rawang di sini yang dipecah masuk penyamun, petang kelmarin.

Selepas menerima aduan daripada penghuni rumah berkenaan, beliau tidak menolak keadaan pagar rumah yang tinggi itu menjadi punca berlakunya kejadian pecah masuk ke rumah tersebut.

“Sebagai jiran, kita perlulah ada sikap tolak ansur, walaupun berlainan agama dan budaya, malah perlu menghormati keperluan beribadat dan sebagainya antara satu sama lain.

“Jika ada masalah berkaitan boleh berbincang secara berhemah dengan jiran. Bukan dengan cara terus membuat tembok yang menutup pandangan, sehingga setinggi itu. Ini boleh menimbulkan masalah lain, seperti kejadian ini,” katanya.

Mengulas lanjut berhubung insiden di kediaman keluarga terbabit, Gurdip memaklumkan, kejadian yang berlaku menyebabkan mangsa mengalami beberapa kerugian.

“Mangsa merupakan seorang ibu tunggal dan pekerja di sebuah institusi kewangan serta mempunyai dua orang.

Selain berada dalam keadaan trauma, mangsa turut mengalami kerugian sehingga RM3,000 termasuk wang tunai dan barang kemas.

“Namun apa yang menghairankan, bagaimana dokumen seorang lelaki yang tidak dikenali berkaitan Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) ada di bilik rumah mangsa. Bagaimanapun kita telah melaporkan perkara ini kepada polis dan pihak polis sedang mengesan pihak berkenaan melalui cap jari,” katanya.

Turut serta dalam lawatan ke rumah mangsa kejadian pecah rumah berkenaan malam kelmarin, Ahli Majlis MPS, Md Sabri Md Taib.

School aid for needy kids

Tuesday January 13, 2009

School aid for needy kids
By STUART MICHAEL

BEING a parent, Selayang municipal councillor Gurdip Kaur understands how parents feel when they cannot afford to buy school bags and shoes for their children.

The councillor for Zone 16, Gurdip did her part by giving out school bags and shoes to 30 students recently.

The items were distributed at the Independent Living and Training Centre in Taman Garing, Rawang.Timely aid: Gurdip (in wheelchair) with the children after presenting them with school bags and shoes.

Gurdip, who is the only disabled councillor in Selayang Municipal Council (MPS), said any little help would ease the parents’ financial burden as their children go back to school for the new term.

“I hope this initiative will ensure the children are motivated to study harder and do well in the examinations.

“Also, parents must monitor their children’s progress and keep tabs on their friends and activities,” she said.

Firms urged to give 2pc of jobs to disabled

NST Online » Local News 2009/01/04

Firms urged to give 2pc of jobs to disabled

PEKAN: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak proposed yesterday that private sector companies reserve two per cent of their jobs for the disabled.

"In this way, more disabled would be able to serve the companies and lead a better future," said Najib."

It's part of your corporate social responsibility.

"You have been providing financial assistance to them, so now you can offer them suitable jobs in your organisations," he said after attending the Excellence Day ceremony for Pekan Community Rehabilitation Centre (PDK) at SMK Sri Pekan yesterday.

The deputy prime minister said that countries like Japan had a legal provision compelling the private sector to offer jobs to the disabled.

"If they fail to provide the jobs, then the firm must provide financial assistance to the government to help the disabled."

This is just my suggestion to the private sector. I hope they will offer assistance to the disabled" Najib said the PDKs must adopt a culture of excellence to improve further.

"As human beings, we will never be able to achieve our dreams if we fail to adopt the excellence culture."We have to always equip ourselves in all aspects as the people will evaluate us through our achievements."

Najib later handed out excellence awards to outstanding disabled individuals and their parents at the function.

MPS blitz on bungalow hotel

Wednesday January 7, 2009

MPS blitz on bungalow hotel
Story and photo by STUART MICHAEL

THE Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) has slapped a RM12,500 fine on the owner of a bungalow in Bandar Country Homes in Rawang for using it as a hotel since August last year.

The owner has been ordered to stop operations with immediate effect.

Discussion: Gurdip Kaur (right and in a wheelchair) with the owner of the bungalow and MPS enforcement officers.

The bungalow hotel is located in a residential area in Phase Six, Bandar Country Homes.

StarMetro had reported on Dec 24 that the mini hotel had 10 rooms for rent. The operator had placed an advertisement on the Internet inviting guests to book rooms.

Recently, about 50 MPS enforcement officers raided the bungalow hotel, seizing items in the premises.

According to MPS Safety and Enforcement director Ahmad Faisal Badiuzaman, the owner has been told to stop operations immediately or else the council will take sterner action like sealing the place.

The owner, who is disabled, pleaded with the enforcement officers to give her time to get things organised.

MPS councillor Gurdip Kaur, who was at the scene, told the MPS enforcement officers to give the owner some time.

“Since the owner is a disabled person, we will give her about three months. However, she is not above the law and must abide by it,” she said.

“The owner said that she is applying for government permission to convert the premises to a home-stay unit,’’ Gurdip said.

Disabled community expresses doubt about law

NST Online » Local News 2008/12/24




Disabled community expresses doubt about law


KUALA LUMPUR: Various non-governmental organisations and activists remain sceptical that the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act will have the desired results.

Independent Living and Training Centre president Francis Siva is one of those not convinced about the effectiveness of the act.

"There will be nothing to affect our lives.

"We will still be left out for the next 20 years," said Francis, a wheelchair user.

"You can take this act and chuck it in the dustbin. It does not penalise anyone who discriminates."

He cited the Uniform Building By-Law 34A which has been implemented decades ago, spelling the need for buildings to be disabled-friendly.

"Nothing much has changed since then. How different is this PWD Act?"

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said her ministry was aware of this and had taken to task various local councils, including a meeting held recently to brief them about the act.

"We have also worked with the Public Service Department to increase the recruitment of more disabled people."

However, Francis said the problems of the disabled may just be too large for her to handle alone.

"Even if the employers do not discriminate, PWDs still need disabled-friendly public transport to get to work. For that, you need disabled-friendly pavements."

I am lucky that I have only become disabled later in life, after obtaining an education.

"What about those who were disabled since they were born? They cannot leave the house at all and are deprived of a normal education."

Peter Tan, a wheelchair user who has a disabled empowerment blog, "Digital Awakening", struck a more optimistic line.

"To be fair to those involved in the act and the council which were only implemented, it is still too early to say whether the act is useful or not. But as long as there is no penalty, people just won't be bothered with it."

Doing more for the disabled

Thursday January 1, 2009


Doing more for the disabled
WHEEL POWER
BY ANTHONY THANASAYAN

HAPPY 2009 to one and all! The events of 2008 have gone down in my record book as the most unexpected and remarkable that I have ever experienced.

I hadn’t the faintest idea then that within half a year after the chiming of last year’s New Year bells, I would end up as a local councillor for Petaling Jaya, a city which I love.

Of late, like the other councillors, I have also been blessed with a personal assistant, courtesy of the Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ).

I am happy to say that the MBPJ has given me several opportunities to make a difference in the lives of disabled residents in PJ.

I head a disability committee with a team of experts (many of them have disabilities themselves) which look into various issues affecting the lives of the disabled.

New buildings in PJ, for instance, must come to our committee first to be screened for disabled-friendly access before they go to a higher level of the council. We are also currently working on guidelines to improve the quality of care for the elderly, and access for the disabled in homes throughout PJ.

However, I must admit that not all is as smooth sailing.

The first was building a wheelchair ramp for a frail and elderly man in a condominium. The developer was all for it but the local residents’ association was against it. The ramp, they said, would “spoil the beauty of the condo”.

What surprised me was that the lady who said this was in her 60s.

Did she ever stop to think that she – or the rest of the association members – could one day find the ramp a life-saver in their advancing years?

We ran afoul of some people in my neighbourhood, this time, when the MBPJ built a special wheelchair access into our public park.

For a number of years, access for wheelchairs had been barred because of a locked gate. Some people in the local residents’ association didn’t want motorcycles to enter or exit for fear of snatch thieves. They didn’t care that their action of closing up the entrance had stopped a number of elderly and disabled persons from entering the park until the MBPJ intervened.

The present wheelchair access is so cleverly designed that motorcycles cannot go through it.
Motorcyclists will literally have to carry their vehicles on their shoulders to get them across.

The biggest difference yet that the MBPJ is working on now is to provide as many as 150 disabled-friendly car parks in the city. The first one was successfully launched at the MBPJ headquarters last week.

It is located next to the entrance of the building and is a fully covered shelter. Some asked if the facility will be underused. That is not only a very outdated way of thinking in this day and age, it is essentially a wrong question for anyone to ask.

With the increasing population of elderly persons and the number of people with disabilities, the right question that we should be asking is whether we will have enough parking bays for the disabled in the near future.

For now, MBPJ has promised to cover at least 20 of its 150 car parks for the disabled in PJ. The council hopes to get sponsors to cover up the rest.

The entire project is expected to be completed by June next year.

Ahli Majlis bantah tindakan sita

Jumaat 02-1-2009

Ahli Majlis bantah tindakan sita

BANDAR COUNTRY HOMES – Tindakan pihak Jabatan Penguat Kuasa Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS) yang sepatutnya menyita sebuah premis perniagaan homestay ala ‘resort’ eksklusif tanpa lesen, kelmarin, mendapat bantahan Ahli Majlis MPS, P Gurdip Kaur, apabila beliau mempertahankan supaya tindakan berkenaan tidak diteruskan.

Pengarah Jabatan Penguat Kuasa MPS, Ahmad Faisal Badiuzaman berkata, Gurdip telah memohon pertimbangan pihaknya supaya dapat menangguhkan tindakan sita berkenaan memandangkan pengusaha premis terbabit merupakan orang kurang upaya (OKU), selain berjanji akan membantu keperluan pengusaha wanita berkenaan supaya dapat meneruskan perniagaan secara sah.

Menurut Faizal, bagaimanapun pihaknya tetap mengambil tindakan tegas mengeluarkan arahan kepada pengusaha premis yang terletak di Jalan Desa 6/7, Bandar Country Homes berkenaan supaya menghentikan aktiviti perniagaan sehingga mendapat kelulusan yang sah daripada MPS dan pihak berkenaan.

“Kali pertama sebelum ini pun kita telah menasihatkan pihak pengusaha supaya mengambil berat aduan yang kita terima daripada penduduk sekitar selain beberapa kesalahan yang melanggar arahan kelulusan premis.

“Oleh sebab terdapat peraturan yang tidak dipatuhi, kali kedua operasi selain kesalahan tidak mengikut pelan asal bangunan sebelumnya, kita juga telah mengambil tindakan kompaun sebanyak RM12,500 atas kesalahan menyalah guna tempat kediaman menjadi hotel. Untuk itu, operasi kali ketiga ini (kelmarin), disebabkan kesalahan masih dikesan, sepatutnya kita akan buat sitaan setelah mendapat arahan pihak atasan,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika menjalankan operasi berkenaan yang disertai sekitar 50 orang anggota penguat kuasa MPS.

Bagaimanapun, menurutnya, semasa operasi dilakukan, didapati tiada aktiviti perniagaan yang dijalankan.

Sementara itu, menolak dirinya menyekat tugas penguat kuasa MPS, Gurdip ketika diminta mengulas perkara tersebut mendakwa, beliau membantu pengusaha berkenaan menghadapi tindakan tempoh hari berikutan terpanggil untuk berbuat demikian.

“Bagi saya ini perkara mudah. Sebagai ahli majlis, seorang wanita dan terlibat secara langsung membantu golongan OKU, saya merasakan wajar bagi pengusaha tersebut diberi peluang untuk meneruskan usahanya selain beliau sendiri telah menunjukkan tanggungjawab sejak mula diberi notis oleh MPS untuk memperbaiki kesalahan yang dilakukan.

“Saya percaya tindakan beliau seterusnya selepas ini pasti akan mengikut peraturan yang ditetapkan oleh pihak berkenaan. Mungkin beliau terpaksa mengambil masa berikutan tidak tahu prosedur yang sepatutnya.

Disebabkan itu, saya sendiri mengambil inisiatif menjadi penjamin supaya beliau tidak ulangi kesilapan dan mengikut saluran yang betul untuk teruskan usahanya. Lagipun saya tidak nampak aktiviti haram yang tidak sepatutnya berlaku di situ,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian berikutan usaha pemilik berkenaan yang dikatakan sanggup memperuntukkan sejumlah wang yang besar untuk merobohkan bangunan yang disambung tanpa mengikut pelan asal, membuktikan usahanya untuk mengikut peraturan sepatutnya yang telah ditetapkan pihak MPS.

Mengulas lanjut berhubung aduan penduduk sekitar mengenai premis tiga tingkat yang lengkap dengan pelbagai kemudahan itu, Gurdip mendakwa, ia berikutan segelintir pihak yang berkemungkinan tidak berpuas hati apabila melihat kesenangan orang lain.

“Saya tidak berniat menyalahkan MPS atau pun sesiapa sahaja dalam hal ini. Sebaliknya saya difahamkan, mereka (penguat kuasa MPS) hanya datang ke sini, tidak sampai 14 hari selepas notis berkenaan diberikan,” katanya.

Terdahulu, pengusaha yang menjadikan kediamannya sebagai homestay bersama suaminya seorang warganegara Singapura cuba memberikan penjelasan kepada wakil MPS, sebelum bertindak menghubungi Gurdip untuk hadir ke premis terbabit apabila tidak berpuas hati dengan pihak penguat kuasa setelah dimaklumkan tujuan untuk menyita barangan di premisnya.