NST Online » Local News 2009/01/04
Firms urged to give 2pc of jobs to disabled
PEKAN: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak proposed yesterday that private sector companies reserve two per cent of their jobs for the disabled.
"In this way, more disabled would be able to serve the companies and lead a better future," said Najib."
It's part of your corporate social responsibility.
"You have been providing financial assistance to them, so now you can offer them suitable jobs in your organisations," he said after attending the Excellence Day ceremony for Pekan Community Rehabilitation Centre (PDK) at SMK Sri Pekan yesterday.
The deputy prime minister said that countries like Japan had a legal provision compelling the private sector to offer jobs to the disabled.
"If they fail to provide the jobs, then the firm must provide financial assistance to the government to help the disabled."
This is just my suggestion to the private sector. I hope they will offer assistance to the disabled" Najib said the PDKs must adopt a culture of excellence to improve further.
"As human beings, we will never be able to achieve our dreams if we fail to adopt the excellence culture."We have to always equip ourselves in all aspects as the people will evaluate us through our achievements."
Najib later handed out excellence awards to outstanding disabled individuals and their parents at the function.
NEW MINISTER FOR WELFARE MINISTER OF MALAYSIA
Badan Latihan dan Hidup Berdikari Malaysia (ILTC) pada 23hb Mac 2016 menyerahkan memorandum kepada ahli-ahli parlimen mendesak supaya golongan orang kurang upaya (OKU) dikecualikan daripada cukai barangan dan perkhidmatan (GST).
Disabled Members Protest
Disabled Members Protest at JPJ Wangsa Maju
ILTC Malaysia members staged a protest outside JPJ Wangsamaju KL.
Disabled group’s protest disabled drivers required to produce doc's medical report.
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
MPS blitz on bungalow hotel
Wednesday January 7, 2009
MPS blitz on bungalow hotel
Story and photo by STUART MICHAEL
Story and photo by STUART MICHAEL
THE Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) has slapped a RM12,500 fine on the owner of a bungalow in Bandar Country Homes in Rawang for using it as a hotel since August last year.
The owner has been ordered to stop operations with immediate effect.
Discussion: Gurdip Kaur (right and in a wheelchair) with the owner of the bungalow and MPS enforcement officers.The bungalow hotel is located in a residential area in Phase Six, Bandar Country Homes.
StarMetro had reported on Dec 24 that the mini hotel had 10 rooms for rent. The operator had placed an advertisement on the Internet inviting guests to book rooms.
Recently, about 50 MPS enforcement officers raided the bungalow hotel, seizing items in the premises.
According to MPS Safety and Enforcement director Ahmad Faisal Badiuzaman, the owner has been told to stop operations immediately or else the council will take sterner action like sealing the place.
The owner, who is disabled, pleaded with the enforcement officers to give her time to get things organised.
MPS councillor Gurdip Kaur, who was at the scene, told the MPS enforcement officers to give the owner some time.
“Since the owner is a disabled person, we will give her about three months. However, she is not above the law and must abide by it,” she said.
“The owner said that she is applying for government permission to convert the premises to a home-stay unit,’’ Gurdip said.
Saturday, 3 January 2009
Disabled community expresses doubt about law
NST Online » Local News 2008/12/24
Disabled community expresses doubt about law
KUALA LUMPUR: Various non-governmental organisations and activists remain sceptical that the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act will have the desired results.
Independent Living and Training Centre president Francis Siva is one of those not convinced about the effectiveness of the act.
"There will be nothing to affect our lives.
"We will still be left out for the next 20 years," said Francis, a wheelchair user.
"You can take this act and chuck it in the dustbin. It does not penalise anyone who discriminates."
He cited the Uniform Building By-Law 34A which has been implemented decades ago, spelling the need for buildings to be disabled-friendly.
"Nothing much has changed since then. How different is this PWD Act?"
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said her ministry was aware of this and had taken to task various local councils, including a meeting held recently to brief them about the act.
"We have also worked with the Public Service Department to increase the recruitment of more disabled people."
However, Francis said the problems of the disabled may just be too large for her to handle alone.
"Even if the employers do not discriminate, PWDs still need disabled-friendly public transport to get to work. For that, you need disabled-friendly pavements."
I am lucky that I have only become disabled later in life, after obtaining an education.
"What about those who were disabled since they were born? They cannot leave the house at all and are deprived of a normal education."
Peter Tan, a wheelchair user who has a disabled empowerment blog, "Digital Awakening", struck a more optimistic line.
"To be fair to those involved in the act and the council which were only implemented, it is still too early to say whether the act is useful or not. But as long as there is no penalty, people just won't be bothered with it."
Disabled community expresses doubt about law
KUALA LUMPUR: Various non-governmental organisations and activists remain sceptical that the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act will have the desired results.
Independent Living and Training Centre president Francis Siva is one of those not convinced about the effectiveness of the act.
"There will be nothing to affect our lives.
"We will still be left out for the next 20 years," said Francis, a wheelchair user.
"You can take this act and chuck it in the dustbin. It does not penalise anyone who discriminates."
He cited the Uniform Building By-Law 34A which has been implemented decades ago, spelling the need for buildings to be disabled-friendly.
"Nothing much has changed since then. How different is this PWD Act?"
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said her ministry was aware of this and had taken to task various local councils, including a meeting held recently to brief them about the act.
"We have also worked with the Public Service Department to increase the recruitment of more disabled people."
However, Francis said the problems of the disabled may just be too large for her to handle alone.
"Even if the employers do not discriminate, PWDs still need disabled-friendly public transport to get to work. For that, you need disabled-friendly pavements."
I am lucky that I have only become disabled later in life, after obtaining an education.
"What about those who were disabled since they were born? They cannot leave the house at all and are deprived of a normal education."
Peter Tan, a wheelchair user who has a disabled empowerment blog, "Digital Awakening", struck a more optimistic line.
"To be fair to those involved in the act and the council which were only implemented, it is still too early to say whether the act is useful or not. But as long as there is no penalty, people just won't be bothered with it."
Doing more for the disabled
Thursday
January 1, 2009
Doing more for the disabled
WHEEL POWER
BY ANTHONY THANASAYAN
HAPPY 2009 to one and all! The events of 2008 have gone down in my record book as the most unexpected and remarkable that I have ever experienced.
I hadn’t the faintest idea then that within half a year after the chiming of last year’s New Year bells, I would end up as a local councillor for Petaling Jaya, a city which I love.
Of late, like the other councillors, I have also been blessed with a personal assistant, courtesy of the Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ).
I am happy to say that the MBPJ has given me several opportunities to make a difference in the lives of disabled residents in PJ.
I head a disability committee with a team of experts (many of them have disabilities themselves) which look into various issues affecting the lives of the disabled.
New buildings in PJ, for instance, must come to our committee first to be screened for disabled-friendly access before they go to a higher level of the council. We are also currently working on guidelines to improve the quality of care for the elderly, and access for the disabled in homes throughout PJ.
However, I must admit that not all is as smooth sailing.
The first was building a wheelchair ramp for a frail and elderly man in a condominium. The developer was all for it but the local residents’ association was against it. The ramp, they said, would “spoil the beauty of the condo”.
What surprised me was that the lady who said this was in her 60s.
Did she ever stop to think that she – or the rest of the association members – could one day find the ramp a life-saver in their advancing years?
We ran afoul of some people in my neighbourhood, this time, when the MBPJ built a special wheelchair access into our public park.
For a number of years, access for wheelchairs had been barred because of a locked gate. Some people in the local residents’ association didn’t want motorcycles to enter or exit for fear of snatch thieves. They didn’t care that their action of closing up the entrance had stopped a number of elderly and disabled persons from entering the park until the MBPJ intervened.
The present wheelchair access is so cleverly designed that motorcycles cannot go through it.
Motorcyclists will literally have to carry their vehicles on their shoulders to get them across.
The biggest difference yet that the MBPJ is working on now is to provide as many as 150 disabled-friendly car parks in the city. The first one was successfully launched at the MBPJ headquarters last week.
It is located next to the entrance of the building and is a fully covered shelter. Some asked if the facility will be underused. That is not only a very outdated way of thinking in this day and age, it is essentially a wrong question for anyone to ask.
With the increasing population of elderly persons and the number of people with disabilities, the right question that we should be asking is whether we will have enough parking bays for the disabled in the near future.
For now, MBPJ has promised to cover at least 20 of its 150 car parks for the disabled in PJ. The council hopes to get sponsors to cover up the rest.
The entire project is expected to be completed by June next year.
January 1, 2009Doing more for the disabled
WHEEL POWER
BY ANTHONY THANASAYAN
HAPPY 2009 to one and all! The events of 2008 have gone down in my record book as the most unexpected and remarkable that I have ever experienced.
I hadn’t the faintest idea then that within half a year after the chiming of last year’s New Year bells, I would end up as a local councillor for Petaling Jaya, a city which I love.
Of late, like the other councillors, I have also been blessed with a personal assistant, courtesy of the Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ).
I am happy to say that the MBPJ has given me several opportunities to make a difference in the lives of disabled residents in PJ.
I head a disability committee with a team of experts (many of them have disabilities themselves) which look into various issues affecting the lives of the disabled.
New buildings in PJ, for instance, must come to our committee first to be screened for disabled-friendly access before they go to a higher level of the council. We are also currently working on guidelines to improve the quality of care for the elderly, and access for the disabled in homes throughout PJ.
However, I must admit that not all is as smooth sailing.
The first was building a wheelchair ramp for a frail and elderly man in a condominium. The developer was all for it but the local residents’ association was against it. The ramp, they said, would “spoil the beauty of the condo”.
What surprised me was that the lady who said this was in her 60s.
Did she ever stop to think that she – or the rest of the association members – could one day find the ramp a life-saver in their advancing years?
We ran afoul of some people in my neighbourhood, this time, when the MBPJ built a special wheelchair access into our public park.
For a number of years, access for wheelchairs had been barred because of a locked gate. Some people in the local residents’ association didn’t want motorcycles to enter or exit for fear of snatch thieves. They didn’t care that their action of closing up the entrance had stopped a number of elderly and disabled persons from entering the park until the MBPJ intervened.
The present wheelchair access is so cleverly designed that motorcycles cannot go through it.
Motorcyclists will literally have to carry their vehicles on their shoulders to get them across.
The biggest difference yet that the MBPJ is working on now is to provide as many as 150 disabled-friendly car parks in the city. The first one was successfully launched at the MBPJ headquarters last week.
It is located next to the entrance of the building and is a fully covered shelter. Some asked if the facility will be underused. That is not only a very outdated way of thinking in this day and age, it is essentially a wrong question for anyone to ask.
With the increasing population of elderly persons and the number of people with disabilities, the right question that we should be asking is whether we will have enough parking bays for the disabled in the near future.
For now, MBPJ has promised to cover at least 20 of its 150 car parks for the disabled in PJ. The council hopes to get sponsors to cover up the rest.
The entire project is expected to be completed by June next year.
Friday, 2 January 2009
Ahli Majlis bantah tindakan sita
Jumaat 02-1-2009
BANDAR COUNTRY HOMES – Tindakan pihak Jabatan Penguat Kuasa Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS) yang sepatutnya menyita sebuah premis perniagaan homestay ala ‘resort’ eksklusif tanpa lesen, kelmarin, mendapat bantahan Ahli Majlis MPS, P Gurdip Kaur, apabila beliau mempertahankan supaya tindakan berkenaan tidak diteruskan.
Ahli Majlis bantah tindakan sita
BANDAR COUNTRY HOMES – Tindakan pihak Jabatan Penguat Kuasa Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS) yang sepatutnya menyita sebuah premis perniagaan homestay ala ‘resort’ eksklusif tanpa lesen, kelmarin, mendapat bantahan Ahli Majlis MPS, P Gurdip Kaur, apabila beliau mempertahankan supaya tindakan berkenaan tidak diteruskan.Pengarah Jabatan Penguat Kuasa MPS, Ahmad Faisal Badiuzaman berkata, Gurdip telah memohon pertimbangan pihaknya supaya dapat menangguhkan tindakan sita berkenaan memandangkan pengusaha premis terbabit merupakan orang kurang upaya (OKU), selain berjanji akan membantu keperluan pengusaha wanita berkenaan supaya dapat meneruskan perniagaan secara sah.
Menurut Faizal, bagaimanapun pihaknya tetap mengambil tindakan tegas mengeluarkan arahan kepada pengusaha premis yang terletak di Jalan Desa 6/7, Bandar Country Homes berkenaan supaya menghentikan aktiviti perniagaan sehingga mendapat kelulusan yang sah daripada MPS dan pihak berkenaan.
“Kali pertama sebelum ini pun kita telah menasihatkan pihak pengusaha supaya mengambil berat aduan yang kita terima daripada penduduk sekitar selain beberapa kesalahan yang melanggar arahan kelulusan premis.
“Oleh sebab terdapat peraturan yang tidak dipatuhi, kali kedua operasi selain kesalahan tidak mengikut pelan asal bangunan sebelumnya, kita juga telah mengambil tindakan kompaun sebanyak RM12,500 atas kesalahan menyalah guna tempat kediaman menjadi hotel. Untuk itu, operasi kali ketiga ini (kelmarin), disebabkan kesalahan masih dikesan, sepatutnya kita akan buat sitaan setelah mendapat arahan pihak atasan,” katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian ketika menjalankan operasi berkenaan yang disertai sekitar 50 orang anggota penguat kuasa MPS.
Bagaimanapun, menurutnya, semasa operasi dilakukan, didapati tiada aktiviti perniagaan yang dijalankan.
Sementara itu, menolak dirinya menyekat tugas penguat kuasa MPS, Gurdip ketika diminta mengulas perkara tersebut mendakwa, beliau membantu pengusaha berkenaan menghadapi tindakan tempoh hari berikutan terpanggil untuk berbuat demikian.
“Bagi saya ini perkara mudah. Sebagai ahli majlis, seorang wanita dan terlibat secara langsung membantu golongan OKU, saya merasakan wajar bagi pengusaha tersebut diberi peluang untuk meneruskan usahanya selain beliau sendiri telah menunjukkan tanggungjawab sejak mula diberi notis oleh MPS untuk memperbaiki kesalahan yang dilakukan.
“Saya percaya tindakan beliau seterusnya selepas ini pasti akan mengikut peraturan yang ditetapkan oleh pihak berkenaan. Mungkin beliau terpaksa mengambil masa berikutan tidak tahu prosedur yang sepatutnya.
Disebabkan itu, saya sendiri mengambil inisiatif menjadi penjamin supaya beliau tidak ulangi kesilapan dan mengikut saluran yang betul untuk teruskan usahanya. Lagipun saya tidak nampak aktiviti haram yang tidak sepatutnya berlaku di situ,” katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian berikutan usaha pemilik berkenaan yang dikatakan sanggup memperuntukkan sejumlah wang yang besar untuk merobohkan bangunan yang disambung tanpa mengikut pelan asal, membuktikan usahanya untuk mengikut peraturan sepatutnya yang telah ditetapkan pihak MPS.
Mengulas lanjut berhubung aduan penduduk sekitar mengenai premis tiga tingkat yang lengkap dengan pelbagai kemudahan itu, Gurdip mendakwa, ia berikutan segelintir pihak yang berkemungkinan tidak berpuas hati apabila melihat kesenangan orang lain.
“Saya tidak berniat menyalahkan MPS atau pun sesiapa sahaja dalam hal ini. Sebaliknya saya difahamkan, mereka (penguat kuasa MPS) hanya datang ke sini, tidak sampai 14 hari selepas notis berkenaan diberikan,” katanya.
Terdahulu, pengusaha yang menjadikan kediamannya sebagai homestay bersama suaminya seorang warganegara Singapura cuba memberikan penjelasan kepada wakil MPS, sebelum bertindak menghubungi Gurdip untuk hadir ke premis terbabit apabila tidak berpuas hati dengan pihak penguat kuasa setelah dimaklumkan tujuan untuk menyita barangan di premisnya.
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Launching a barrier-free city
24 December 2008
Good news for the disabled community in Petaling Jaya: they will soon have 150 sheltered parking lots in designated areas around the city
Launching a barrier-free city
Good news for the disabled community in Petaling Jaya: they will soon have 150 sheltered parking lots in designated areas around the cityMalaysiakini: First rainproof car park for the disabled
Malaysiakini: First rainproof car park for the disabled
Imagine a disabled person trying to get in and out of the car in pouring rain. It's hard enough for a person carrying an umbrella but even harder if he or she is on wheelchair.
Recognising this problem, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) today launched the first sheltered parking space for the disabled at its headquarters.
The parking space is located next to the building's main entrance with the shelter extending to the nearby wheelchair ramp.
Speaking at the launch, wheelchair-bound MBPJ councillor Anthony Thanasayan
lauded the creation of the special parking space.
"For anyone else it would take 2-3 minutes to get out of the car. But for a disabled person it takes 10-15 minutes. With this sheltered car park, we (have the luxury) to take our own sweet time," he said.
Thanasayan, who heads the council’s disabled expert committee, also welcomed the shift in mindset regarding the disabled.
"Even when we want to work, the toilet is not assessable to us. We are not affected by our disability but are affected by society lacking to provide for us to live like normal people."
But this car park is a change in mindset and gives the disabled what we want," he added150 special parking spaces.
The MBPJ plans to create 150 specially designated parking spaces which will be located around the Petaling Jaya area.
The council hopes to fit at least 20 of these parking spaces with shelters.
Officiated by Selangor exco Ronnie Liu in the presence of Petaling Jaya mayor, Mohammad Roslan Sakiman, the event is part of the efforts towards creating a 'barrier free city' where people are free to move without physical, social and economic obstacles.
Meanwhile, MBPJ Developmental Planning Department director Sharipah Marhaini Syed Ali said another 149 designated parking spaces will be created in the next six months."They will be located at post-offices, heath centres, stadiums, malls and other places," she said.
For the moment, MBPJ is funding the implementation but the council hopes to get developers involved as well.
Imagine a disabled person trying to get in and out of the car in pouring rain. It's hard enough for a person carrying an umbrella but even harder if he or she is on wheelchair.
Recognising this problem, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) today launched the first sheltered parking space for the disabled at its headquarters.
The parking space is located next to the building's main entrance with the shelter extending to the nearby wheelchair ramp.
Speaking at the launch, wheelchair-bound MBPJ councillor Anthony Thanasayan
lauded the creation of the special parking space."For anyone else it would take 2-3 minutes to get out of the car. But for a disabled person it takes 10-15 minutes. With this sheltered car park, we (have the luxury) to take our own sweet time," he said.
Thanasayan, who heads the council’s disabled expert committee, also welcomed the shift in mindset regarding the disabled.
"Even when we want to work, the toilet is not assessable to us. We are not affected by our disability but are affected by society lacking to provide for us to live like normal people."
But this car park is a change in mindset and gives the disabled what we want," he added150 special parking spaces.
The MBPJ plans to create 150 specially designated parking spaces which will be located around the Petaling Jaya area.
The council hopes to fit at least 20 of these parking spaces with shelters.
Officiated by Selangor exco Ronnie Liu in the presence of Petaling Jaya mayor, Mohammad Roslan Sakiman, the event is part of the efforts towards creating a 'barrier free city' where people are free to move without physical, social and economic obstacles.
Meanwhile, MBPJ Developmental Planning Department director Sharipah Marhaini Syed Ali said another 149 designated parking spaces will be created in the next six months."They will be located at post-offices, heath centres, stadiums, malls and other places," she said.
For the moment, MBPJ is funding the implementation but the council hopes to get developers involved as well.
"A Merry Christmas & A Happy & Prosperous 2009".
I would like to take this wonderful opportunity to wish all members, their families and all the well-wisher's "A Merry Christmas & A Happy & Prosperous New Year 2009"
From
Mr. Francis Siva
President
Independent Living & Training Centre
From
Mr. Francis Siva
President
Independent Living & Training Centre
Friday, 19 December 2008
Yen Yen: Plan for disabled to get better help
Thursday December 18, 2008
Yen Yen: Plan for disabled to get better help
KUALA LUMPUR: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will come up with a wider set of categories for the disabled in an effort to channel help to them more effectively.
The categories, which group disabled people according to their conditions, will enable the ministry to allocate funds and execute specific plans to help in their welfare.
“There are currently limited OKU (Orang Kurang Upaya) categories based on the records from the Statistics Department,” said Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.
“We want to widen the scope so that the OKU would be better represented,” she said at a media briefing on the second meeting of the National Council for the OKU yesterday.
She added that the ministry also discussed plans to improve special education during the meeting.
During the council’s first meeting on Aug 14, five committees were set up to look into registration, quality of life and care, accessibility, education and employment for the disabled.
“We are also coordinating with other relevant ministries such as the Housing and Local Government Ministry to further aid the disabled,” Dr Ng said.
She added that the provisions under laws such as the Housing Act and Local Council Act which protect the rights of the disabled must be followed to improve their quality of life.
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Disbaled Need Jobs, Not Charity
December 17, 2008 16:17 PM
Disbaled Need Jobs, Not Charity
By: Ramjit
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama)-- The disabled in the country need decent
jobs and business opportunities rather than charity, donations and handouts, according to a disabled leader.
President of the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) G. Francis Siva said most of the disabled people very capable and talented and needed the right guidance and incentive to live independently.
Francis who runs a well equipped training centre for the disabled in Rawang near here, lost the use of his lower extremities due to an accident.
He said it was the norm in Malaysian society to give donations and handouts to the disabled.
While this was praiseworthy, it was nevertheless not effective in overcoming the challeges faced by the handicapped.Francis pointed that the disabled were people with dignity and wanted to contribute to the country's development.
On the ILTC, he said that since its inception eight years ago, the centre had trained some 120 people who were now leading normal live with their families.
The cost of running the centre was around RM96,000 per year and it received about RM30,000 annual grant from the government.
The services provided by the centre included counselling and motivation, providing disability information and advice, computer training, handicraft making and other self-development programmes.
BERNAMA
Disbaled Need Jobs, Not Charity
By: Ramjit
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama)-- The disabled in the country need decent
jobs and business opportunities rather than charity, donations and handouts, according to a disabled leader.President of the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) G. Francis Siva said most of the disabled people very capable and talented and needed the right guidance and incentive to live independently.
Francis who runs a well equipped training centre for the disabled in Rawang near here, lost the use of his lower extremities due to an accident.
He said it was the norm in Malaysian society to give donations and handouts to the disabled.
While this was praiseworthy, it was nevertheless not effective in overcoming the challeges faced by the handicapped.Francis pointed that the disabled were people with dignity and wanted to contribute to the country's development.
On the ILTC, he said that since its inception eight years ago, the centre had trained some 120 people who were now leading normal live with their families.
The cost of running the centre was around RM96,000 per year and it received about RM30,000 annual grant from the government.
The services provided by the centre included counselling and motivation, providing disability information and advice, computer training, handicraft making and other self-development programmes.
BERNAMA
Employ The Disabled
December 15, 2008
Employ The Disabled
By: Ramjit
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- Private organisations have been urged to employ disabled persons to enable them to earn a living.
"I hope private organisations will employ more disabled persons. There is no wrong in taking them, they too have skills and some are very proactive in their jobs," said Senator Datuk Yip Kum Fook while debating the 2009 Supply Bill in the Dewan Negara here today.
The senator said the private sector should cooperate to help the disabled to get work in view of the fact that the Public Service Department only allocates a one per cent intake from among the disabled.
BERNAMA
Employ The Disabled
By: Ramjit
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- Private organisations have been urged to employ disabled persons to enable them to earn a living.
"I hope private organisations will employ more disabled persons. There is no wrong in taking them, they too have skills and some are very proactive in their jobs," said Senator Datuk Yip Kum Fook while debating the 2009 Supply Bill in the Dewan Negara here today.
The senator said the private sector should cooperate to help the disabled to get work in view of the fact that the Public Service Department only allocates a one per cent intake from among the disabled.
BERNAMA
Friday, 12 December 2008
Penang to make public transport disabled-friendly by 2010
Published: Thursday December 11, 2008 MYT 1:20:00 PMUpdated: Thursday December 11, 2008 MYT 3:52:55 PM
Penang to make public transport disabled-
friendly by 2010
GEORGE TOWN: Penang will be the first Malaysian state to conduct a full audit of its public transport facilities while it develops a comprehensive blueprint to improve the access and mobility of people with disabilities by 2010.
The initiative to boost the economic and social independence of those with disabilities, will be done through a two-year pilot project by the state’s Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNPD) to study how to create a barrier free public transportation in Penang.
UNPD Assistant Resident Representative James George Chacko said the ‘Transport for Persons with Disabilities - Support of the Development of Accessible Transport in Penang’ and its access audit on public buses, taxis, trains, ferries and airplanes as well as other infrastructures would lead to the development of a holistic transport improvement strategy that would in turn offer a framework for raising awareness levels in the general public.
“The audit will also look into pick-up points, road pavements and pathways emphasising on inter-connectivity. The findings of this audit will form the basis to develop an accessible public transport improvement master plan.
“The other initiatives to be undertaken in the coming months will include a demand responsive door-to-door transport service in Penang island; capacity building for disabled people in accessing public transportation; disability equality training for front line transport operators; training on access building requirements and universal design for contractors, architects and civil servants; designing a barrier-free bus stop model; and an awareness campaign,” he said at the launching ceremony of the UNPD-UPEN project at Dorsett Penang Hotel on Thursday.
Chacko also said the project was supported by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, and UNPD was confident with the project’s strong rationality, it would receive the necessary financial backing of the Federal Government.
“The project seeks to develop a ‘best practice’ model that we hope can be replicated nationwide,” he added.
State Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who launched the project, said the state government was also studying the possibility of drawing up a transport master plan and forming a state transport commission to serve as a one-stop agency responsible for planning, implementation and management if all transport issues in Penang.
“The necessary documents are currently being prepared for submission to the state executive council.
“We hope they will be ready by the end of the month or early next month before we start work on formulating the master plan, which we estimate will take one or two years to draw up and implemented,” he said.
Bernama
Penang to make public transport disabled-
friendly by 2010GEORGE TOWN: Penang will be the first Malaysian state to conduct a full audit of its public transport facilities while it develops a comprehensive blueprint to improve the access and mobility of people with disabilities by 2010.
The initiative to boost the economic and social independence of those with disabilities, will be done through a two-year pilot project by the state’s Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNPD) to study how to create a barrier free public transportation in Penang.
UNPD Assistant Resident Representative James George Chacko said the ‘Transport for Persons with Disabilities - Support of the Development of Accessible Transport in Penang’ and its access audit on public buses, taxis, trains, ferries and airplanes as well as other infrastructures would lead to the development of a holistic transport improvement strategy that would in turn offer a framework for raising awareness levels in the general public.
“The audit will also look into pick-up points, road pavements and pathways emphasising on inter-connectivity. The findings of this audit will form the basis to develop an accessible public transport improvement master plan.
“The other initiatives to be undertaken in the coming months will include a demand responsive door-to-door transport service in Penang island; capacity building for disabled people in accessing public transportation; disability equality training for front line transport operators; training on access building requirements and universal design for contractors, architects and civil servants; designing a barrier-free bus stop model; and an awareness campaign,” he said at the launching ceremony of the UNPD-UPEN project at Dorsett Penang Hotel on Thursday.
Chacko also said the project was supported by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, and UNPD was confident with the project’s strong rationality, it would receive the necessary financial backing of the Federal Government.
“The project seeks to develop a ‘best practice’ model that we hope can be replicated nationwide,” he added.
State Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who launched the project, said the state government was also studying the possibility of drawing up a transport master plan and forming a state transport commission to serve as a one-stop agency responsible for planning, implementation and management if all transport issues in Penang.
“The necessary documents are currently being prepared for submission to the state executive council.
“We hope they will be ready by the end of the month or early next month before we start work on formulating the master plan, which we estimate will take one or two years to draw up and implemented,” he said.
Bernama
In need of facilities
Thursday December 11, 2008
In need of facilities
Wheel PowerBy ANTHONY THANASAYAN
Wheel PowerBy ANTHONY THANASAYAN
LAST week began with such a nightmare.
The one thing that most active persons in wheelchairs frequently worry about suddenly happened to me.
And of all things, it happened on Dec 3, the day each year on which the world celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).
I was at a Government-sponsored function to observe the occasion when all hell broke loose.
A major war was going on inside my tummy, and I was about to explode. Generally, when a person in a wheelchair has to go, he really has to go!
My only consolation (or so I foolishly assumed at the time) was that I was fortunately in a disabled training centre with several hundred handicapped people.
Together with help from an able-bodied friend, we made a dash to the nearest restroom with a wheelchair logo. To our horror, there was no toilet bowl in it!
We raced to the only other men’s toilet at the other end of the building only to find a cramped space. Not only was it wrongly designed, but it was also poorly maintained.
There was no toilet seat or toilet rolls. There were not enough grab bars to hold on to and the one that was there was fixed at the wrong spot.
In fact, there would have been no way I could transfer myself onto the throne had my friend not been there to help.
The place was so tight that it was amazing how we managed to do it at all. My friend heaved and puffed and had to perform a couple of unbelievable acrobatic feats to finally get me out of my chair.
To prevent soiling my clothes, I was forced to strip down to my birthday suit with my helper in the cramped cubicle all the time because I could not reach the door to shut it.
To think that the IDPD’s focus this year was on “dignity and justice”, and here I was, ironically being robbed of both on an that particular day.
That unpleasant episode lasted for more than an hour. I felt even more guilty as I had prevented many other disabled people from using the facilities all that time.
Apart from the drama in the restroom, I was told that the disabled were not served at the meal table until some of them complained about it. It was the VIP able-bodied persons who had the privilege of waiters attending to them.
It was also sad to note that all the official vans by the government used to transport their staff were not designed for wheelchairs.
One would have thought that after all the awareness created about disabled persons and their needs (including by the authorities), at least one or two vehicles would have such features by now.
On the contrary, I was informed that currently none of the vehicles owned by the Government are wheelchair-friendly.
The next day, however, was much better.
This time, I found myself with a group of disabled persons in Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya.
We were there as part of a new initiative by the Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) to make the entire stretch of pavement on Jalan Gasing friendly to all persons, especially the disabled and the elderly.
The MBPJ project is part of the city council’s mission to create a liveable city for all its residents.
What this means is that the present pathway will have to undergo various changes. Narrow passageways will have to be widened to allow access to wheelchairs.
Proper kerb cuts will need to be provided to allow wheelchairs and prams to access the pavements. Bus stops will also need to be accessible.
Street furniture will have to be rearranged. These include signboards, postboxes, lamp posts and even trees that cause obstruction to pedestrians.
Open drains will have to be covered so that the blind (and children) do not fall into them.
Tactile flooring to help the blind move about independently and traffic lights with audible alerts to tell them when to cross the road, will have to be provided.
Once these changes are implemented, the disabled will no longer feel imprisoned in their homes.
Even though there is presently no disabled-friendly public transport, they will at least be able to go out to the nearest shop, religious building or hospital like the rest of society.
The MBPJ project is expected to be completed by next March.
Disabled folks need our respect
Tuesday December 9, 2008
Disabled folks need our respect
MARIAM Mokhtar made an excellent point in the article “Time to heighten plight of the disabled” (The Star, Dec 4).
I wholly agree that International Day for the Disabled should be something we need to not only celebrate but also to show our respect, kindness and admiration for the disabled.
It is disheartening to know how a country like Malaysia still harbours a backward attitude when it comes to the disabled community.
I am baffled that Malaysia is not disabled-friendly and that society is not empowering the disabled community at all.
It makes me angry to see a few ignorant Malaysians do nothing but stare at a disabled person venturing out in public for everyday chores.
In Britain, where I come from, the only response you get for staring at a disabled person is either a rude gesture or a good scolding.
Disabled individuals have feelings and rights to be treated with dignity and respect like their able-bodied counterparts.
They don’t need to be stared at, teased or be made fun of.
How would you feel if you were a disabled person where you have to endure a barrage of insults and rude stares by others?
Helen Keller, Rick Allen, Kristi Yamaguchi, Ian Dury, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Stephen Hawking, Louis Braille, David Blunkett, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Cameron Leslie. What do these 11 persons have in common?
They are all not just famous for their achievements and talents but have also proven that their disabilities do not impede them from achieving success in life.
It shows that disabled individuals can be as successful as their able-bodied counterparts as long as we give them the support they need.
It is about time that Malaysians stopped thinking that disabled people cannot make a useful contribution to society, the economy and social issues.
CHRISTOPHER K. BIRCH,
Kuala Lumpur.
All senior citizens can take advantage of free transport
Monday December 8, 2008
All senior citizens can take advantage of free transport
I REFER to “Offer free transport to all senior citizens” (The Star, Nov 17) which raised the question as to why transportation for senior citizens is only provided at old folks homes that are registered.
The allocation of 11 vans to the Day Care Centres for the Elderly is a pilot project implemented by the Social Welfare Department Malaysia (JKMM) through a smart partnership programme with an NGO, Majlis Pusat Kebajikan Semenanjung Malaysia (MPKSM).
These vans are placed at the Day Care Centres for safety and maintenance purposes. Any local senior citizen who may have the need to use these vehicles to seek treatment at local clinics or hospitals may make a request to MPKSM by calling these lines – 03-2274 3714 or 03-2274 9918 .
However, this facility is provided only for senior citizens who have physical disabilities or live alone and do not have guardians/family members who can assist them to seek treatments at clinics or hospitals.
This is part of the JKM’s role in ensuring the well-being of all underprivileged senior citizens.
We will continue to do our best to ensure that they are well cared for and can live more comfortable and fulfilling lives.
HELYA MAIZUREEN HASHIM,
Public Relations Officer,
Department of Social Welfare.
All senior citizens can take advantage of free transport
I REFER to “Offer free transport to all senior citizens” (The Star, Nov 17) which raised the question as to why transportation for senior citizens is only provided at old folks homes that are registered.
The allocation of 11 vans to the Day Care Centres for the Elderly is a pilot project implemented by the Social Welfare Department Malaysia (JKMM) through a smart partnership programme with an NGO, Majlis Pusat Kebajikan Semenanjung Malaysia (MPKSM).
These vans are placed at the Day Care Centres for safety and maintenance purposes. Any local senior citizen who may have the need to use these vehicles to seek treatment at local clinics or hospitals may make a request to MPKSM by calling these lines – 03-2274 3714 or 03-2274 9918 .
However, this facility is provided only for senior citizens who have physical disabilities or live alone and do not have guardians/family members who can assist them to seek treatments at clinics or hospitals.
This is part of the JKM’s role in ensuring the well-being of all underprivileged senior citizens.
We will continue to do our best to ensure that they are well cared for and can live more comfortable and fulfilling lives.
HELYA MAIZUREEN HASHIM,
Public Relations Officer,
Department of Social Welfare.
Disabled urged to register with Welfare Dept
Monday December 8, 2008
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Noriah Kasnon said according to the World Health Organisation, an average of between five and 10% of a country’s population was made up of the disabled.
Impressive: Noriah (right) launching the Hilton Christmas Train in Petaling Jaya yesterday. Looking on (from left) are Hilton Petaling Jaya general manager Luc Bollen and organising chairman of the hotel’s GongxiDeeparayamas Charity Party V. Jayamurugan.
Disabled urged to register with Welfare Dept
PETALING JAYA: Less than 1% of the disabled people in Malaysia are registered with the Welfare Department.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Noriah Kasnon said according to the World Health Organisation, an average of between five and 10% of a country’s population was made up of the disabled.
Impressive: Noriah (right) launching the Hilton Christmas Train in Petaling Jaya yesterday. Looking on (from left) are Hilton Petaling Jaya general manager Luc Bollen and organising chairman of the hotel’s GongxiDeeparayamas Charity Party V. Jayamurugan.But our ministry only has 233,000 registered disabled members, which is less than one per cent,” she said after launching the Hilton Christmas Train yesterday.
She also attended the GongxiDeeparayamas Charity Party at the hotel.
Noriah encouraged the disabled to register with the department so that the ministry would have a clearer picture in assessing the disabled community’s situation.
She added that only 581 registered OKU (disabled people) were working in the public sector.
“OKU with a monthly income of less than RM1,200 would be entitled to apply for a RM300 incentive under the department’s scheme,” she said.
A monthly allowance of RM300 would also be given to caregivers of bed-ridden OKU with a total household income of less than RM3,000 per month. Noriah presented 25 charity homes with RM4,500 each at the event.
The donations were generated from the Fifth Hilton Christmas Train project which features a train display by lecturers and students from the University College Sedaya International School of Architecture and Built Environment.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Saturday, 6 December 2008
BANDAR BARU SELAYANG - Meriah
BANDAR BARU SELAYANG - Meriah
Kemeriahan sekitar Sambutan Hari Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) Sedunia anjuran Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS), Jabatan Keselamatan Jalan Raya dan Badan Latihan & Hidup Berdikari (ILTC) yang berlangsung di hadapan pekarangan Stadium MPS, di sini minggu lalu. Satu Kempen Keselamatan dan Kesedaran Kemalangan Jalan Raya turut diadakan di mana sebanyak 120 jaket keselamatan dan topi keledar diberikan kepada OKU yang hadir dalam majlis tersebut.
Turut hadir Ahli Parlimen Selayang, William Leong Jee Keen, Yang Dipertua MPS, Zainal Adidin Azim dan Pengarah Jabatan Keselamatan Jalan Raya Selangor, Shah Rizan Mohamad Sirat.
Kemeriahan sekitar Sambutan Hari Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) Sedunia anjuran Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS), Jabatan Keselamatan Jalan Raya dan Badan Latihan & Hidup Berdikari (ILTC) yang berlangsung di hadapan pekarangan Stadium MPS, di sini minggu lalu. Satu Kempen Keselamatan dan Kesedaran Kemalangan Jalan Raya turut diadakan di mana sebanyak 120 jaket keselamatan dan topi keledar diberikan kepada OKU yang hadir dalam majlis tersebut.
Turut hadir Ahli Parlimen Selayang, William Leong Jee Keen, Yang Dipertua MPS, Zainal Adidin Azim dan Pengarah Jabatan Keselamatan Jalan Raya Selangor, Shah Rizan Mohamad Sirat.
Friday, 5 December 2008
Time to heighten plight of the disabled
Thursday December 4, 2008
Time to heighten plight of the disabled
THE International Day for the Disabled fell on Dec 3 and I wonder how many of us were aware of this.
Malaysians treat the disabled with a curious combination of either disrespect or as morbid objects of curiosity. We still have a long way to go to accept the disabled as useful contributors to society.
In the west, the disabled are taught and encouraged to live independently, with self-respect and integrity. Over here, people are more curious than helpful, with scores of nosey bystanders whenever the disabled dare venture out for everyday chores or visits.
We still have much to learn from the West when it comes to empowering our disabled community.
First of all, we have to heighten the plight of the disabled to the general public. As a community, the disabled can and do make a useful contribution to society, the economy and social issues.
However, many individuals, companies and politicians are not willing to extend full rights to the disabled.
Legislation of laws which will ease the daily life of the disabled are slow to pass. In simple terms, the disabled are treated as second-class citizens.
Job opportunities are still not being made available to the disabled in either the public or private sector, buildings do not incorporate features to help the disabled, transport facilities for the disabled are lacking. Even the provision of special handicap parking badges have recently been turned down.
Most taxis refuse to take a wheelchair users. Even hotels, especially those that are state-run, do not have proper functioning facilities for the disabled.
For instance, cobbled paths that lead to the rooms or ramps that have a steep incline make it impossible for wheelchair users. The devil is in the detail and it is the detail that is sorely lacking at most places.
Our society, maybe even our culture, tends to exclude the disabled from normal life. Politicians only pay lip service to helping the disabled. Some MPs have made unflattering remarks about the disabled rather than treat them with the dignity and the respect they deserve.
If we are serious about being a fully fledged developed nation, then it is time we made a serious effort to promote the interests and well-being of the disabled.
Secondly, politicians should legislate aggressively to help empower the disabled to include them in the mainstream of society. Individuals, companies and organisations could also involve themselves in the development of ideas to counteract the negative perception of society towards the disabled.
Schools should be encouraged to have an after-school activity that makes our children aware that the disabled have the right to live, work and be educated alongside us.
International Day for the Disabled should be a time for us to show our respect, pride and admiration for the disabled in our society.
MARIAM MOKHTAR,
Ipoh.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)