Decision on disabled-friendly bus stops next month

Tuesday March 10, 2009




Decision on disabled-friendly bus stops next month

THE Penang Government will decide in a month’s time whether to give the green light to Rapid Penang for the construction of disabled-friendly bus stops once the company submits its proposal.

Penang Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the bus stops needed to have proper facilities to complement the new 200 disabled- friendly buses which would arrive in bat-ches from May until the end of the year.

On Rapid Penang’s predicament over the uncertainty of whether the state authorities would approve the use of five new depots to place its new fleet of buses, he said the matter was negotiable and that he would follow up on the matter.

Rapid Penang chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad had said that the company had not received a reply from the autho-rities.

Chow told newsmen yesterday that Rapid Penang was currently using the Sungai Nibong bus terminal and three other areas belonging to the Penang Municipal Council located in Lorong Kulit, Balik Pulau and Tanjung Bungah as its depots.

“All the 200 buses are not going to arrive in May and therefore I feel the existing sites can still accommodate the buses.

“If I’m not mistaken, the company is in the final stage of looking at a piece of land belonging to the Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd,” he said.

He said Rapid Penang had asked the state government to lease these areas for a long period (30 years) before it builds a proper depot.

“The company is also asking for a nominal fee to be charged and we understand that in order to subsidise public transportation, costs need to be cut,” he said, ad-ding that Rapid Penang had not paid rental for its existing depots since July 2007.

Chow said the state had put on hold the idea to set up its own bus company.

“Now, only 8% of the people use buses. It is not advisable to compete with another company until the percentage rises to 35%,” he said.

LIVE Interviewed on The Breakfast Show

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

LIVE Interviewed on The Breakfast Show On 9th March 2009 at NTV7, Sri Pentas Damansara.

Theme: How Disabled Friendly Are We?

NTV7 Interviewed Mr. Francis Siva (President of Independent Living & Training Centre) & Mr. Anthony Thanasayan (Councillor, Petaling Jaya City Council) were invited to discuss the issue of environmental barriers faced by disabled people in Malaysians society and the basic facilities needed to build for easier access.

During the interview, we also highlighted PLUS had at allocated accessible parking spaces for the disabled. Most of the time these facilities are misused and occupied by normal person.

Here to view the photos of live interview..

2009/03/04

ASEAN PARA GAMES: Be the best overall, says Ismail Sabri

By : K.M. Boopathy

Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (right) shakes hand with powerlifter Cheok Kon Fatt at the pre-launch of the 5th Asean Para Games in Putrajaya yesterday. Pic: IZHARI ARIFFIN

MALAYSIA should be applauded for saving the fifth Asean Para Games after Laos withdrew as hosts but they, said Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, must also aim to become the overall champions of the event to be in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 15-19.

Malaysia stepped in after Laos, already burdened with the December's Sea Games, were undone by financial constraints to stage the paralympics involving 11 South East Asian countries.

Ismail Sabri also confirmed that the government had approved a budget of RM4 million to host the Games where 11 sports will be contested and the minister wanted the athletes try to become overall champions.

Malaysia, who organised the inaugural Games in 2001, were crowned overall champions that year but have only managed to finish second since.

"The government has allocated RM4 million to host the Asean Para Games but don't just be the best hosts but try to become the best contingent," said Ismail Sabri.

"This event is important as the government has also approved to have the centre of excellence for paralympic athletes in Kampung Pandan.

"This proves that we are not neglecting them, so they must justify the government's support by doing well in the Games."

The Games could have been bigger had it not been for several sports being scratched when the minimum of athletes, which is four, was not fulfilled.

"We are the only country to host the Games twice, and having become champions on the first attempt as hosts, we should be aiming for similar success."

Besides Malaysia, the other nations competing are Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Timor Leste.Malaysia are traditionally strong in athletics and swimming which helped them clinch the overall crown in 2001 when only these two sports were contested.

The hosts will again be banking on the two events as well as badminton and powerlifting this year. Table tennis, chess, bowling, sailing, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball and volleyball are the other sports which will be contested.

Looking for toilets

Thursday March 5, 2009




Looking for toilets

WHEEL POWER
By ANTHONY THANASAYAN

The search for a model disabled-friendly rest room yielded some interesting results.

I WAS involved in an unusual assignment a week ago. Together with another gentleman in a wheelchair, and accompanied by a team of experts from the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), our motley crew went out as “roving investigators” in Petaling Jaya.

We went to look at, of all things, toilets. And we were only interested in loos that were user-friendly for disabled and elderly individuals.

The purpose of our trip was to come up with a good prototype design of a restroom that would be user-friendly for the handicapped.

Our first stop was a well-known hotel. We oohed and aahed at most of the outfit’s disabled-friendly designs. The most impressive was the entry/exit door of the loo, which was an electronic one.

All a patron in a wheelchair needed to do was press a button with one finger and presto: it would open for him. Once inside, he has only to push another button. The door closes, offering him all the privacy he needs.

If only all other hotels in the country would follow the good example of the hotel we visited and provide electronic doors as well, it would make the lives of disabled and elderly persons much easier when they visit such outfits.

Even though posh hotels may have disabled-friendly loos, little attention is given to the doors. The doors are often so heavy that we have a hard time trying to open them.

Not everything was smooth-sailing during our assignment. Together with the good came the not-so-good.

We had a lesson on how important it was to train everyone to handle an emergency.

When we tried to get into the loo for the first time, it suddenly got locked and refused to open until 20 minutes later. None of the staff knew how to open the door.

They claimed the person in charge was not around. Fortunately, this was not a real emergency.

We dreaded to think of what could have happened if a disabled person had fallen inside the loo and needed help.

It was disappointing too that the five-star hotel had a steep ramp at its entrance which disabled guests were forced to use to access the building.

The reserved parking lot for the disabled was located far from the entrance to the building.

The management promised to rectify the situation soonest possible.

Our journey also took us to Ikea and Ikano shopping centres in Mutiara Damansara.

No sooner had we arrived when we were greeted by smiling security guards at the generously-sized parking lots for the disabled. These people are so serious about their car parks for the handicapped that they clamp any unauthorised cars and make them pay a fine for abusing the facilities.

The money collected is donated to a local charity for the disabled.

I was shocked to hear about the reactions of some people who misuse the disabled parking bays.

One or two of them even resorted to violence when their cars were clamped, I was told.

The majority, however, were apologetic when they realised the error of their ways.

As for the toilets, especially Ikea’s, I think they have close to the perfect one I’ve seen so far.

The toilet is spacious enough for a helper to accompany a disabled person. There’s an alarm bell (panic button) in case of an emergency and even a face mirror that leans slightly downwards from a strategic height to allow a wheelchair-user to view his upper body.

We were all touched by the willingness of these two shopping centres to improve on what they were providing for shoppers.

Pengumuman - Majlis Perbandaran Selayang

Pengumuman - Majlis Perbandaran Selayang

Garis panduan pengurangan bayaran cukai taksiran bagi Pemilik pegangan orang kurang upaya (OKU)

Mesyuarat jawatankuasa kecil kewangan MPS telah membincangkan dan bersetuju memberi pengurangan cukai taksiran kepada pemilik pegangan orang kurang upaya sebanyak 90% dan minimun rm5.00 ke atas cukai taksiran sahaja. Oleh yang demikian, permohonan yang lengkap sahaja akan diproses oleh jabatan penilaian dengan syarat-syarat seperti berikut:-

1. Mengemukakan dokumen-dokumen yang ditetapkan/disyaratkan oleh jabatan penilaian & pengurusan harta MPS.
2. Pegangan tersebut merupakan harta pertama dan diduduki sendiri (bukan tujuan disewakan).
3. Pegangan tersebut dimiliki oleh pemohon atau suami/isteri pemohon.
4. Hanya pemohon atau suami/isteri yang mempunyai kad oku berdaftar sahaja.
5. Memperolehi pendapatan kurang dari rm1,500.00 sebulan.
6. Permohonan hendaklah mendapat kelulusan daripada Yang Dipertua MPS,
7. Permohonan hendaklah diperbaharui sekali setiap tahun iaitu sebelum 1hb Disember.

Ahli Majlis, Majlis Perbandaran Selayang 2008-2009

Ahli Majlis, Majlis Perbandaran Selayang 2008-2009


Barisan Di Belakang Dari Kiri :-

YBhg. Prof Madya Sr. Dr. Hj. Husin b. Mohd Dini , En. Hasbullah b. Mohd Ridzwan , En. Samsudin b. A.Rahman , En. Zulnizam b. Shahrani , En. Chee Chu Sang , Tn.Dr. Ramli b. Jusoh , Tn. Nanto Gopalan Krishnan a/l Rajoo , En. Zulkifli b. Hamzah, En.Tan Kian Boo , En. Lim Ching How , En. Md Sabri b. Md. Taib , Pn. Maznah bt. Abd Aziz, Pn. Khatifah Zamani bt. Sulong, Pn. Lim Jit Lee

Barisan Di Hadapan Dari Kiri :-

Pn. Gurdip Kaur a/p Pritam Singh (Secretary of ILTC), En.Murugan @ Murugeshu a/l Arumugam , Tn.Hj Mohamad b. Abdul Rahman , En. Abdul Rahim b. Abdul Wahab, YAD Dato' Paduka Raja Dato' Haji Wan Mahmood bin Pa'Wan Teh, YBhg.Dato' Zainal Abidin bin Azim ( Yang Dipertua ), Tn. Haji Jamri b. Basni ( Timbalan Yang Dipertua ), En. Kuan Perk Siong, YBhg. Dato' Hj Mazlan b. Hassan , En. A.Rahim b. Ahmad Kasdi , YBhg Dato' Ir.A.Rashid b. Omar.

Tiada Dalam Gambar :-
En.Tan Hui Chuan

Thursday February 26, 2009





Much more to be done
WHEEL POWER By ANTHONY THANASAYAN

CAPTAIN A.K.S. Russell, a retired master mariner from Seremban, wrote to this column recently to share his thoughts on the disabled-friendliness of the town in which he has lived since 1985.

Russell began his e-mail by asking: “Is Seremban town accessible to everyone?”

“The simple answer: it is definitely not,” he wrote, adding that the only accessible building is the Jaya Jusco Shopping Centre at Seremban Two.

“Jaya Jusco sets a good example in Seremban by being fully accessible to all patrons,” said Russell.

The building has an adequate number of car parks for the disabled. These are all well sited, with the right size and are constantly monitored to ensure that they are not misused by the non-disabled. There are lifts to all the floor levels. At least half of the lifts are disabled-friendly and all the floors are level without any steps.

“There are properly designed toilets for the disabled too,” Russell pointed out.

He observed that the security personnel appear to be well-trained and ready to assist any disabled or elderly person requiring assistance. But alas, not all of Seremban is that way, he said.

“Many disabled, elderly, pregnant women and families with children often have a difficult time when crossing roads and entering buildings.”

However, the good news is that the Seremban Railway Station is showing signs of becoming accessible to more people.

Lifts and ramps are being constructed to provide access to the platforms. But sad to say, some of the ramps are too steep for wheelchairs.

Although guide markings to help the blind are being constructed, Russell notes that normal tiles are being used and specifications do not follow the requirements for tactile flooring for the blind.

As for the disabled and elderly, they will soon be able to board and disembark from every train at Seremban Railway Station. However, they will be confronted with insurmountable difficulties the moment they arrive in town.

“Once out of the station, there are no proper footpaths for anyone, let alone the disabled,” Russell said.

“Although there is a pedestrian traffic light crossing from the roadside not far from the station to the General Post Office, access to the GPO is not possible to those using wheelchairs.”

Russell cautioned that crossing from the GPO to the nearby Seremban Parade is too hazardous.

There is no pedestrian crossing, making the Seremban Parade inaccessible to the disabled.

“There are few footpaths in Seremban. Flooding from Sungai Temiang is common with many shops building high flood barriers around their shop fronts. These give even the hale and hearty a tough time.”

Russell cited the lack of pedestrian crossings along Jalan Dato’ Bandar Tunggal, Jalan Yam Tuan and other roads in Seremban town, making it unsafe for most people.

“Money should not be an issue for the Seremban Town Council. All that is required is the will and the commitment to make Seremban a town which is accessible to everyone,” added Russell.

RM39 Million Sports Centre For The Disabled

February 23, 2009 14:43 PM

RM39 Million Sports Centre For The Disabled
By: Ramjit

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) Work on a sports centre of excellence for the disabled (OKU) costing RM39 million will start by the middle of the year.

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Wee Jeck Seng said the high performance sports centre to be built in Kampung Pandan was needed to prepare athletes for sports championships at home and abroad.

Wee was replying to a question by Datuk Baharum Mohamed (BN-Sekijang) on the ministry's plan to build a sports centre for the disabled in Dewan Rakyat here Monday.

He said the ministry and consultants had sought views of the Malaysian Paralympic Council in preparing the centre's design to meet the needs of disabled athletes.

The sports centre to be built on a 1.84 hectare (9.2acre) site will comprise an administration block, hostel for 300 people, swimming pool, archery range and other infrastructure.

BERNAMA

Dr Ng: Aid for the needy has been increasing

Monday February 23, 2009

Dr Ng: Aid for the needy has been increasing

By SIMON KHOO

RAUB: Financial assistance given to the poor, handicapped and senior citizens has been increased in tandem with modern times, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

Dr Ng said the Government had agreed to increase the amount allocated to the needy from RM350mil to RM500mil this year.

She said the Government was aware of the difficulties faced by these categories of people in meeting their daily needs.

“Despite the global economic situation, we will try to achieve our target of eradicating hardcore poverty.

“I am aware of the rise in the cost of living and this may burden those in the lower income group.

“As the minister, I will not shun my responsibility and do my best to provide assistance to the needy,” she said after presenting monthly aid from the Welfare Department to residents of Kampung Sungai Klau, Kampung Sungai Chalit and Kampung Sungai Ruan.

Present were state director Shamsiah Hussin, district welfare officer Mohd Tajul Aris Hassan and state Wanita MCA chief Lim Nget Yoon.

Dr Ng, who is also Raub MP, assured the needy in her constituency that they would be given due attention and not be left out when monetary aid was disbursed.

She said the department provided other assistance like vocational training for single mothers and the physically challenged.

“We also provide allowances to handicapped people who earn less than RM1,200 to encourage them to find permanent jobs without depending on Government aid,” she said.

Department Urged To Beef Up Registration Of Disabled People

February 21, 2009 14:11 PM

Department Urged To Beef Up Registration Of Disabled People

By: Ramjit

KOTA KINABALU, Feb 21 (Bernama) Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun today urged the Welfare Services Department to beef up efforts to register disabled people in the state.

Speaking at a forum and workshop on accessibility entitled "Inclusion, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities" here, Azizah highlighted that the number of disabled people registered in the country was still low compared to their estimated number.

She said that based on an estimate by the World Health Organisation (WHO), there could be as high as 2.7 million disabled people in the country or 10 per cent of Malaysia's total population of 27 million.

As of May 2008, however, only 229,325 disabled people were registered with the Social Welfare Department, accounting for only 0.81 per cent of their estimated number, she said.

She said that in Sabah, the number of disabled peopled registered with the Welfare Services Department as of December last year was 16,814.

"Again, if the WHO's estimation is taken into consideration, Sabah could have up to 260,000 people with disabilities as the estimated population of Sabah in 2008 is 2.6 million."

Hence, the number of disabled peopled registered in Sabah is only 0.64 per cent of their total number," she said.

She added that the registration of disabled people were ongoing either at the state or federal level.

She also urged members of the public who had disabled people in their families to come forward and register them with the department "to make sure that not a single disabled person will be left out."

BERNAMA

Buses for the disabled

Monday February 16, 2009

Buses for the disabled

ALL the 200 new buses to be added to the Rapid Penang fleet would be disabled-friendly, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said.

He said the buses would be delivered by June, bringing the total number of buses owned by the company to 350.

He said the new buses would be fitted with a ramp each to enable wheelchair-bound passengers to board them.

Nor Mohamed added that Rapid Penang had also installed the Global Positioning System (GPS) on all its buses to monitor their movements.

Passengers trying out the Rapid Penang bus service in Pekan Darat.

“The GPS is rented from a service provider.

“It will improve route frequency and enable the company to provide better service to commuters,” he told reporters in Butterworth yesterday after launching Rapid Penang’s new Butterworth – Pekan Darat route in Tasek Gelugor.

Nor Mohamed said the company hoped to break even in three years despite the losses it suffered since beginning operations in July 2007.

It is learnt that the company has recorded losses of about RM7mil.

Nor Mohamed said the company projected to serve 40,000 passengers daily when the new buses were put on the road.

“The current fleet of 150 is serving about 25,000 passengers daily,” he added.

He said more routes would be introduced, especially in rural areas on the Penang mainland, when the new buses begin ope-rations.

Rapid Penang is a subsidiary of RapidKL which is 100% owned by the Ministry of Finance Inc.

Nor Mohamed said the company was set up to improve public transportation in Penang and was not purely profit-driven.

“The responsibility of serving the people was on our minds when we introduced Rapid Penang,” he added.

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.