Public Should Know The Rights Of The Disabled

November 18, 2011 20:47 PM

Public Should Know The Rights Of The Disabled

By Zulkiple Ibrahim

This is the last of two articles on issues faced by the disabled.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- "We have put up notices advising the public that the designated parking bays are only for the disabled. But only few pay heed to our advice," said a management officer of a hypermarket in Rawang.

"Our security guards cannot man these parking bays all the time. We only hope the public know the rights of the disabled. Our last resort could be clamping the wheels of the vehicles that disregard the notice we up."

The officer was queried on why the able-bodied were abusing the parking bays reserved for the disabled there.

This writer later went to observe whether the abuse occurs at other shopping complexes in the city.

A shopping complex at The Curve in Mutiara Damansara warns the abusers of such parking bays that their vehicles will be clamped. Cars without disabled-driver stickers will be clamped if the vehicles are found in spaces reserved for handicapped drivers.

In Bandar Utama, the management of a shopping complex posts security guards at the parking bays. The situation is similar at a hypermarket in Kota Damansara.

A public medical centre in the city also does the same. Parking attendants are deployed to advise vehicle owners. Those who flout the rules and still leave their vehicles in the parking bays reserved for the disabled have to pay fines for the wheel clamps to be removed from their vehicles.

PUBLIC ATTITUDE

Mary Anthony (not her real name), who herself has a bone disorder and walks with a limp, has a special-needs child and is among those who feel that some people are still ignorant of the rights of the disabled.

"I have a five-year-old boy who has Down syndrome," Mary said. "Over the last couple of years, I have found myself getting more disheartened every time I see able-bodied people abusing facilities reserved for disabled people.

"One day I politely asked a driver who parked in a disabled bay if he was disabled but his reaction was disappointing. He shrugged his shoulders and said that he would only be in the space for a few minutes.

"At least he said something. Others would give me a stern look and simply walk away. Obviously they had no regard for the handicapped.

"After our shopping trip, the driver's car was still parked there," she said disgustedly.

Do the handicapped feel that they are being treated as second-class citizens? People such as Mary think so.

She said at times she feels very hurt when she goes to public places.

"Some stare at me as if I am a monster or an alien from another planet. It hurts when others treat you like a second-class citizen in your own country," she said.

TOILETS

This writer went to different shopping complexes several weeks ago and on two separate occasions politely asked the person queuing up in front of the toilet reserved for the disabled whether they were disabled.

The response this writer received both times was disgraceful.

"Are you handicapped, too?" One lady retorted and walked away. This writer then wondered whether she had failed to notice that this writer was in a wheelchair.

On another occasion, this writer wanted to use a toilet for the disabled. Somebody else was using the cubicle at that time.

When a man came out, this writer asked whether he was disabled.

"So what?" said the man in an angry tone. "There is nobody else using so I decided to use it. You can ask the management to take action."

POSERS

Social activist Gurmukh Singh has several questions for the physically-able: "If there are queues for the toilets and a disabled toilet is vacant, should you use it?

"If the toilets are upstairs and the disabled toilet is downstairs and vacant, should you use it?

"Is the Persons with Disabilities Act toothless?"

He said it has been more than three years since the Persons With Disabilities Act came into force.

"The act is good in terms of educating the public. However, it needs more bite to ensure that facilities for the handicapped are not abused," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Welfare dues withheld

G Vinod

| November 16, 2011

Some beneficiaries of the Disabled Worker’s Allowance have not been paid for two months.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Social Welfare has withheld payment of the Disabled Worker’s Allowance (EPC) to some beneficiaries, according to reports received by FMT.

Several members of the Society of the Blind said they had not received their monthly dues since last month and that a similar situation happened last December and January.

The department normally banks in the allowance by the second day of the month.

An official of the Kuala Lumpur Welfare Department said payment would be frozen if a beneficiary failed to update records of his address and marital and employment status on time.

The update has to be done once a year. Most state welfare departments require it in October.

However, the president of the Independent Living and Training Centre, Francis Siva, rejected the explanation, saying the department gave different reasons for the delay to different people.

“Just last week, I went to the welfare office in Kuala Kubu Baru to check on why my allowance was not ready and the officer there told me the Federal Treasury had not disbursed the funds,” he said.

“When I pressed on the matter, they changed their tune, saying the state had not disbursed the funds. So which is which?”

He criticised the requirement for an annual update of particulars, saying it created unnecessary problems for people already facing many challenges.

“You expect a bedridden man to come and update his status annually? The welfare department has logistics to go house to house, but they are just lazy and inefficient.”

Unhelpful staff

Goh Harp Boon, a blind 36-year-old masseur, said he moved often to improve his employment opportunities and it would be difficult for him to inform the department every time. “Must we do it every time we move?”

According to his MyKad, Goh’s address is in Perak. But he now lives in Kuala Lumpur. He said the Kuala Lumpur Welfare Department told him he would not qualify for any more aid until he changed the address on the card.

He claimed the officer who spoke to him also demanded his pay slip as proof that he qualified for the RM300 monthly allowance given to disabled people who are employed. (Unemployed disabled people get RM150 a month.)

“They fail to understand that I work on a freelance basis,” Goh said. “Where am I going to get a pay slip?”

Goh said he knew many other blind people facing similar problems with the welfare department but were afraid to come forward to complain.

He also alleged that many had been turned away when trying to update their particulars.

“Sometimes they will just say the officer in charge is not around and tell us to come again another day. It costs us a lot of money to travel to the office in Jalan Pahang.”

Another blind person, 55-year-old Hor Hee Teck, said he went to the department to inquire about the delay of his allowance but was told that the online system was down.

To prevent overlapping of information

According to the Kuala Lumpur welfare official, the annual update of particulars was necessary for the department to keep track of beneficiaries and to “prevent the overlapping of information”.

She also said funds were usually returned to the Treasury if the beneficiaries did not collect them by the 20th day of the month.

“Nevertheless, we do retrieve the funds back for them when they lodge a complaint with us,” she added.

She rejected allegations that department officials turned disabled people away or that it was difficult for them to get their records updated.

“Any of our officers are allowed to take their particulars for updates. They don’t need to change their MyKad addresses at all.”

Deepavali joy at state open house

Deepavali joy at state open house

Published: Fri, 11 Nov 2011

SELAYANG: Over 3,000 residents in Rawang attended the Selangor Deepavali open house on Jalan Maxwell here on Monday night.

“Thank you for letting us celebrate the festival of lights with you here in Rawang,” said Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim in his opening speech.

He later handed over two mock cheques for RM15,000 to an orphanage and a disabled home in Rawang.

The event was jointly organised by the state and the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS), and was attended by Speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim and executive councillors Ronnie Liu and Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

Rawang and Batu Caves assemblypersons Gan Pei Nei and Amirudin Shari were also present at the celebration, which was marked by a fireworks display.

The open house was also attended by MPS President Datuk Zainal Abidin Aala and his senior staff.

Organisers set up food stalls serving Indian and Malaysian favourites such as roti canai, nasi briyani, curry chicken and cendol.

PROGRESS REPORT: Updates - Photos of Construction Progress at ILTC Project on 14/11/2011

The latest news

Today, Madam Diana from HL Management Co. visited the ILTC Project side, the construction of the new building in order to getting information and to view in-progress development of the project.

Disabled group upset over ‘terrible’ action

November 4, 2011

The ban on Seksualiti Merdeka festival will earn the derision of forward-looking countries, says Petpositive.

PETALING JAYA: The banning of the “Seksualiti Merdeka” festival by the police yesterday has earned the scorn of disabled rights activist Anthony Thanasayan.

Anthony, the Petpositive (Malaysian Animal Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and the Elderly Association) president said that an event such as Seksualiti Merdeka greatly affected the disabled people as well.

“It is a handicap to be disabled. It is a double handicap to be also gay,” said Thanasayan, who has counselled many homosexuals, both abled bodied and disabled.

“People forget that the disabled, including the deaf and blind, are human too. Sexuality transcends the able-bodied or disabled. They are always advised not to think about sex. For many of us,
our genitalia still work; besides, sexuality is not limited to your genitalia,” said Thanasayan, who is wheelchair-bound himself.

Thanasayan said it is much worse for a disabled person who has sexual confusion to find help, and this could even lead to those who are not homosexual to turn gay in the process.

“This is because the disabled have limited chances to explore their sexuality, whereas an able-bodied person has more chances. Out of desperation, I have seen cases where a man goes into a relationship with an uncle, or brother because they have no other options,” he said.

Thanasayan, who is also a councillor with the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), said that an event such as Seksualiti Merdeka allows everyone – abled-bodied as well as the disabled – to know themselves and this is vital for a good relationship or marriage.

“I went to the Seksualiti Merdeka event and I am so happy, because finally I see some people who can approach such issues with maturity, without discrimination,” he said.

“But today I see everything has crumbled. This (banning Seksualiti Merdeka) is a terrible step for Malaysia and would earn the derision of other more forward-looking countries. This kind of action is always based on ignorance; it will promote prejudice. Thus, this will increase the frustration of those in the minority community, and can also lead to suicidal tendencies,” said Thanasayan.

Police have banned the ongoing Seksualiti Merdeka festival, saying strong action would be taken against those who defied the directive.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the law in the country did not recognise any deviationist activity that could destroy the practice of religious freedom.

Seksualiti Merdeka is an annual sexuality rights festival celebrating human rights of people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity. A coalition of NGOs, artistes, activists and individuals had been organising the event since 2008.

This year’s event, “Queer Without Fear”, started on Tuesday at The Annexe Gallery, Kuala Lumpur. It will end on Nov 13.

Thursday November 3, 2011

Awkward moments

Rules are meant to be bent – sometimes.

LAST week, I received an interesting mail from a blind reader who identified herself as Vicky. She shared how awkward it was for her whenever she needed to answer nature’s call.

“I don’t have to use the toilet for the handicapped because I don’t have a problem with my limbs. But on many occasions when I headed to the loo for able-bodied people, I was stopped by an attendant or a staff member, and redirected to the toilet for the handicapped.

“I realise these people mean well. But no matter how much I try to explain to them that I am capable of using the so-called ‘normal’ toilet, they would insist that I use the toilet for the disabled because I am blind.

“This slows me down, especially when the toilet is occupied. I also do not want to take up space, in case a wheelchair-user comes along with an emergency,” explained Vicky.

On a roll: The writer trying out the Helio during a recent trip to Malacca.

She suggested that perhaps it would be more appropriate to have a label on the toilet door which reads: Reserved for wheelchair users.

On the issue of employment, Vicky opined that it would be best if the Government could step in and subsidise assistive devices such as screen readers for the visually impaired or toilets for those in wheelchairs.

“Otherwise employers may consider us ‘too expensive’ for their budget and pass the job to the non-disabled instead.

“When giant companies such as IBM, Google and even Nasa can employ blind programmers in their countries, why are the blind in Malaysia only expected to become masseurs, basket-weavers, telephone operators or trinket-sellers on street corners?” she asked.

On another note, I’ve been busy testing out the Helio, an innovative high performance wheelchair from Canada. Everything about this latest chair on wheels will make any handicapped person sit up and take notice.

The Helio has an ultralight body. This makes it easy for even a woman to carry the wheelchair into the boot of her car. The wheelchair comes with highly detachable parts, so drivers with disabilities can dismantle the key parts and place them in the back seat without help.

A unique feature of the Helio is that each wheelchair part can be ordered to suit the user’s needs. There are as many as 21 different accessories to choose from.

Despite its light weight, the Helio is no delicate beauty. It has a robust body which gives added confidence to the user. The Helio is so smooth that it glides across effortlessly with a single push, unlike conventional wheelchairs.

The only downside is that the Helio is priced between RM8,000 and RM10,000. You may need to shell out more for add-ons.

Produced by a company called Motion Composites, the Helio comes in six colour frames. It will be making its debut in Malaysia and other South-East Asian countries very soon. For details on the product, please e-mail the local distributor KG Teo at bbbteo@yahoo.com.sg

Love and Hope Charity Dinner

Love and Hope Charity Dinner which was held recently on 16th Sept 2011 from 7.00pm to 11.00pm at Thean Hou Temple, KL.

Love and Hope Charity Dinner was attended by more than 1000 sponsors, donors, receiver of wheelchairs and other well-wishers and was officially opened by Mr. Pathmanathan Nalasamy, Ketua Penolong Pengarah Jabatan Pembangunan Orang Kurang Upaya of Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat, YB Teresa Kok, and YB Ronnie Liu.

ILTC extends our heartiest and sincere thanks and appreciation to Pertubuhan Orang Cacat Cina Malaysia for the kind contribution of 4 units of light weight fully detachable wheelchair (every wheelchair costs RM1500) for the ILTC members with the vision to assist people with disabilities to lead independent lives without fear and comprehension as well as to integrate them into society and to be a part of a productive workforce of the nation towards this charity event.

World Hunger Relief Malaysia

The World Hunger Relief Malaysia campaign is an initiative of KFC and Pizza Hut Malaysia stores nationally. All funds raised had donated to the United Nations World Food Program.

More than 8,000 people was taking part in the "Be The Movement" charity walk on last Saturday 29/10/2011 at 4.00pm in Putrajaya, in support of the World Hunger Relief cause under the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

The 5km walk, which starts and ends at the Palace of Justice in Precinct 3, is organised by Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Pizza Hut Malaysia, which are owned by QSR Brands Berhad.

Nestle Malaysia and Fitness First are also taking part for the first time in this annual cause.

Apart from the walk, there was a mini-carnival with fun activities.

The main purpose is to create greater public awareness about many underdeveloped nations facing a constant struggle to provide enough food for their people and also to put an end to famine and starvation.

ILTC giving a big thank you to all those that came to the walk.

KFC Holdings (M) Bhd contributed to ILTC RM5000.00 under the corporate social responsibility.

PROGRESS REPORT: Updates - Photos of Construction Progress at ILTC Project on 01/11/2011

Thursday October 27, 2011

How disabled-friendly is Malacca city?

I HAD a terrific time earlier this month when I visited the beautiful and historic city of Malacca. As chairman of MBPJ’s technical committee on disabilities, I was eager to find out what the council had done – and is currently doing – to make their much-talked about national heritage city friendly to residents with disabilities as well as disabled visitors.

I couldn’t think of a more effective way to carry out my task than to make a spontaneous visit to the city. But not without taking an able-bodied assistant with me, just in case.

Our first stop was Christ Church in Malacca town which was built by the Dutch in the 18th century. I was disappointed to discover that the oldest functioning Protestant church to the country had no ramp for wheelchair access.

Thus I was forced to stay outside the church whilst scores of visitors walked in and out of the age-old building to appreciate its beauty from the inside.

The writer and his assistant, Jason Jegathiswaran, taking in the sights and sounds of historic Malacca.

When I asked one of the church officials why a ramp was not built for disabled tourists, I was shocked by his reply that “a ramp would spoil the beauty of this ancient building.”

When I pointed out that there were more than enough entrances to build just one ramp to allow tourists in wheelchairs and those with walking difficulties to access the building, he said that he would bring the matter up with the building committee.

I couldn’t help thinking how short-sighted he was to make such a statement about the usefulness of ramps.

Don’t these people realise that perceptions are changing as society ages and more people are strugging with disabilities brought on by old age, accidents and illnesses?

I have been to countries where wheelchair ramps are always provided as an alternative access for the disabled.

In heritage buildings, the engineers have cleverly constructed ramps in an ancient style to blend in with their natural surroundings. Excuses were never given to avoid providing access for the disabled.

Back to Malacca city, there were no disabled-friendly toilets within a decent distance from where I was. I did see a public toilet for the handicapped when I was travelling in my vehicle. However, that was too far away for my convenience.

The only parking lot for the handicapped that I saw was near the church. However, it was not as long and wide as a proper disabled parking lot should be.

The wheelchair logo on the ground was fading. One had to take a good look to notice it. Needless to say, this wouldn’t go well with drivers with poor eyesight.

Most of the pavements were inaccessible to wheelchairs. Frankly, they were also not good for walking. Luckily my assistant was with me to help me get around.

Because of the lack of wheelchair-friendly pavements, I was forced to use the road where my safety was compromised. At one point, I had to literally get off the road to allow a huge tourist bus to get past me.

In the 10 hours that I spent in the city, I did not come across a single person in a wheelchair. This is a clear sign of how hostile the city is to disabled and elderly denizens when it comes to access to the outdoors.

I must add that there appeared to be some attempts to make pavements wheelchair-friendly but these were scarce and not properly done. There were no guiding blocks for the blind, too.

Despite all these, I managed to take in unforgettable sights like the river boat rides and the colourful rickshaws, and sampled the mouth-watering fare that is unique to the city.

Disabled people, too, want to enjoy the marvellous sights, sounds and smells of Malacca.

Deepavali Greetings From President of Independent Living & Training Centre.

Dear Friends, Wishing everyone a very happy and prosperous deepavali.

May this festival of light brings joy & happiness to you & your family.

From,
Mr. G. Francis Siva
President

Ms. Rina - Secretary of ILTC
Independent Living & Training Centre

PROGRESS REPORT: Updates - Photos of Construction Progress at ILTC Project on 18/10/2011

Tuesday October 18, 2011

Space allocated to build aerobridges at KLIA2

AT THE DEWAN RAKYAT
Reports by MARTIN CARVALHO, YUEN MEIKENG, RAHIMY RAHIM and CALVIN YEO

THE Transport Ministry told the Dewan Rakyat that space has been allocated to install aerobridges at the new KLIA2 low-cost terminal if airlines demand for such facilities.

Deputy Minister Jelaing Mersat said Malaysian Airports Holding Bhd (MAHB) was still considering constructing the aerobridges.

“The decision is in the final stages and MAHB had also allocated space to build aerobridges if any airlines need the facilities,” he said when replying to a question from Teresa Kok (DAP – Seputeh).

Kok had asked the ministry to state whether it had approved the construction of aerobridges at KLIA2.

He added that the Government was concerned with the plight of the public especially considering views from the disabled community, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents and the board of Airlines Representatives on the need to build aerobridges.

The estimated cost to build 80 aerobridges was RM132mil.