Harian Metro Report On OKU Protest Recently Against MPS

Harian Metro Report On OKU Protest Recently Against MPS

Ketua Pesuruhajaya Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM), Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamad memohon maaf kepada ILTC

Ketua Pesuruhajaya Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM), Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamad memohon maaf di atas kejadian yang berlau semasa proses penyerahan memorandum yang berkenaan d8i pejabat SPRM Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur pada 18 Januari 2010 yang lalu.

Dato' Abu Kassim Bin Mohamed, ingin memohon maaf di atas kenyataan tersebut yang tidak bermaksud untuk menyinggung perasaan mana-mana pihak dalam hal ini.

OKU: Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM minta maaf kepada Karpal Singh

OKU: Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM minta maaf kepada Karpal Singh

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Jan: Ketua Pesuruhajaya Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM), Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamad memohon maaf kepada Karpal Singh berikutan tindakan Peguam Kanan Persekutuan yang mewakili SPRM dikatakan menghina orang kurang upaya (OKU).

Begitu juga Peguam Kanan Persekutuan Persekutuan yang mengeluarkan kata-kata tidak baik terhadap OKU itu juga difahamkan telah memohon maaf.

Baru-baru ini, seorang Peguam Kanan Persekutuan didakwa mengeluarkan kata-kata menghina ke atas peguam Karpal Singh berkaitan dengan kecacatannya.

Ekoran itu, pelbgai pertubuhan OKU membuat bantahan terhadap penyataan yang dianggap menghina itu. Antaranya bantahan dibuat oleh Badan Latihan & Hidup Berdikari (ILTC), sebuah NGO yang mewakili orang kurang upaya.


(Gambar: Surat ILTC yang dihantar kepada SPRM bagi membantah kenyataan Peguam Kanan Persekutuan yang mewakili SPRM)

ILTC membantah kenyataan Peguam Kanan Persekutuan berkenaan yang dianggap sebagai menghina OKU apabila beliau menghina Karpal Singh.

Berikut adalah kenyataan penuh SPRM yang dihantar kepada Harakahdaily yang dikeluarkan oleh Ps. Nurhasmah Mohamed Kassim bagi pihak Ketua Unit Komunikasi Korporat

SPRM.SURUHANJAYA PENCEGAHAN RASUAH MALAYSIA
----------------------------------

Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) merujuk kepada laporan media berhubung kenyataan Peguam Kanan Persekutuan yang mewakili SPRM dalam satu perbicaraan mahkamah pada 18 Januari 2010.

SPRM dimaklumkan bahawa Peguam Kanan Persekutuan tersebut telah menarik balik kenyataan yang dibuat dan permohonan maaf telah dibuat oleh beliau kepada individu berkenaan.

Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM mewakili warga SPRM ingin memohon maaf di atas kenyataan tersebut dan tidak bermaksud untuk menyinggung perasaan mana-mana pihak dalam perkara ini.

SPRM juga merujuk kepada dakwaan Rakyat Anti-Diskriminasi ke atas OKU Malaysia (MADD) dan Badan Latihan dan Hidup Berdikari (ILTC) yang dikatakan terpaksa menunggu lama untuk menyampaikan memorandum kepada Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM serta ketiadaan pegawai SPRM untuk menerima memorandum tersebut.

Pejabat Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM hanya menerima permohonan daripada ILTC berhubung penyerahan memorandum tersebut melalui faksimili jam 10.03 pagi pada 18 Januari 2010.

Dalam permohonan tersebut, ILTC meminta Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM datang ke Pejabat SPRM Wilayah Persekutuan, Kuala Lumpur untuk menerima memorandum tersebut pada jam 11.30 pagi.

Namun begitu, Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM tidak dapat hadir kerana pada waktu yang sama beliau menghadiri Majlis Perasmian MyID dan Mesyuarat Agensi-Agensi Sektor Awam oleh YAB Timbalan Perdana Menteri di Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya (PICC).

Walau bagaimanapun, pihak SPRM Wilayah Persekutuan telah diminta untuk menerima memorandum tersebut bagi pihak Ketua Pesuruhjaya.

SPRM memohon maaf di atas segala kesulitan yang dilalui oleh pihak MADD dan ILTC dan akan memastikan perkara ini tidak berulang lagi.

IBU PEJABAT
SURUHANJAYA PENCEGAHAN RASUAH MALAYSIA,
PUTRAJAYA

19 JANUARI 2010

MACC says sorry

MACC says sorry
2010/01/20
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday issued an apology to the disabled community over a remark made by its head of prosecution Datuk Abdul Razak Musa during the Teoh Beng Hock inquest on Friday.

In a statement, the MACC said it did not mean to offend any quarters.It also said the MACC head office was notified that Abdul Razak had already withdrawn his statement and apologised to the individual concerned.

On Friday, Abdul Razak caused an uproar with his remark to lawyer Karpal Singh that "I can sit down, but you cannot stand up".

The apology was issued following several protests by several groups, including the Independent Living and Training Centre and the Malaysians Against Discrimination of the Disabled.

MACC says sorry to Karpal

Wednesday January 20, 2010


MACC says sorry to Karpal

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission head of prosecution Datuk Abdul Razak Musa has apologised to Karpal Singh for making an insensitive remark to the latter on Friday.

In a press statement, the commission said Abdul Razak retracted his words and apologised to Karpal for his comments.

Last week during the Teoh Beng Hock inquest proceedings, Abdul Razak told Karpal, who was in a wheelchair, that “I can sit down, but you cannot stand up”.

The MACC also apologised for the insensitive comments made by Abdul Razak and said it was not the commission’s intention to offend any party.

Karpal, when contacted, said Abdul Razak had apologised to him in court immediately after the comment was made. The former had been cautioned by the judge as well.

“I accept the apology by the MACC in good grace and the matter should be left at that,” he said.

Karpal hoped that such an insult would not occur again, not only to him but to all disabled people.

On Monday, members of the Malaysians Against Discrimination of the Disabled (MADD) coalition submitted a memorandum to the MACC requesting that disciplinary action be taken against Abdul Razak for his comments.

The MACC’s Federal Territories director Azni Hamzah received the memorandum.

Disabled group wants council to do more

Wednesday January 20, 2010

Disabled group wants council to do more
By STUART MICHAEL

THE Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) in Rawang handed over a memorandum to the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) recently to build disabled-friendly facilities.

The memorandum asked the council to implement and enforce Local Building By-Laws to make the environment friendly to the disabled.
Speaking out: ILTC members gathering outside the council before handing over the memorandum.

According to ILTC president Francis Siva, people with disabilities do not want a welfare-based approach but prefer initiatives based on individual rights.

“In Malaysia, we urgently need significant improvement in our quality of life.

“We are part of the community and deserve equal treatment.

“We are disappointed with the council as there has been no progress and development in the infrastructure for the disabled in Rawang and Selayang.

“They should have taken into account proper accessible walkway pavements, elevators and toilets for the disabled and the elderly,” Siva said.

Siva added that last year, at a MPS full board meeting, the council decided that a lift and a ramp would be built for the disabled at the old MPS building and a Technical Working Committee For The Disabled’s Facilities would be set-up.

“Despite many promises made by the MPS there has been no progress.

“We demand to know if the needs of the disabled will henceforth be included in the planning.

“We will be speaking out on our struggle, plight and challenges and against prejudice of the disabled,” he added.

Twelve disabled members from ILTC were present at the MPS building to hand over the memorandum and voice out their concerns.

Group wants MACC to apologise to disabled

Tuesday January 19, 2010

Group wants MACC to apologise to disabled

KUALA LUMPUR: Members of the Malaysians Against Discrimination of the Disabled (MADD) coalition have submitted a memorandum to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Com­mission requesting that disciplinary action be taken against a senior officer.

The movement claimed that the commission’s head of prosecution Datuk Abdul Razak Musa had insulted Karpal Singh on Friday.

The memorandum stated that the MACC should tender a public apology not only to Karpal but to all disabled people in the country.

Angry message: Independent Living and Training Centre for the disabled president Francis Siva, T. Anthony Siva Balan, V. Murusamy and J. Jesinda showing their displeasure yesterday. With them is Surendran (wearing tie).

It also demanded that the MACC immediately institute a full review of its training and recruitment methods, programmes and modules.

Last week during the Teoh Beng Hock inquest proceedings, Abdul Razak told Karpal, who is in a wheelchair, that “I can sit down, but you cannot stand up”.

The coalition was represented by seven wheelchair-bound members and its legal adviser, N. Surendran.

MACC’s Federal Territories director Azni Hamzah received the memorandum yesterday.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Activists Protest Against MACC - malaysiakini

Malaysians Against Discrimination of the Disabled (MADD) demanded the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to apologise for its insult on veteran lawyer Karpal Singh. They want its chief, Abu Kassim Mohamed, to issue a public apology to the DAP chairperson and to all disabled persons for the uncalled for remarks by its counsel at an inquest recently.

MADD, an umbrella body for eight groups, handed over a memorandum to the MACC at the Federal House in Kuala Lumpur today.

It called for strict disciplinary action against MACC lawyer and representative Abdul Razak Musa who insulted Karpal, the legal counsel in the Teoh Beng Hock inquest last Friday.

During a verbal exchange on Thursday on an application to cite a MACC officer for contempt at the Teoh's inquest, Abdul Razak retorted: "I can sit down but Karpal cannot stand up." Musa later apologised and withdrew his remark.

A group of disable activists from MADD, led by Anthony Siva Balan Thanasayan and Francis Siva waited at the entrance of the MACC office for Abu Kassim to receive the memo.

However, not a single MACC officer appeared. A representative from the Soil and Minerals Department emerged after 30 minutes and asked the group to go up to the fifth floor to the MACC office.

MADD legal advisor N Surendran said: "Their insensitivity to the disabled is appalling. MACC officers are up there, they can't come down, they want these people to go up."

Surendran said that as the group faced difficulties in traveling to Putrajaya, they had contacted Abu Kassim to inform him of their intention to meet him at the KL office.

The group had to wait another 15 minutes before a MACC officer identifying himself as Khamswan emerged and offered to receive the memo on behalf of his office.

Asked why Abu Kassim could not receive the memo despite being given prior notice, Khamswan said: "The commissioner's office is in Putrajaya, not Kuala Lumpur."

The group refused to budge and insisted on handing over the memo to the MACC director.

Eventually, federal director of the MACC, Azni Hamzah (above), came down to accept the memo

Anthony, who is also a Petaling Jaya city councillor, was unhappy at the way the group had been treated.

"An insult to all disabled people"

"Is this what a caring society is? You don't even care to take a piece of paper from somebody. We are not asking anything from anybody, we're just expressing ourselves," he said.

"This is the worst. In parliament (during a previous protest) we had officials who came to see us and told us which way to go," he added.

Surendran (left) later explained that the disabled groups felt strongly about Musa's insult because previous protests on similar discrimination had fallen on deaf ears.

"The insult on Karpal's disability is not an insult just to Karpal, but to every disabled person in this country.

"If people in authority like Musa and the MACC do not know how to respect the disabled, what example are setting for the rest of the country?" he asked.

"An apology is not enough because every time they insult the disabled, they apologise and let the matter rest, which is what happened the last time Karpal was insulted," he said.

ILTC tuntut MPS sedia kemudahan OKU

Ahad 17-1-2010

ILTC tuntut MPS sedia kemudahan OKU

BANDAR BARU SELAYANG – Terasa terpinggir dengan arus pembangunan setempat dirasakan tidak mesra keperluan orang kurang upaya (OKU), pihak terbabit meminta Majlis Perban- daran Selayang (MPS) supaya lebih prihatin.

Tidak setakat kemudahan tempat letak kereta kepada OKU, sebaliknya kemudahan bagi pergerakan untuk semua jenis OKU juga diharap dapat diadakan.

Presiden Badan Latihan dan Hidup Berdikari (ILTC), Francis Siva yang menegaskan demikian berkata, sehingga kini, pihaknya merasakan masih banyak kemudahan untuk golongan sepertinya diabaikan.

“Kita tidak mengharapkan diberikan keistimewaan. Tetapi cukup dengan kemudahan di tempat awam yang memudahkan OKU termasuk warga emas, orang buta, pekak, pengguna kerusi roda dan lain-lain.

“Setakat ini di kawasan MPS, yang kita hanya nampak tempat parkir kereta diberikan perha- tian, itupun sering digunakan oleh orang biasa,” katanya kepada wartawan ketika menyerahkan memorandum berkenaan kepada MPS.

Wakil MPS hadir menerima memorandum itu adalah Pemangku Timbalan Yang Dipertua MPS yang juga Pengarah Perancang Bandar MPS, Juhari Ahmad. Dalam pada itu, mengulas kekurangan kemudahan untuk OKU, Francis mendakwa, misalnya di kawasan Bandar Rawang baru dibangunkan, kebanyakan bangunan di situ tidak mesra OKU.

“Contohnya, di Bandar Rawang dan tempat lain di Selayang, banyak laluan pejalan kaki, ‘elevators’, ‘ramp’ dan tandas mesra OKU dan warga emas namun di Terminal Bas dan Teksi Rawang baru, laluan berkerusi roda dan tandas OKU ada yang kurang sesuai.

“Pintu tandas di situ harus direka bentuk dengan ruang mencukupi untuk memastikan keselamatan sama ada OKU berkerusi roda automatik mahupun manual,” katanya.

Menurutnya, kebanyakan tempat awam khususnya di Rawang juga harus dipastikan mudah dilalui OKU serta mempunyai papan tanda mudah lihat.

“Peruntukan khas keperluan OKU ini sepatutnya dimasukkan dalam bajet MPS dalam mengimplementasikan undang-undang memastikan kemudahan ini ada di kawasannya. “

Jika dalam sebulan tiada maklum balas, mungkin kita akan adakan demontrasi dengan kumpulan lebih besar selepas ini,” katanya.

Mahu wakil dalam Jawatankuasa Khas OKU

Bagi memastikan kemudahan OKU lebih efektif, Francis berkata, pihak ILTC sedia membantu dengan meletakkan wakil khas daripada kalangan pihaknya dalam Jawatankuasa Khas OKU di MPS.

“Kita difahamkan selepas Setiausaha ILTC, P Gurdip Kaur tidak lagi bertugas sebagai Ahli Majlis MPS iaitu sejak setahun lalu, tiada lagi wakil OKU dalam Jawatankuasa Khas OKU ditubuhkan.

“Sedangkan pada kami, perlu ada wakil OKU dalam jawatankuasa itu dalam memastikan keperluan dan lebih memahami kehendak serta perasaan kami sebagai golongan OKU. “

Kita juga tidak pasti sama ada jawatankuasa ini masih wujud dan aktif atau tidak,” katanya.

Gurdip pula berkata, untuk melengkapkan kemudahan golongannya, MPS juga perlu memastikan bangunan dalam MPS sendiri mesra OKU terlebih dahulu.

“Contohnya, bangunan lama MPS dijanjikan untuk ditambah kemudahan lif, tetapi tiada perkembangan sehingga kini, manakala di Menara MPS sendiri tiada tanda penunjuk terdapat kemudahan tandas OKU dalam bangunan itu. “

Kios perniagaan MPS pula dibina terlalu kecil. Ini bermakna hanya orang biasa sahaja boleh berniaga kerana jika OKU berkerusi roda tentu tidak sesuai,” katanya.

Menurutnya, golongan OKU tidak seharusnya dilupakan dalam mencapai visi MPS mewujudkan kawasan selesa didiami, memandangkan mereka juga rakyat negara ini yang membayar cukai serta pengundi.

Peruntukan bawah Jabatan Kejuruteraan MPS

Juhari ketika mengulas memorandum dihantar kepada MPS itu berkata, pihaknya belum ada peruntukan khas untuk golongan OKU.

“Bagaimanapun keperluan mengadakan kemudahan OKU contohnya di bangunan MPS akan dipastikan Jabatan Kejuruteraan MPS. Malah, hal berkaitan OKU diambil kira dalam perancangan pembangunan MPS. “

Jawatankuasa Teknikal OKU MPS dipengerusikan ahli majlis untuk membincangkan perkara berkaitan OKU juga telah diwujudkan sejak tahun lalu,” katanya.

Kata Juhari, bagi bangunan milik sektor swasta pula, pihaknya akan memastikan bangunan baru dibina di kawasan MPS menyediakan kemudahan diperlukan oleh OKU.

Katanya, syarat pembangu- nan itu kini perlu dipatuhi pihak swasta dan sekiranya gagal, pihaknya tidak akan mengeluarkan Sijil Layak Mendu- duki (CF) untuk bangunan telah disiapkan.

“Bagi bangunan seperti kedai lama, kita akan cuba adakan kemudahan sepatutnya,” katanya.

Mengulas kemudahan lif di bangunan lama MPS, menurutnya tiada peruntukan disediakan untuk itu sebelum ini namun, tidak menolak ia akan diadakan masa akan datang.

Disabled Group Threaten Protest - malaysiakini

15 January 2010

Disabled Group Threaten Protest - malaysiakini

An NGO for the disabled community, Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC), warned that they would hold a protest against the Selayang Municipal Council if it fails to heed the needs of the disabled community.

"We're giving them a month to provide people in Rawang with disabled-friendly facilities. Failure to do so will result in us organising a mass protest," said Francis Siva, the director of ILTC.

Siva along with a dozen disabled people sent a memorandum to Selayang Municipal Council this morning.They complained of the lack of progress in providing infrastructure for the disabled in the Rawang and Selayang vicinity.

Among the demands in the memorandum was for the Selayang Municipal Council building to be made disabled-friendly.

The group also called for all new buildings to be made accessible to the disabled, with allocations for disabled parking lots near building entrances in Rawang.

Empty promises to disabled

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Siva also lamented the fact that the council had only paid lip service to the disabled community.

"Our secretary, Reena Kaur when appointed as councillor for a year from July 2008 to June 2009 had made many proposals to the council. However, the proposals had not become a reality."

In the absence of a representative in the council, the ILTC also wants the disabled community to be included in the council's technical committee as the representative would be able to advise the council on issues involving the community.

"They don't understand our needs. As such, development is done without taking into account our concerns," Francis lamented.

He also bemoaned the futility of having existing laws that did cover people with disabilities.“We have all the by-laws but the system is corrupted.”

There have been periodic complaints by members of the disabled community even though an act had been passed in 2008.

Mental Patients Already Categorised As Disabled - Dept

January 07, 2010 19:29 PM

Mental Patients Already Categorised As Disabled - Dept

By: Ramjit

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- The Welfare Department has already categorised mental patients as the disabled following an approval by the cabinet on May 27 last year, its Director-General Datuk Meme Zainal Rashid said.

In a statement, Meme Zainal said apart from mental patients, among the new categories of disabled were those with visual impairment, hearing impairment as well as multiple disabilities.

He was commenting on the call by National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye recently that mental patients should be categorised as disabled.

Meme Zainal clarified however that only those with schizophrenia, mood disorder and acute organic mental disorder and those who had undergone psychiatry treatment for at least two years can be registered as disabled.

Only psychiatrists were allowed to certify the mental state of patients, he said, adding that registration of mental patients as disabled can now be made at any of the department's office. All disabled registered with the department could be considered for appropriate assistance, he said.

BERNAMA

Taking stock

Thursday January 7, 2010

Taking stock

Wheel Power by ANTHONY THANASAYAN

ONE of the things I relish most about the new year is the opportunity to engage in some retrospection, to take stock of the things that have impacted our lives in the past 12 months.

Whether events are good or unpleasant, they can provide valuable learning points for growth.

This to me is far better than any of the usual things that we do during every yearend celebration to mark the passing of the old and the dawning of the new.

2009 in this respect has been my most significant teacher yet in the classroom of life. I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve learnt as a city councillor for Petaling Jaya (MBPJ), and as an individual with a disability.

I am thankful for all the support I received, especially the backing of my able-bodied colleagues on issues affecting the handicapped.

Such championing has turned the local council from being an entity that once was thought to provide too few disabled-friendly facilities to a vibrant one that is very much in touch with the needs of the disabled community.

Improved designs – incorporating audible and electronic alarms – in toilets for the disabled, covered car parks around the city, new guidelines for management of homes for the elderly, and free dog licences for vulnerable groups receiving animal-assisted therapy, are some of the many wonderful changes that I’ve been lucky to be part of, particularly in the past year.

None of these many milestones for the disabled would have come about without the setting up of a special disability committee chaired by a disabled person.

It would be great if all local councils throughout the country could come up with a New Year resolution to set up disability committees in their locales to speed up attempts to reach out to disabled and elderly residents.

Another valuable service is the provision of disabled-friendly vans to transport the handicapped and the elderly.

These vehicles come with a hydraulic lift that makes wheelchair access into the vans a breeze.

The wheelchair user can remain seated whilst the wheelchair is being hauled up into the van. The MBPJ vans offer free rides to the handicapped anywhere in Petaling Jaya. This is a wonderful opportunity for the handicap to get out of their houses and do something positive with their lives, instead of being confined to their homes because of the lack of public transport.

All local councils should look into providing vans and services like these in their respective councils.

The National Welfare Department should also get into the act.

All the vans I’ve seen that are currently provided by them are used to ferry their able-bodied officers. One wonders why the department did not come up with such an initiative in the first place, given their longstanding tradition and experience of working with the disabled. A new mindset will certainly go a long way in making a positive difference in the lives of Malaysians with disabilities.

Mentally Ill Should Be Categroised As Disabled Persons - NIOSH

Mentally Ill Should Be Categroised As Disabled Persons - NIOSH

By: Ramjit

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- The National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) is proposing to the government to include mentally ill individuals under the disabled persons category.

NIOSH chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said in previous years, mental health had been a topic of low priority for the government and community as compared to other health problems but increasingly as reflected worldwide, it had gained more prominence.

He also said that the promotion of good mental health among Malaysians of all age groups should be accorded due priority this year and be listed on the national agenda of major health and workplace issues to be addressed.

He said mental health problems, especially stress-related among Malaysians including school students, were a matter of serious concern and need to be addressed urgently so that problems like stress, anger, violence and other mental disorders such as psychosis, depression and suicides could be avoided.

"In Malaysia, we need to do more for those who suffer from mental illness. On the welfare services front, the government should include the mentally ill as disabled persons."And they should be accorded opportunities in employment to help them return to the mainstream and not be a burden to society," he said in a statement on Saturday.

BERNAMA

TOWARDS A CARING 1 MALAYSIA WELFARE PROGRAMME 2009

TOWARDS A CARING 1 MALAYSIA WELFARE PROGRAMME 2009
The programme which was held on 27th December 2009 from 9.00am to 4.00pm at the Girl Guides Hall, Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.We ILTC & Sri Krishna Temple, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur jointly organised a Towards A Caring 1 Malaysia Welfare Programme 2009, this Welfare Programme with the theme “Towards a Caring 1 Malaysia” to share the joyous occasion of Multi Religious Festivals with the needy and underprivileged from some of the welfare homes.
About 400 people from various homes participated in this programme.

On behalf of organizing committee, I would like to thank you for FusionExcel International their kind support and make this event a successfully and hope to continue receiving their support and co-operation.

Symposium On Spinal Cord Injury 2009

Symposium On Spinal Cord Injury 2009 which was held on 14th - 15th November 2009 at Kuala Lumpur International Hotel.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Mr. Chong Tuck Meng, who has invited me to jointly organized this Symposium. We are honored to co-host with other disabled organization, PERWIRA K9 Malaysia.

I am also very happy because this symposium had address many misunderstanding and wrong perceptions of the public on people using wheelchair. Life goes on normal after spinal cord injuries.

This seminar had some opportunity to greater understanding and knowledge on the issues of fertility and sexuality to the disabled community.

This programmed comprised of counseling, health and information technology educations in order for us to be pro-active in the community.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

&

MAY THIS DAY BRING HAPPINESS AND JOY TO ALL OF YOU

LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR CO-OPERATION AND SUPPORT IN FUTURE FOR ILTC.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL

Fomca: Waive credit card tax for the disabled

Tuesday December 22, 2009

Fomca: Waive credit card tax for the disabled

PETALING JAYA: The disabled community should be exempted from the RM50 service tax for principal credit and charge cards, said Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) chief executive officer Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman.

“The Government should look into the needs and situation of the disabled when it comes to imposing such moves,” he said.

Wheelchair-bound Anthony Thanasayan, presi­dent of ­­ Petposi­tive, an animal-assisted therapy society for the disabled and elderly, said the move would only cause “valuable money to be taken away from the disabled.”

Good week

Thursday December 10, 2009

Good week

Persons with disabilities turned up in droves to commemorate a special day.

LAST week was fabulous. I was privileged to be at two events commemorating International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) which this year fell on Dec 3.

Last Saturday, nearly 3,000 people, scores of them in wheelchairs or carrying white canes, turned up at a carnival organised by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry in Kuala Lumpur where Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil delivered an impassioned speech on disability.

Visitors enjoyed exciting games and learnt about the latest services available to the disabled and the good work done by various NGOs.

Two days earlier, more than 200 people gathered at The Curve shopping complex in Petaling Jaya for an event sponsored by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

It was graced by Selangor State Welfare, Women Affairs, Science, Technology and Innovation committee chairman Rodziah Ismail, who spoke passionately on the needs of the disabled.

Among the key points raised are:

> The disabled need jobs: Rodziah said it was time that all sectors go all out to employ the handicapped. To do this, there must be a commitment from all parties.

Rodziah pointed out that local councils like the MBPJ had started filling up its 1% quota for employing the disabled.

On her part, Shahrizat said that disabled persons should be seen as people with abilities and talents who can contribute to society.

> Time for local councils to get serious: Shahrizat questioned the lackadaisical attitude of the local councils for not implementing disabled-friendly access at their level, even though by-laws have been gazetted since the early 1990s.

Although it won’t be an easy task, the minister promised to check on local councils and make sure that they create disabled-friendly towns and cities so that the handicapped can go to work and study in schools, among other things.

Rodziah said that for a start, she would get local councils in Selangor to set up a special team to ensure that accessibility of the disabled tops the agenda of local authorities.

> Disability is everyone’s concern: Shahrizat reminded decision-makers on the importance of including disabled people in their committees, especially in matters involving them.

Rodziah reminded the able-bodied that it was prudent to plan for the disabled and elderly as many of us might suffer some disability one day through accident, disease or old age.

One of the highlights at both events was the presenting of special awards to those with learning disabilities.

The MBPJ event, with help from the Dyslexia Association of Malaysia, honoured children in Petaling Jaya who successfully completed their Year Six exams.

They also gave special recognition to young adults with learning difficulties who held down jobs as laundry workers.

As wonderful as both celebrations were, there is still room for improvement for future events.

Here is some of the feedback I received:

> Let’s have some disabled speakers instead of only the able-bodied giving speeches as the day is for the disabled.

> Please cut down on presentations by able-bodied performers no matter how popular they may be, and give undiscovered disabled artistes a chance to showcase their talents. (And please pay them for their services instead of expecting them to do it for free.)

> Kindly provide front seats to the disabled and let the VIPs sit behind the disabled instead for IDPD.

Can we also do away with VIP-eating areas and allow the VIPs to mingle with the disabled?

Disabled To Replace Prof Ismail Salleh In Senate

December 09, 2009 15:54 PM

Disabled To Replace Prof Ismail Salleh In Senate
By: Ramjit

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- The government proposes to appoint a senator from among the disabled to fill the chair vacated by senator Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh who died of a heart attack on Aug 27.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil told the Dewan Negara on Wednesday that the list of candidates would be submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for consideration.

She was replying to a supplementary question from senator Datuk Saripah Aminah Syed Mohamed who wanted to know whether the government would recommend another disabled person to fill the vacancy created by the death of Ismail, 61, who was the first disabled person to be appointed a senator.

Dr Ismail, a economist, was the first blind person to be awarded a doctorate.

BERNAMA