Disabled Parking Space Abuse by TAR Hospital Staff

About THREE weeks ago, ILTC Members protested at TAR Hospital Disabled Parking Space Abuse by TAR Hospital Staff & also were being used by able-bodied drivers. The Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (TAR) Hospital in Klang, also known as Klang General Hospital or Klang GH is a government tertiary hospital located in the south of the royal town of Klang, Selangor, Malaysia. More disturbing news and it was 'Shocking' in disabled parking often abuse by TAR Hospital staff. People are parking in handicapped parking spaces when they have no right to parking. Who qualifies or entitled to the privileges for a disabled parking?

Is it disabled person or able bodied?

We have received many complaints from disabled individuals in Klang on regards of abuse disabled parking.

ILTC in a peaceful and positive way aims to raise disability awareness.
ILTC Report respectfully to the high authority to take serious action against handicapped parking violators On behalf of ILTC, we would like to thanks popular TV journalist and Mr. Karam Singh Walia for instant responded to our noble struggle together with us to combat the abuse of parking bays for disabled.

Drive to register the disabled

Saturday August 7, 2010

Drive to register the disabled

IPOH: The Women, Family and Community Development Minis­try will go on a nationwide drive to register disabled persons and, if the response is poor, it may resort to amending current laws to make registration compulsory.

Quoting UN estimates, deputy minister Heng Seai Kie said about one per cent of a country’s population comprised persons with disabilities.

“This would mean that there are about 2.7 million disabled people in Malaysia.

“However, only 10% of them are registered,” she told reporters after opening the 2010 Malaysia Special Olympics here yesterday.

Heng said the ministry would embark on a campaign in Decem­ber to register disabled persons, adding that the exercise would be reviewed after six months.

“If the campaign is unsuccessful, there is a possibility of amending the Persons With Disabilities Act 2008 to make it a must for people to register,” she said, adding that at present there was no law to compel families and care givers to register disabled individuals.

Heng said the ministry’s department for the development of persons with disabilities would set up counters at public places and at its 100 district offices to make it easier for the disabled to be registered.

She added that many people were also unaware of the aid given to disabled persons registered with the Welfare Department.

Registered individuals, she said, receive a monthly RM150 allowance from the ministry.

For students, the allowance is given by the ministry until they enter university, after which it is provided by the Education Minis­try.

For working people earning less than RM1,500 a month, they can apply for a RM300 monthly allowance.

The director of the department for the development of persons with disabilities, Norani Mohd Hashim, said besides its offices, registration forms are also available at the offices of the education, health, and human resource departments.

“Forms can also be downloaded from the ministry’s website. It is a simple form to fill but there needs to be a certification from a medical practitioner,” she said.

Y Blame The Darkness? Y Not Light a Candle?

Testing Standing Wheelchair

Meeting with Y.B. Gan Pei Nei

Meeting with Y.B. Gan Pei Nei

Yesterday, we (a group of us in wheelchairs) had a meeting with the YB. Gan Pei Nei who is the State Assemblyman Rawang on discussion the facilities for the disabled at Rawang and Selayang in Majlis Perbandaran Selayang.

She was listening to our problems and she said yesterday there was still need more to look the facilities for the physically-challenged. We had a one-hour discussion with her yesterday. She said the Selangor Government was committed to providing facilities to disabled community. We have several important issues were raised during our discussion and took the opportunity to stress to her the urgency of making the changes now.

She has also taken our views into account to consider our basic fundamental needs to construct buildings in the future. One other issue that was raised at the meeting was to set up a Technical Working Committee for the disabled’s facilities at the Majlis Perbandaran Selayang.

Follow-up Visits to 2009 Rat Race Beneficiaries

2009 Beneficiaries Report

The Edge™ - Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Rat Race® 2009

A total of 13 visits were organized. Due to resources constraint, we were not able to arrange for follow-up visits to the other seven beneficiaries. Efforts have been made to obtain reports from the respective organizations.

18 February 2010

Independent Living and Training Centre Selangor & WP (ILTC)
The Independent Living & Training Centre Selangor & WP is another organization which is managed by the members themselves. Wheelchair-bound members greeted us when we visited them in their office in Rawang, Selangor. ILTC trains disabled people in vocational and technical skills for possible employment opportunities.

The Rat Race funds were used for its new leadership and capacity building programmes for its members.

National Return To Work Conference 2010

Below you can see some pictures taken during at the National Return To Work Conference 2010.

During the Q & A session, we have managed to raise few issues that affect people with disabilities life and that only over recent years.

Sosco's "Return To Work" Programme A Success, Says Dr Subramaniam

July 26, 2010 14:26 PM

Sosco's "Return To Work" Programme A Success, Says Dr Subramaniam

PETALING JAYA, July 26 (Bernama) -- More than half of injured workers, some with permanent disabilities, who have undergone rehabilitation under the Social Security Organisation's (Sosco) "Return to Work" (RTW) programme, have secured jobs, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said Monday.

He said that of the 1,206 injured workers who were absorbed into the programme since its inception in 2007, 629 workers or more than 53 per cent were offered employment by some 500 companies, while another 208 would be placed in the job market soon.

The rest of them are still undergoing the rehabilitation process.

"This indicated that the programme is a success and it will be expanded to cover more injured workers who are Sosco contributors," he told a news conference after opening the RTW national conference here.

He said Sosco hoped to ensure at least 80 per cent of the workers who attended the RTW programme would secure jobs.

Dr Subramaniam said only 10 per cent of the workers involved in industrial or work related accidents were chosen for the programme based on their chances of recovery or ability to return to work.

He also said Sosco had appointed 35 case managers to manage the RTW programme, including monitoring the workers' rehabilitation and identifying the type or nature of jobs upon completing the rehabilitation.

On Sosco's state-of-the-art rehabilitation centre in Melaka, the minister said it was expected to be completed in 2013.

Commenting on a local daily's report today that the Immigration Department had secured the release of 71 Indonesians who were locked up apparently for two years by an employment agency in Kangar, Perlis yesterday, Dr Subramaniam said the Labour Department would take action against the agency, including the possibility of blacklisting it under the Employment Act 1955.

"It is a serious matter, especially when it was reported that they were held against their will for two years," he said.

He said the Labour Department could only act against unscrupulous agents if there were complaints from the affected parties.

"We want the public to become our eyes and ears so that swift action can be taken against these people who only think of making quick money," he said.

Dr Subramaniam also said the Labour Department would investigate news reports which said that Kontena Nasional had abruptly terminated the employment of 22 workers allegedly without giving valid reasons.

-- BERNAMA

Humiliating experience for disabled

Saturday July 24, 2010

Humiliating experience for disabled
By CHARLES FERNANDEZ

WHEELchair-bound U. Gobinathan, 22, vowed never to set foot at the Tesco outlet in Sungei Manggis, Banting, after a body search by a security guard on July 17.

Gobinathan, who was on a motorised wheelchair, exited the cashier counter after paying for his goods and was stopped on suspicion of shoplifting.

Humiliated: Gobinathan said he was mistreated by the security personnel. He was asked to remove his shirt in front of a large crowd but the guard did not find any stolen item.

The guard was instructed by the counter clerk to conduct a body search despite Gobinathan’s pleas.

The youth, who suffers from multiple disabilities, pleaded with the guard and showed the receipts for items he bought.

“Since the incident, everywhere I go people look at me differently. I feel humiliated and don’t have a place to go in the evenings,” said Gobinathan, adding that the shopping mall was his favourite hangout place.

Led by its president, Francis Siva, and secretary Reena Kaur, 20 members from the Independent Living and Training centre (ILTC) staged a protest in front of the mall on Tuesday. They demanded an explanation and expressed dissatisfaction over the manner Gobinathan was treated.

“This incident is another black day for the disabled as they feel isolated from society. The incident has devastated the youth,’’ said Siva.

Reena said the management owed Gobinathan an explanation as to why he was treated in such a manner despite showing the security guard a receipt for his purchases.

Gobinathan’s mother S. Devaki, 52, said her son felt really down after the incident and his self-esteem had hit an all-time low.

Two senior staff from Tesco headquarters in Mutiara Damansara and the store manager had a 30-minute meeting with four representatives from the ILTC.

Tesco public pelations manager Dazrene Aznil Darus said the incident was a misunderstanding.

“They asked for compensation in the form of employment for Gobinathan’s two-wheelchair bound sisters. We have to discuss the matter at corporate level,” said Dazrene.

Tesco Malaysia corporate affairs director Marlene Kaur said they viewed the matter seriously.

“Our security personnel were carrying out their duties and we apologise for any inconvenience caused,” said Marlene.

Struggled of the disabled at JKM Kuala Kubu Baru

On July 5, 2010, I have visited at Pejabat Kebajikan Masyarakat Daerah Hulu Selangor at 2.30pm. I am wheelchair-bound and have to faced many obstacle before enter to JKM office.

At firstly, I have noticed that, the signboards indicating parking for disabled people was not organized properly. Parking space for disabled people not suitable and it was occupied by able bodied vehicles. The JKM must also ensure that these facilities are used only by people with disabilities.

Secondly, the outdoor ramp should be build with proper diameter of the correct gradient and also constructing buildings and providing public facilities that were universal. On the day, my volunteer not be able to assist me alone to get to the building were by way of steep ramp (Killer Ramp).

She had encounter problems to push forwards and we call for another assistance to help us.

The gradient was too steep and very dangerous for wheelchair users.

The ramp does not comply with MS 1184. There were specifications that must be complied with when facilities for the disabled are provided such as handrails for ramps.

After studying the situation in JKM Hulu Selangor, I did not think the ministry or authorities were serious when it came to ensuring that these specifications were adhered to.

Even in the JKM office there was no accessible toilets for the disabled.

Here I would like to suggest that, if you build and provide a ramp, build one that is for everybody.

TOILETS for the disabled. I have noticed that, there were also toilets not for the disabled which had going to turn into storerooms because the managements where these toilets are located think not many people use them

Newspaper articles - Makkal Osai - 21/07/2010

Newspaper articles - Sinar Harian 21/07/2010 & Some pictures from our protest

Newspaper articles - Malaysia Nanban - 21/07/2010

ILTC protes isu layanan OKU

ILTC protes isu layanan OKU

KUALA LANGAT– Tindakan kakitangan sebuah pasaraya yang membuat pemeriksaan tanpa kebenaran terhadap salah seorang orang kurang upaya (OKU) yang disyaki mencuri barang di pasaraya berkenaan menimbulkan rasa tidak puas hati 20 ahli OKU dari Badan Latihan dan Hidup Berdikari (ILTC) di sini.

Presiden ILTC, Francis Siva berkata, pihaknya terpanggil untuk turun padang dan membuat bantahan secara aman kerana tindakan itu adalah kali pertama berlaku di pasaraya yang tidak mengamalkan sikap prihatin terhadap golongan OKU.

Menurutnya, pasaraya yang mempunyai perkhidmatan kepada setiap pelanggan perlu meningkatkan tahap keprihatinan mereka terutamanya kepada golongan OKU tanpa membezakan sifat fizikal seorang individu tersebut.

“Selain itu, kita tidak mahu golongan OKU dilabelkan sebagai pencuri apabila berada di dalam pasaraya memandangkan kebanyakan OKU yang berkerusi roda tidak dapat mencapai kebanyakan barangan yang dipamerkan di pasaraya.

“Selain itu, tindakan kakitangan pasaraya berkenaan turut mempamerkan sikap tidak profesional apabila memalukan OKU dengan membuat pemeriksaan secara terbuka dengan disaksikan beramai-ramai oleh pengunjung pasaraya berkenaan,” katanya yang mengetuai bantahan di hadapan pasaraya terbabit, semalam.

ILTC Breaking new

Tomorrow (20/07/2010) at 1.00pm, 20 ILTC’s disabled members and some good samaritan will be protesting against Tesco Stores (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. at Banting, Selangor (in front of main entrance) due to humiliated and embarrassed Mr. U Gobi (Disabled person) by their staff.

More updates will hopefully be coming soon, including more relevant information to keep you up to date…..

Newspaper articles - Sinar Harian 19/07/2010

Newspaper articles - Malaysia Nanban 19/07/2010