INDEPENDENT LIVING & TRAINING CENTRE MALAYSIA -
(BADAN LATIHAN & HIDUP BERDIKARI MALAYSIA)
LOT NO. 112, KG. SG. DUA TAMBAHAN,
JALAN BATU ARANG, MUKIM RAWANG,
48000 RAWANG
SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN
TEL: 03-6093 6292
TEL/FAX: 03-6091 2531
Email: iltcmalaysia@gmail.com
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.
PJ City Hall councillor Anthony Thanasayan ticks off DAP rep for his remarks on a disabled trader's harassment claims.
PETALING JAYA: Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, a vocal critic of government policies, found himself on the receiving end when he was taken to task by a councillor.
PJ City Hall’s Anthony Thanasayan called Pua a coward for attacking him when he spoke up for a disabled hawker who was harassed by several vendors at the Taman Megah market.
“This is exactly the problem with Pua. He refuses to see the discrimination against the disabled vendor as he does not have the sensitivity to deal with a human being,” said Thanasayan.
On Feb 22, frozen food vendor Cha Seak Nee sought PJ City Hall’s help when she was being harassed by several other vendors to move her stall to the back of the Taman Megah market.
Cha, who refused to be intimidated, stood her ground, saying that her current location was disable-friendly while the one she was told to move to was not.
She claimed that when she sought councillor Tiew Wey Keng’s help, she was chided. Unhappy, Cha filed an official complaint and is being investigated by PJ City Hall’s audit team
Pua told a daily yesterday that the matter had been blown out of proportion and defended Tiew as a woman of integrity.
He claimed Thanasayan, who came to the defence of the vendor, did not show up at the meeting with the market traders on March 8 nor sought a clarification from Tiew.
Dismissing Pua’s claims, Thanasayan said he did talk to Tiew about Cha’s problems but said that Tiew did not act on her complaint.
“That was when I informed Seputeh MP Teresa Kok about Cha’s predicament and she assured me Pua would look into the matter and would contact me, but he didn’t,” said Thanasayan.
“That’s when said Cha approached me for help, as Tiew had refused to look into her complaint” said Thanasayan.
“And that’s why she also filed a police report against Tiew. Feel free to investigate my allegations but you will be disappointed,” said Thanasayan.
On his absense at the meeting, Thanasayan said he was informed by PJ City Hall that it was unnecessary for him to attend.
“I was not even invited for the meeting in the first place. Pua could have told me to attend the meeting but he did not,” he said
AFTER waiting for six months, Cha Seak Nee, who is wheelchair-bound, received her licence to trade at the Taman Megah wet market on Monday.
The 39-year-old said she had applied for the licence from the Petaling Jaya City Council last year when the market opened for business.
She went on to trade at a stall for the disabled without a licence while awaiting approval.
Happy at last: Cha at her stall in Taman Megah wet market with her trading licence she received on Monday.
However, last month, she said MBPJ officers came and asked her to move to a different lot at the vegetable and fruit section.
“They said the consumers had complained the walkway near those stalls were narrow and unsuitable during peak hours,” said Cha, who sells frozen food items.
She was still unsure if she would be able to retain her lot because the council would be meeting again this week to finalised the matter but Cha was happy that she was now a legal trader.
Petaling Jaya city councillor Anthony Thanasayan said Cha had been harassed by traders and a councillor over her move of not wanting to give up her lot as it was built for disabled people near the ramp.
“It is not the job of a councillor to do that and what that has happen to Cha should never occur again,
“It is not easy for a disabled person to come out and fight for her rights especially in a society like ours with people trying to victimise her,” he said, adding that as councillors they should always be on hand to help the less fortunate.
While Independent Living and Training Centre president Francis Siva said he was glad that the group managed to get Cha a future to look forward to now.
“Don’t destroy our life because we all have equal opportunities,” said Francis whose centre helps train the disabled in various skills and prepare them to face the challenges they might encounter when they enter the working field.
Damansara Utama assemblymen Dr Cheah Weng Yin, who visited the market, said the Selangor government did not discriminate against the disabled community.
Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua and three Petaling Jaya city councillors have come to the defence of councillor Tiew Way Keng who was embroiled in a controversy of handling trading lots at the new Taman Megah market.
Pua said it was necessary for Tiew to clear her name following a report in a daily on Monday that said she could be sacked if found guilty of abusing her power.
“The question of sacking did not arise as she has not been found guilty. Tiew is among the most diligent councillors and I have full faith in her integrity,” Pua told reporters yesterday at the market.
“I think the whole controversy has been blown way out of proportion. The attack on her personal character and integrity is unfair. She has done everything above board, I don’t think there is abuse of power in this case,” he said.
He added councillor Anthony Thanasayan, who fought for the disabled trader, did not turn up at the meeting chaired by deputy mayor Puasa Md Taib on March 8 with all market traders, nor sought verification from Tiew on the matter.
Pua also invited all state executive councillors to visit the market and decide for themselves if the proposal for change was made with ill intent.
He said the outcome of the meeting on March 8 was the final decision would be made in the next Sustainable Development (Mampan) meeting based on reports submitted by the deputy mayor and licensing committee.
“The decision is not out, but we understand traders in the front row are objecting the relocation and that will be taken into consideration. They were agreeable to the move but later changed their mind.
“They have a right to do so and Mampan will look for alternative measures to solve the problem,” Pua said.
“Once Tiew’s name is cleared after the audit, the rest who have been making all the allegations should be called to answer to the audit committee as well,” he added.
The three councillors who showed up were Terence Tan, Mak Khuin Weng and Jeyaseelan Anthony from DAP.
Also present at the press conference were Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled executive director Pastor Sia Siew Chin, who said allegations from the disabled trader Shirley Cha and four other disabled people were unfair to Tiew and MBPJ.
“Even though we are disabled we still have to abide by the regulations. I am annoyed that some quarters are using the disabled topic to gain personal interests,” she said.
Sia said more than 400 stakeholders at the market had supported the relocation arrangement and only five opposed the move.
Tiew said will be present at an audit in MBPJ today and added she had all the minutes and documents to prove her innocence.
“I have done everything according to legal and proper process and took into consideration the interest of all parties, including the handicapped,” she said.
She said when she had cleared her name Thanasayan should also explain to the audit committee as to why he “chose to bring MBPJ into disrepute by making baseless, frivolous and irresponsible allegations in public against a fellow councillor”.
LATEST: Disabled hawker received her license this morning from MBPJ!
WHAT an unbelievably action-packed seven days it was last week!
It was also a goldmine of learning experiences not only for me but for all the people involved.
Recall the incident of the five hawkers – one of them in a wheelchair – in the Taman Megah market in Petaling Jaya who were forcibly told to shift from their legally gotten slots that I wrote about last week?
Well that episode saw a total of three press conferences, including the making of police reports last week.
It was wonderful to see how the media and members of the general public turned up in support of the disabled woman named Shirley. The head of the resident’s association in her area also backed her fully.
The nearly forty-something woman is a true epitome of courage for anyone who is physically challenged.
Realising that she could no longer depend on her loving ageing parents, she took a giant leap towards independence by moving out of her home and renting a room near the market.
One of her previous landlord evicted her because she claimed that Shirley was bringing “back luck” to her home.
In her present place, Shirley needs about two hours to get ready in the mornings. She has to wheel herself with the strength of her arms for about 15 minutes through heavy traffic to get to her stall at 7am where she sells frozen stuff.
She has to do this six days a week for half a day through rain or shine.
There have been many times when she was totally drenched because she is not able to hold an umbrella and push her wheelchair at the same time.
On a good day Shirley can make about RM15 a day. On bad days, only RM6.
In appreciation of her real difficulties, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) decided to put her in a slot that was made specially for wheelchairs. It is next to the ramp to make it easier for her to access her lot.
However, it shocked me to discover the sort of excuses made by some unscrupulous elements just to get Shirley out so that they could occupy her place.
One of them was that the disabled toilet would be nearer to her if she shifted to the back. The fact is she has no problem where the toilet is now so why should it be an issue for anyone else, especially persons without disabilities themselves?
How would people who are not in wheelchairs know what is good or not good for people who are in them?
Another ludicrous suggestion is to break up the disabled-friendly slot and rebuild it at the back. Not only is this a total waste of tax-payers money but why put something in a place where the disabled doesn’t want it?
Wouldn’t it be better to use that good money to add another hawker market handicapped friendly?
This smacks of nothing but sheer arrogance on those behind this idea, if you ask me.
On a more positive note, good sense finally prevailed when about 15 disabled people turned up together with Shirley at Selangor Exco for a Caring Government Dr Xavier Jayakumar office on Monday last week.
He wisely directed that the status quo be maintained for all of the victimised hawkers.
Dr Xavier also kindly treated all of them to a good lunch at his office in good gesture as his department’s way of empathizing with their difficulties.
His sentiments were further echoed by the chief of all local councils in the state Ronnie Liu two days later who said the rights of minorities, especially the disabled should be protected at all times.
“People with disabilities not only need support, they also need an extra helping hand if they are to survive in a society that still largely doesn’t cater to their needs,” he told Wheel Power last Wednesday in his office at the state secretariat building in Shah Alam.
On a lighter note, I was in a couple of places also last week checking on wheelchair accessibility through my experience as chairman of MBPJ disability technical committee.
The first was Kelab Syabas swimming pool in Section 52 which is under my zone as MBPJ Councillor.
We managed to zero in on doors that weren’t suited for wheelchair-users in the shower rooms and steep ramps. The management promised to rectify them soon.
Mid Valley Megamall was the next stop.
The management’s staff and I managed to cover a lot of ground with some promising things to come in the near future in what is my favourite mall.
We had a hilarious ending when we came across a non disabled woman in a disabled-friendly toilet. She rushed out red-in-the-face with embarrassment to a dozen disapproving eyes.
Councillor may face the sack PETALING JAYA (March 13, 2011): A Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillor is in hot soup following allegations that she abused her power in trying to get a disabled trader at the Taman Megah market to move to the back.
Tiew Way Keng is currently the subject of two police reports and an MBPJ inquiry. If she is found to be at fault, she could face the sack.
State government officials told theSun that any perceived abuse of power will be dealt with severely.
“This is similar to the case of the other councillor who was sacked for issuing letters of support,” said a state official.
He was referring to Klang councillors Tee Boon Hock of the DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Hamidah Mad Som who were sacked for allegedly issuing letters of support to family and friends.
For Tiew, however, it does not end there. It is understood that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has also opened a file on the case and could haul up the councillor for questioning.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the trader, Shirley Cha, 38, whom the councillor had claimed does not have a trader’s licence, will be issued with one tomorrow.
“She will also be allowed to remain at the front row of the market, close to a ramp specially meant for wheelchair access,” said an MBPJ official, adding that there will be other initiatives taken to “right the wrongs” caused to Cha, especially when MBPJ is embarking on a disabled-friendly image.
Wheelchair bound councillor Anthony Thanasayan was among those who had been championing for Cha, while state executive councillor for caring society Xavier Jeyajumar had also expressed concern over the matter.
Cha and four other stallholders had claimed they were harassed by Tiew and other traders to move to stalls inside the market. This was despite the fact that their stalls were legally balloted, and Cha’s stall featuring disabled-friendly facilities.
Tiew has since denied having intimidated the disabled woman and maintains her innocence, saying that Cha had initially agreed to the relocation. -- theSun
EVERY EFFORT is being made by the relevant parties and volunteers to help wheelchair-bound hawker Cha Sher Nee (Shirley) to obtain a license so that she can finally operate her business here legally.
"I have asked the licensing department of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to speed up the registration process for Shirley.
"This will include going over to her stall to meet her and collating all the necessary details in order to speed up the process," said Anthony Thanasayan to PET+BLOGSPOT last night.
Thanasayan: Won't stop till its over
Thanasayan who serves as chairman of the disability technical committee of MBPJ said that he is working hard to get Shirley her license and once that is over, he considers his work at the site as accomplished.
Shirley had been operating from her stall since September of last year. He slot has been specially designed to accommodate her wheelchair.
Shirley and four other hawkers who had drawn legal lots to their stalls in the front row of their market were suddenly asked to move to the third row away from an open view recently. This was so that the able-bodied vegetable traders on the third row could come to the front where they argued was more suited to display their vegetables.
The five hawkers who were asked to move claimed that they were being unfairly and intensely pressured to agree with the vegetable sellers demands which led them to make police reports against their harassers where the MBPJ councillor for the area was also named.
A total of three press conferences were held by the victims last week in which Thanasayan was present in each of them.
The first protest
"I was there as part of my job as MBPJ councillor to represent all the victims who strongly felt that they were victimized by a hard-headed decision that did not take their needs and rights into condisideration," explained Thanasayan.
The first time was to represent MBPJ and receive a memorandum by the disability nongovernmental organisations at the market in order to hand it over to the mayor.
The second was when the group made their police reports.
A smiling Shirley with Dr Jayakumar
And the third was in helping them hand over a memorandum to Dr Xavier Jayakumar, the Selangor Exco who held the porfolio for a caring government.
More than a dozen wheelchair users including the blind turned up at the state secretariat office to meet up with Dr Xavier.
They were then treated to a delicious private lunch in the Exco's office.
Wong spoke up for Shirley
The matter was a hot topic at the Selangor executive meeting last Wednesday where Dr Xavier and Elizabeth Wong, state exco for tourism, consumer affairs and environment, was reported to have championed the hawkers' cause.
On the same day, state exco head for local councils Ronnie Liu held a private discussion with Thanasayan and Tiew to gather all the facts of the events.
Ronnie: Respect Rights
After the three-hour powwow, Ronnie concluded that the status quo be maintained and that disabled persons' rights be always respected by everyone.
"Find other ways to solve the problem for the hawkers without disturbing the five hawkers who have a right to their lots," he advised.
The head of the Taman Megah residents' association Francis Lee is delighted that good sense has prevailed over the controversy.
"I am so happy for Shirley and the rest of the hawkers. We should always give our support to those who are disadvantaged in our society," he said.
Francis is also working hard to get Shirley her license.
He had helped Shirley file in her application for a license last year. However, MBPJ says it cannot find a record of it.
The rights of the disabled should never be compromised.
MORE than a dozen persons with disabilities met up with Selangor state executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar on Monday.
They were there to hand over a memorandum calling for the promotion of a caring government and an end to all forms of discrimination against people with disabilities.
The move came about after attempts by the authorities to forcibly move five hawkers from the Taman Megah market in Petaling Jaya to another place. The stall-holders included the elderly and a wheelchair-bound woman.
The memo handover was undertaken by several organisations for the disabled with the support of NGOs.
The groups condemned the attempt to move the five hawkers as blatant discrimination against vulnerable groups, calling it a total mockery of the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which guarantees equal opportunities in employment for the handicapped in Malaysia.
They expressed shock and outrage that such an incident had happened when the official protocol document had been signed by Malaysia and ratified last July.
Cha Seak Nee, a trader from the Taman Megah market in Petaling Jaya, handing over a memorandum to state exco member Dr Xavier Jayakumar at the state secretariat building in Shah Alam.
The memorandum pointed out that the convention demanded not only accessibility for people with disabilities but also called for a paradigm shift in terms of attitude and approach towards them.
It radically shifted how people with disabilities are viewed – from objects of charity to being individuals with fundamental rights who are capable of making decisions for themselves, and who are active members of society.
The groups demanded an immediate end to the harassment of the stall-holders and that they be allowed to stay put in their spot unconditionally. They also called for a full investigation into those responsible for trying to get the disadvantaged hawkers out.
The disabled also took the opportunity to express what they wanted as citizens with disabilities.
These include:
> Please keep politics out: Slots designed for the handicapped and policies made for their benefit should be respected and protected so that no one can change them to suit their whims and fancies, or for their political gain.
> Special slots allotted to people with disabilities should always be located in the front where they are visible to everyone. They should also be given help to make a success of their businesses, especially when everyone knows that people with disabilities are at a disadvantage compared to others.
People with disabilities should not be hidden from society. They should not be required to use a different entrance at the back or the side of a building. Instead, they should have the use of the main entrance of a building that is accessed by the public.
Such affirmative action will safeguard the disabled person’s dignity and demonstrate sincerity in undertakings for the handicapped.
> Any decision affecting the disabled should actively involve the disabled themselves as they know best what is good, bad or unworkable for them. No politician, councillor or local council body has the right to make decisions for the disabled without consulting them, unless they are handicapped themselves.
> Educate the top brass: All ADUNs, politicians and even councillors should take it upon themselves to be educated on the rights and needs of the disabled and other marginalised communities.
The best way is to visit the handicapped in their homes or seek advice from the many NGOs in existence. Or better still, live in a home for the handicapped for at least a week – or try using a wheelchair or being blindfolded for seven days – to get an idea of what it is like to be in the shoes of the disabled.
This would greatly help them to stay focused on removing many of the unnecessary barriers in the paths of people with disabilities, and not add to them.
> The rights of minorities are just as important as the majority, and in some cases, the minorities deserve more attention.
> And never forget that disabled persons are voters, too. Their rights and needs should never be compromised for the benefit of the non-disabled. This is, without doubt, the hallmark of a caring government.
PETALING JAYA: The reallocation of trading spots in Taman Megah SS24 market stole the limelight at the PJ City Council full board meeting yesterday.
As had been reported by The Malay Mail last week, frozen food stall operator and wheelchair-bound Shirley Cha Shek Nee had complained her trading licence was not renewed because fellow traders had been eyeing her spot, which many viewed as being a prime location.
Her complaint was directed against councillor Tiew Way Kheng, who she claimed had discriminated against her, even though her original trading spot was allocated because it was near a wheelchair ramp.
Councillor Chan Chee Kong asked why the Taman Megah issue was not in the agenda and slammed the council for leaving him out of the loop.
"Any decision made by the council should be referred to the committee concerned," said Chan.
He also asked why disabled councillor Anthony Thanasayan, who had been championing disabled rights, was not consulted.
Thanasayan, who was also present, said the decision against Cha was clearly discriminatory.
"Why was I not consulted? As a disabled person for over 50 years, my view should be taken into consideration."
Calling for an investigation whether there was any misuse of power, Thanasayan said: "The disabled trader should be given priority.
She should never have been moved out from her spot.”
Tiew, however, said: "I am disheartened by this issue being brought up here. Why discuss the matter when it was not in the agenda? Procedures should be followed."
She also insisted there was no harassment involved and the matter was blown out of proportion.
In response, PJ mayor Datuk Roslan Sakiman said the issue would be discussed in a meeting on March 8, chaired by deputy mayor Puasa Md Taib.
"The meeting will include council's health, licensing and enforcement committees," said Roslan.
"The council will also be inviting traders involved to discuss the matter and reach an amicable solution. For the time being, all traders will stay put at their current spots.”
Asked whether disciplinary action would be taken against Tiew, Roslan said: "We can't make any decision without investigating and any disciplinary action will have to be referred to the State government first."
A Hindraf rally was foiled after police swoop down on its leaders and supporters, arresting more than 100.
VIDEO INSIDE
KUALA LUMPUR: Hindraf protesters today played a cat-and-mouse game with the police as they attempted to assemble sporadically at various spots around the city.
Their attempts were thwarted after police arrested 109 people, including Human Rights Party (HRP) pro tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar, HRP president and Hindraf coordinator W Sambulingan, Hindraf and HRP national adviser N Ganesan, information chief S Jayathas, Selangor chief K Selvam, Perak head P Ramesh and Kedah HRP chairman R Ramu.
However, police have released all of them in the late night.
City police chief Deputy Commissioner of Police Zulkifli Abdullah told FMT that they have been released in staggered stages.
He also denied that the number of supporters arrested was between 120 and 380 as claimed by Hindraf. “Do you believe our figures or theirs (Hindraf’s)?” he asked.
Meanwhile, despite the setback, Hindraf has claimed the protest was a “victory”.
“We are proud about our arrests. We don’t feel guilty. We just want justice, for the Interlok novel to be banned and racism to be stopped,” Sambulingam said, adding that he was assaulted by the police.
“We are innocent civilians without arms and we are gathering peacefully. Why do the police need to show their might?” he asked, adding that he was punched, pushed to the ground, kicked and stepped on before he was hauled in.
The protesters were supposed to have gathered at Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) at 9am this morning and march to the Dang Wangi police headquarters to lodge a police report against the government for Umno racism.
The demonstrators were also targeting the controversial Interlok novel for its derogatory remarks about the Indian community.
Earlier, reporters ran helter-skelter to capture the moments of drama as Indians, suspected to be protesters, were detained around the heavily guarded KLCC vicinity.
No one knew the actual number of Indians participating in the rally, but police said they were did not reach 500, contrary to the organisers estimation of over 2,000.
Many were arrested at the bus, taxi and railway stations before they could begin to organise themselves.
Roads sealed
Roads leading to KLCC were all sealed and roadblocks were erected in Jalan Ampang, Jalan Kepong, Jalan Cheras, Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Duta-Sungai Buloh Highway.
One of the protesters, Chandran, 45, from Klang, told reporters at the KLCC that several supporters have arrived but were unable to gather.
“Why is it so difficult to move around? We just want to be the voice of the Indian community,” he said, before being hauled away.
Uthayakumar himself was picked up at his residence at Pantai Hill Park Condominium at about 7.50am while the others were picked up later.
Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) president Kannan Ramasamy and several MMSP members were also detained.
However, a group of 30 people managed to assemble in front of the Australian High Commission at 10.15 am to protest against Interlok.
They were led by PKR members MS Arjunan (former Chenderiang PKR candidate), S Murali (Puchong division) and A Ponnusamy (Pahang deputy chief).
The protest march that did not take place in KLCC eventually took shape at Sri Kortumalai Pillaiyar temple, near Jalan Pudu, where about 300 gathered there at about 10.30am.
“To hell with (Deputy Federal Territories and Wellbeing Minister) M Saravanan,” said one protester, S Ramachandran, 36, who was referring to the MIC vice-president’s press statement in a Tamil daily asking police to arrest the protesters.
Among others, the protesters chanted slogans “Hapuskan Interlok” and “Jangan hina kaum India”.
‘Hounded like dogs’
Meanwhile, before Ganesan was arrested, he lambasted the authorities for cracking down on a peaceful protest. “We are hounded like dogs. We are not a threat to national security. Umno is the threat,” he said.
Ganesan also listed four demands: release all those detained, ban the Interlok novel, rescind the ban on Hindraf and abolish all racist policies.
There was also a small argument among the protesters at the temple as the organisers did not allow other protesters to put up their banners.
The protesters then marched to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters off Jalan Hang Tuah.
A stand-off took place as the Federal Reserve Unit was ready to charge but spokesman A Thiruvenggadam negotiated with the city police deputy chief Amar Singh, who allowed them to sit down at the parking area.
The crowd then left for Jinjang to show support for Hindraf Makkal Sakti leaders detained there.
‘No respect for law’
Meanwhile, Zulkifli expressed disappointment over the conduct of the protesters.
“I am disappointed that they have been stubborn and have acted in this manner despite our advice to them to call off the protest,” said Zulkifli.
“This shows that they do not respect the law,” he added.
Zulkifli also said that police were aided by 13 Indian NGOs which helped dissuade many Indians from participating in the rally.
While under detention, the protesters were being investigated under Section 27(5) of the Police Act for illegal assembly and the leaders under Section 45(1) of the Societies Act 1966 for inciting people to become a member of an unlawful society. A reporter and a citizen journalist were investigated under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing police.
Meanwhile, Hindraf legal adviser M Manoharan claimed that Jayathas was badly injured and unconscious when he last saw him.
“Jayathas and I were driving past the British Consulate and the police came and arrested him when he was speaking to some disabled protesters. There was a scuffle and I saw Jayathas falling to the ground and assaulted,” he said.
Manoharan said he also witnessed Uthayakumar’s arrest, adding that police had no grounds to arrest him.
Report by: K Pragalath, Teoh El Sen and B Nantha Kum
Exco Dr Xavier Jayakumar telah menghubungi Datuk Bandar Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) dan bercakap dengan beberapa individu berhubung perkara ini.
SHAH ALAM: Peniaga-peniaga Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) di pasar Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya kini mampu menarik lafaz lega apabila Exco Kerajaan Selangor Dr Xavier Jayakumar berjanji untuk mengekalkan ‘status quo’ bagi lot gerai di kawasan itu.
Xavier yang memegang portfolio Kesihatan, pekerja ladang, kemiskinan dan kerajaan prihatin berkata beliau telah menghubungi Datuk Bandar Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) dan bercakap dengan beberapa individu berhubung perkara ini.
Menurut beliau, masalah ini timbul hanya kerana salah faham dan berpendapat bahawa lot perniagaan di pasar itu perlu dikekalkan kepada golongan OKU.
“Perkara ini hanya satu salah faham dan orang yang terbabit tidak memahami fakta bahawa perkara ini dilakukan dengan cara yang baik.
“Mereka perlu undi untuk berniaga dan perkara ini telah dipersetujui oleh semua. Maka saya berpendapat bahawa kita perlu kekalkan status quo dan biarkan mereka meneruskan kerja. Saya akan berbincang secarta lanjut dalam mesyuarat exco,” katanya dalam pertemuan bersama peniaga OKU, Ahli Majlis MBSJ dan Badan Bukan Kerajaan (NGO).
Mereka hadir bagi menyerahkan memorandum yang membantah cadangan MBPJ untuk menukar lot peniaga-peniaga OKU terbabit.
Pada minggu lalu Ahli Majlis MBPJ Tiew Way Keng dilaporkan berkata cadangan penukaran itu disebabkan para peniaga dan pembeli mengadu berlaku masalah aliran trafik di barisan kedua lot pasar itu.
Menurut Tiew, para peniaga di barisan pertama dan kedua juga telah bersetuju untuk membuat pertukaran.
Sementara itu seorang peniaga OKU Cha Sher Nee,39, yang ditemui kesal dengan tindakan Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT) terbabit dan mahu agar lot itu kekal miliknya.
Menurut Cha, beliau bukan mahu mengungkit masalah yang dihadapinya, namun tindakan penukaran itu membebankan beliau.
Cha yang mula berniaga makanan sejuk beku sejak tiga bulan lalu itu merupakan penghidap asthma.
“Saya belajar berdikari,cari rezeki dan pendapatan yang saya terima hanya RM100-200 sahaja,itu pun kalau perniagaan baik.
“Saya bukan mahu jadi bos tapi mahu orang normal tahu saya boleh cari makan sendiri. Saya ada hak untuk berniaga di lot yang sedia ada itu.
“Gerai itu dibina untuk orang seperti saya. Walaupun belum ada perjanjian untuk saya keluar,tapi saya harap lot gerai itu diberi kepada saya,” kata Cha mewakili empat rakan yang turut mengalami masalah sepertinya.
Dalam pada itu, Ahli Majlis MBPJ Anthony Siva Balan Thanasayan mahu ahli parlimen Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Pua dan Tiew memohon maaf ke atas kelima-lima mangsa OKU itu.
“Kami mahu siasatan dibuat ke atas Pua dan Tiew oleh kerajaan Selangor dan tindakan dikenakan jika didapati bersalah.
“Kami mahu deklarasi agar mangsa akan terus kekal berniaga tanpa sebarang diskriminasi oleh ahli parlimen,ahli majlis atau peniaga lain kerana niat tertentu,”katanya.
Cha Seah Nee (duduk, dua dari kiri) bersama rakan-rakannya menunjukkan salinan laporan polis mengenai kekasaran yang dilakukan oleh kakitangan MBPJ di Petaling Jaya, semalam.
PETALING JAYA 24 Feb. - Usaha golongan orang kurang upaya (OKU) untuk hidup berdikari dan mencari pendapatan sendiri ternyata tidak semudah yang dijangka.
Malah, mereka turut menjadi mangsa penindasan pihak-pihak tertentu walaupun perkara berkenaan tidak sepatutnya berlaku.
Itulah yang berlaku kepada seorang peniaga OKU apabila tapak gerai yang telah diperuntukkan kepadanya sebelum ini cuba ditukar oleh Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ).
Lebih menyedihkan, pihak berkuasa tempatan itu didakwa turut mengugut dan mengasarinya dalam usaha memaksa peniaga itu dan beberapa peniaga kecil lain berpindah dari gerai yang diperuntukkan kepada mereka sebelum ini.
Insiden di pasar Taman Megah di sini itu didakwa berlaku sejak beberapa minggu lalu.
Peniaga OKU, Cha Seah Nee, 39, berkata, dia tidak menyangka kakitangan MBPJ sanggup bertindak begitu kasar terhadap OKU sepertinya.
"Saya bukan peniaga haram. Saya ada lesen dan telah diberikan tapak gerai untuk saya, sesuai dengan keupayaan saya sebagai OKU," katanya yang berkerusi roda kerana lumpuh kedua-dua belah kaki.
Seah Nee ditemui pemberita selepas bersama empat peniaga lain membuat laporan di Balai Polis Sea Park hari ini berhubung tindakan kasar serta ugutan oleh pihak MBPJ itu.
Mereka membuat laporan dengan bantuan Badan Latihan dan Hidup Berdikari (ILTC).
Kekecewaan sama turut dialami oleh Daisy Rani, 48, yang menjual bunga di kawasan itu.
Menurutnya, dia telah diberi lesen untuk berniaga di salah satu tapak bahagian hadapan di pasar berkenaan sejak beberapa bulan lalu.
"Tapi beberapa minggu lalu, pihak MBPJ tiba-tiba meminta dan mendesak kami mengosongkan tapak berkenaan dan berpindah ke bahagian belakang yang lebih jauh," katanya kesal.
Tindakan itu bukan sahaja menyukarkan kami tetapi juga akan merugikan.
"Kami tidak setuju kerana ia jauh dan menyukarkan kami untuk memunggah barang jualan," katanya.
Sementara itu, Presiden ILTC, G. Francis Siva ketika ditemui berkata, MBPJ bukan sahaja telah mendiskriminasikan golongan OKU malah menyekat peluang mereka untuk hidup berdikari.
Katanya, baru-baru ini, satu memorandum telah diserahkan kepada Ahli Majlis MBPJ, T. Anthony Siva Balan bagi membawa perkara itu kepada Datuk Bandar Petaling Jaya.
Siva Balan yang menyifatkan tindakan itu sebagai kejam meminta Datuk Bandar menyiasat perkara itu bagi mencari punca tindakan tersebut diambil oleh MBPJ.
2011/02/24 By Sheila Sri Priya and Siti Aminah Abdullah streets@nstp.com.my
Cha Seak Nee said vegetable sellers had been harassing her and trying to get her to move to a more remote location.
NGO representatives protesting in support of Cha Seak Nee (in pink). — Pictures by Syed Putra Syed Abdul Rahman
V. Sundrum says the stalls were assigned by drawing lots last year
T. Anthony says the dispute will be looked into seriously because of the harassment
PETALING JAYA: A group of stallholders, including a disabled individual, held a peaceful protest at the Taman Megah market in SS24, here, recently.
They were protesting because of a dispute with other stallholders over the allocation of stalls.
Last year, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) had assigned the stalls by drawing lots in the presence of the traders.
In the middle of last year, 59 traders who had been operating their stalls illegally were moved to the new Taman Megah market. MBPJ issued business licences to them.
There were claims that a disabled trader and a few able-bodied traders were given better stall sites than the vegetable sellers who were assigned stalls deep inside the market.
NGO representatives protesting in support of Cha Seak Nee (in pink). — Pictures by Syed Putra Syed Abdul Rahman
Wheelchair-bound Cha Seak Nee was assigned a stall that was built specifically for the disabled. The 39-year-old who sells frozen foods such as otak-otak claimed that she had been harassed by some vegetable sellers. She said they told her to move to another stall located deep inside the building.
Flower seller Daisy Rani, 45, claimed that she had been given a different stall number in her new business licence.
"My business licence which was issued last year by the council had the stall number 005 which I drew.
"However, recently, two MBPJ enforcement officers gave me a new licence with the number 015. I was told to move to my new lot.
V. Sundrum says the stalls were assigned by drawing lots last year
"The vegetable sellers are constantly tell us to move to our new lots because they want to occupy our space," she said.
Daisy has lodged a police report on the matter because she felt her rights had been violated by the council.
Wet spice seller V. Sundrum, 40, said the vegetable sellers had also told him to move to a another stall. He said this was not fair as the stalls were assigned by drawing lots last year.
Representatives of NGOs such as The Malaysian Animal Assisted Therapy For The Elderly and The Disabled, Independent Living and Training Centre and Malaysians Against The Discrimination of The Disabled were at the protest to show their support for Cha.
T. Anthony says the dispute will be looked into seriously because of the harassment
A memorandum was submitted to councillor T. Anthony. He said the matter would be looked into seriously as several stallholders, and in particular a disabled person had been harassed.
Anthony said the memorandum would be handed over to Mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman.
Taman Megah residents association chairman Francis Lee said Cha's stall was designed for the disabled as a ramp had been constructed in front of her lot.
Lee also highlighted the fact that Cha was only making a small profit and added that her business would be affected if she were to move to a more remote location.
Area councillor Tiew Way Keng said she had received reports from consumers and stall holders that the location of the vegetable stalls were unsuitable.
"I received complaints that the walkway was narrow. People have slipped and taken a tumble while trying to buy vegetables and fruits."
Tiew said she had asked the public and stallholders to submit suggestions and had given them three options -- retain the current stall allotments, move the fruit stalls to the front and move the vegetable stalls outside.
She said most stallholders chose the third option.
Tiew said Cha had also agreed to move to another lot.
"I spoke to Cha and she agreed to move. The council did not bully her. But now I hear a different story," she said.
Tiew said the council would handle the matter in a diplomatic manner. Also present during the protest was Damansara Utama assemblyman Dr Cheah Wing Yin.
Butchers and councillors want to dislodge paraplegic trader
BUTCHERS and fishmongers at the Taman Megah Market, in cahoots with some heartless councillors, are hounding paraplegic trader Seak Nee, 39 and four others to give up their trading spots and move to the back.
Seak Nee, whose stall is just next to the specially designed ramp for the disabled, along with four other traders suffering from poor health who also occupy the front row, are facing undue pressure to give up their trading spots.
The big time traders with the insidious support of some councillors are said to be exerting pressure on these unfortunate traders so they can have the premium lots.
Giving support: Seak Nee (in pink track suit pants), Francis on her left and other well wishers stop to chat with Khoo (right) near the Taman Megah market after a press conference to highlight Seak Nee’s plight
The traders managed to get the licensing department to change four of the traders’ lot numbers when their licences came up for renewal.
But Seak Lee, paralysed from waist downwards since birth, is fighting back despite being attacked on all fronts, even from people close to her, with telephone calls and nasty remarks.
“I make something like RM700 to RM800 monthly selling frozen foodstuffs and from that I have to pay RM330 for my room rent and this trading sport is all I have,” said Seak, who wheels herself some 15 minutes daily back and forth to the market.
Although her parents are staying in Old Klang Road, she wants to be independent and spent the last six years selling frozen food stuffs in front of the market in a makeshit kiosk until the local residents association chairman Francis Lee and other well-wishers moved the council to get her a proper tradering lot.
After nearly a year she is facing pressure from other traders.
“Many times the traders there have approached me to move to the back portion of the market and offered to foot the renovation and other enhancement to the kiosk,” Seak Nee told StarMetro recently.
One of the prime movers of the protest is Francis Siva, the president of Independent Living and Training Centre (ICTC), a non-governmental organisation, which trains the disabled to be self-sufficient.
“We want the council to step in and tell off the traders who are trying to dislodge them.”
Blaming councillor Tiew Way Keng, the DAP representative for Seak Nee’s plight for pandering to the demands of the well-to-do traders and forsaking Seak Nee’s needs, Francis said the councillor should be in the forefront of her plight.
“She knows about Seak Nee’s plight and she did nothing to protect her interest,” he said, adding that MBPJ was kind enough to specially construct the kiosks, ramp and other handicap-friendly amenities.
Chairman of the MBPJ Technical Committee on Disabilities T. Anthony, who is also an MBPJ councillor said it is a blatant act of discrimination.
He said he has forwarded Seak Nee’s letter to deputy mayor Puasa Md Taib and have asked MBPJ to conduct a full investigation into her claim of harassment by the relevant councillor and traders.
Former councillor and one time Kampung Tunku State assemblyman Khoo Ooi Seng who stopped by to see the commotion was visibly upset after listening to Seak Nee’s plight.
“I agree there are some shortcomings in the BN but we never stole from the handicap,” said the MCA member.
COUNCILLOR Tiew Way Keng, facing mounting pressure from the public for having a hand in a move to dislodge a disabled trader from a prominent spot at the Taman Megah market came out in the open to defend herself.
“Earlier she agreed to move but now she has changed her mind,” Tiew said, adding the traders and consumers had requested that she be moved to the centre.
Asked why in the first place she was given the spot at the disabled row, Tiew said it was done before her time.
She told StarMetro in a telephone interview after a press conference to clarify her position that the ramp for the disabled was not built solely for Seak Nee but for wheelchair-bound consumers.
Long-time Taman Megah resident G. Thong said as far as he knew there was no representation made by the residents or consumers in that area.
“I have been living here and I doubt any decent minded consumer or resident would have the heart to make life difficult for the handicap,” he said.
Besides, the kiosks were specially constructed for the disabled and why can’t they be there. Is it because other big time traders are holding the councillor to ransom by threatening to withhold their support for her,” he asked.
In a related development, the affected five traders and two non-governmental organisations made police reports at the SS2 police station against Tiew for abuse of power.
The president of Independent Living & Training Centre, Francis Siva, called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency to investigate Tiew and Member of Parliament Tony Pua for their alleged hand in the victimising the disabled traders.
Many disabled people in the country find it hard to move around because most public places are not disabled-friendly.
KUALA LUMPUR: Ramlan (not his full name) who is physically challenged lamented that he often cannot get into banks or restaurants as they do not provide the basic amenities for disabled people.
“Whenever I need to perform transactions at the bank counters or decide to dine with my family in restaurants, I would be faced with difficulties as these establishments do not have facilities like wheel ramps, lifts or proper handrails for the disabled people,” said Ramlan.
He also said he had difficulties in withdrawing cash from the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
“Most of the ATMs are located in buildings and petrol stations. It is difficult to get into these buildings as they are not disabled-friendly”, said Ramlan who is a polio victim and wheelchair-bound.
This is the case for many disabled people in the country. Many banks and restaurants are not disabled-friendly.
Reluctant to go for holidays
K Muthu, whose right leg was amputated because of a road crash, said he is reluctant to go for a vacation at tourist destinations in the country as most hotels do not have facilities for the physically challenged.
“A few may have facilities like alleys for those on wheelchair but what about the shower room.
“I find it difficult to use the toilet (in hotels), hence I refrain from going for vacations and prefer to stay home”, he said.
Muthu said despite the presence of the Persons With Disabilities Act, many banks and restaurants as well as hotels do not provide the basic amenities like ramps, ramps with entrance, proper signage and lifts as well as toilets for the disabled.
“Some of the hotels at renowned tourist destinations in the country even do not have elevators. So how can people like me go for holidays,” he said.
Persons with Disablities Act
The Persons With Disabilities Act (PWD Act) was passed in Parliament on Dec 24 in 2007 and was gazetted on Jan 24, 2008. The Act came into force on July 7, 2008.
According to lawyers, many disabled people have been complaining that the PWD Act 2008 is purely an administrative Act and toothless as there are no punitive measures for non-compliance or acts of discrimination.
A restaurant owner in Rawang, Ismail Kassim said: “I am not aware of the law on that and anyhow my restaurant is located in an old building so it is impossible to make the necessary renovations for it to be friendly for the disabled.
He said many of the buildings that have restaurants and banks as well as hotels were built more than 10 years ago when the PWD Act had yet to be gazetted and came into force.
Another restaurant owner, in Kota Damansara, who wished to be known as Vijay, said his restaurant has a ground floor seating arrangements for the disabled and when any handicapped person visits the restaurant, his workers would render assistance to the person. “However, we only occasionally receive disabled customers but when they come we will provide assistance. We try to help them as much as we can,” he said, adding that the absence of facilities for the handicapped may have deterred them from visiting his restaurant.
There are no clear regulations which spelled out that buildings should have facilities for the handicapped and it is for this reason that many public and private buildings do not have amenities for the physically challenged.
A disabled trader and four others refuse to move to a congested part of the Taman Megah market
KUALA LUMPUR: Five hawkers from the Taman Megah market today filed a police report against MBPJ councillor Tiew Way Keng, accusing him of harassment and intimidation.
The five included wheelchair user Sek Nee, who last Tuesday sought the Petaling Jaya mayor’s help against what she said was pressure by other hawkers for her to move her stall to an area less friendly to the disabled.
The report alleges that Tiew yesterday threatened the five with the loss of their licences if they refused to move their businesses to stalls in the back part of the market.
This morning, Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua visited the market with Tiew and Pastor Siew Chin of the Beautiful Gate foundation, where Sek Nee used to reside. They agreed that the market should be redesigned to accommodate the wishes of all the occupants.
Anthony Thanasayan, who is also a MBPJ councillor as well as chairman of an association that helps the disabled and elderly, accused Pua of trying to bully Sek Nee into moving from her disabled-friendly stall to a more congested area of the market.
“This is hypocrisy at its finest,” he said of Pua’s decision to take the pastor with him to the market.
“They don’t care about the disabled; they are just politicising the situation and pitting us against each other.”
Pua said the situation was being blown out of proportion.
“According to a survey done last year,” he said, “people found that the lanes at the back were too congested for the stalls there, which sell fruits and vegetables. Obviously these stalls attract more traffic as people take time choosing these items, which is why the egg and flower stalls at the front are being moved to the back.”
Pua also said that the back rows would be converted to be disabled-friendly, and that a new ramp would be constructed to make it convenient for Sek Nee and other disabled people. Sek Nee would not be asked to move until the conversion was done, he added.
“Her business will not suffer as it’s still a peak lane. So I don’t think she loses out at all should a move be executed. To me it looks like a prime spot.”
