Family demands release of disabled ISA detainee

From Lawyers for Liberty

Family demands release of disabled ISA detainee

05/04/2011

By -

The family of restaurant operator Kadir Hashim, who was picked up by the police under the ISA yesterday, is demanding that he be released immediately, or charged in court if there is a case against him.

“I was told that my brother was arrested under the ISA, but I am not satisfied as I don’t know exactly why was he picked up,” said Kadir’s brother Muda Hashim, 46.

Muda said if his brother had committed any crime, then he ought to be charged in court.

“If he is detained without any reason, that means that we are governed by tyrants,” Muda said at a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya this morning.

Yesterday, a team of about 10 plainclothes officers arrested the 42-year old Kadir, who is without an arm, at his house in Kampung Kerinchi in Kuala Lumpur.

Until now, Muda said, the family does not know anything about Kadir’s whereabouts or his condition.

Subversive activities

Barely controlling his anger, another of Kadir’s brothers, Hisham Hashim, 43, said that he was not allowed to enter the house when his brother was picked up and was only told that he was arrested on suspicion of involvement in seditious activities.

“That reason is too general,” said Hisham, labeling the arrest as biadap (rude) of the authorities.

Lawyer and PKR vice-president N Surendran (left) related that he too was stonewalled as he tried to find the whereabouts of Kadir and the reason for his arrest.

All he got was an admission by an ACP Normah Ishak from Bukit Aman police headquarters that Kadir, who is an activist and PKR Youth member, was indeed detained at Bukit Aman and that a written request was required for more information.

Surendran said he would file a writ of habeas corpus on Kadir’s behalf, demanding his immediate release.

Hishamuddin: Arrest due to security concerns

Later in the day Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Kadir’s arrest under the ISA was done “on grounds of security” and not because of his party affiliation said .

“It is mainly on security concerns,”said the minister when quizzed on the weekend arrest of the handicapped Kadir.

Hishammuddin (right) said he did not sign the detention order as the arrest was done by the police.

Section 73 of the ISA provides for a person to be detained for 60 days, before the minister decides whether to order for further detention.

There is talk that Kadir was arrested for alleged involvement with Cambodian militants.

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has asked the government to prove such allegations in court rather than to detain Kadir under the ISA.

Hishammuddin said he has yet to receive details on the matter and could not comment further.

He said that Kadir was free to file the habeas corpus application to seek his release.

Salhan K Ahmad
Apr 4, 11, Malaysiakini
3:49pm

Ronnie Liu Takes A Bold Step For The Disabled

Story & Pictures are courtesy of Petpositive

Ronnie Liu Takes A Bold Step For The Disabled

SOMETHING truly wonderful transpired for people with disabilities in the state of Selangor last week.

The epoch-making occasion to raise the quality of lives of Malaysians with disabilities was held at the Selangor state secretariat building last Friday.

When it was over, all of us in wheelchairs and other types of disabilities couldn’t stop ourselves beaming from ear to ear just thinking about the ramifications of the event and how for the first time for as long as we can remember, the needs of Malaysians with disabilities will finally be looked into in bringing about meaningful change for everybody.

It started at a press conference event that was called by Ronnie Liu, the state’s chairman of local government, study and research committee.

More than half a dozen nongovernmental organisations for people with disabilities turned up.

I saw that they were well represented.

The Deaf community was there along with the blind. A rep from persons with learning disabilities was also present.

Even the breakdown of wheelchair users was perfect: there was someone who was paralysed from his neck down; those handicapped from the waist down, someone with walking difficulties who also used a wheelchair and even a woman with brittle bones.

Many people don’t realise that wheelchair users don’t necessarily have the same needs. Depending on their level of paralyses, their special needs often differ from each other.

We were all there to form a special committee at the state level. Headed by Liu as the adviser, the meetings will be chaired by a person with a disability.

Our mission is to spend the next three months at least visiting all the 11 local councils in Selangor to help them set up a disability committee as soon as possible.

The Petaling Jaya City Council is an exception to this rule because it already has had an active disability committee that has been meeting every month since three years ago.

The purpose of setting up the committee with disabled persons in it is to ensure that local councils will actively pursue programmes for handicapped and elderly citizens.

The committee will constantly inspire, remind and even monitor the progress stages of each local council’s efforts in creating a barrier-free environment where all citizens can benefit.

It was established at the event that positive changes like this can only come about when the local councils actively engage people with disabilities in their building plans.

The local council chief underscored the importance of local councils working with NGOs for the disabled.

“People with disabilities are in the best position and should be recognised as the experts to advise governments on disabilities,” said Liu.

In addition to the setting up of the committee, here are some other important issues that were mentioned at the press conference:

• The special committee under Liu will be providing the names of the NGOs for each of the local councils.
• The committee will also be involved in education programmes. Liu immediately set aside RM10,000 for the committee. A special national forum is being planned for all local councils throughout the country in June of this year. The purpose of this special forum is to encourage all other local councils to also set up disability committees of their own.
• A special booklet on how to set up disabled committees in local councils will also be undertaken soon by the special committee.
• Plans are also underway to look into a welfare allowance for all disabled persons in the state. It was suggested that the Selangor government look into coming up with a monthly allowance of at least RM500 minimum for each disabled person. Currently, not all disabled Malaysians are entitled to financial aid from the welfare department.
• A study will also be underway shortly to look into changing the local bylaws to penalise people who abuse facilities that are made for the handicapped. These include non disabled persons parking in handicapped spots as well as for building managements that turn disabled toilets into store rooms for mops, buckets and other things.
• The Selangor government will also be looking into ensuring that all buildings – even those with only two or three floors – should be equipped with lifts to assist those in wheelchairs and the aged. One of the methods is to come up with incentives for developers who provide such facilities.

“I have never been excited about the previous promises to the disabled as the one I attended last Friday,” chirped 60-year old Taslim bin Kosni who became blind shortly after he was born.

“Finally, not only something very positive for the handicapped in Malaysia but also some strategies that will actually make a lasting difference in our lives,” he told Wheel Power after the meeting.

I couldn’t agree with him more.

The End

Change for the better

Thursday March 31, 2011

Change for the better

SOMETHING wonderful has transpired for people with disabilities in Selangor. The move to raise the quality of life of Malaysians with disabilities was discussed at a press conference held at the Selangor state secretariat building last Friday.

When it was over, all of us in wheelchairs and those with other types of disabilities couldn’t stop beaming from ear to ear just thinking how our lives will be changed for the better.

It started at a press conference called by Ronnie Liu, chairman of the state’s local government, study and research committee.

More than half a dozen non-governmental organisations for people with disabilities turned up. They were well represented. The deaf community was there along with the blind. A representative of persons with learning disabilities was also present.

Even wheelchair users were well-represented. There was someone who was paralysed from the neck down, those handicapped from the waist down, someone with walking difficulties, and even a woman with brittle bones.

Many do not realise that wheelchair users do not necessarily have the same needs. Depending on their level of paralysis, their special needs often differ from one another.

We were all there to form a special committee at the state level.

Headed by Liu as the adviser, the committee meetings will be chaired by a disabled person. Our mission is to spend the next three months visiting all the 11 local councils in Selangor to help them set up a disability committee.

The Petaling Jaya City Council is an exception because it already has an active disability committee.

The purpose of setting up such committees is to ensure that local councils will actively pursue programmes for the handicapped and elderly citizens.

The committee will monitor the progress of each local council in creating a barrier-free environment that benefits everyone.

It was highlighted that positive changes like this can only come about when the local councils actively engage people with disabilities in their building plans.

Liu underscored the importance of local councils in working with NGOs for the disabled. In addition to the setting up of the committee, the following issues were also raised at the press conference:

> The special committee under Liu will provide the names of the NGOs for each of the local councils.

> The committee will be involved in educational programmes. Liu set aside RM10,000 for the committee. A special forum is being planned for all local councils throughout the country in June. It is aimed at encouraging local councils to set up disability committees of their own.

> A special booklet on how to set up disabled committees in local councils will be compiled by the special committee.

> Plans are also under way to look into a welfare allowance for disabled persons in the state. It was suggested that the Selangor government consider a monthly allowance of at least RM500 for each disabled person. Currently, not all disabled Malaysians are entitled to financial aid.

> A study will be carried out to look into changing local by-laws to penalise people who abuse facilities for the handicapped. These include non-disabled persons who park in lots allocated for the disabled, as well as building managements that turn disabled toilets into store rooms.

> The Selangor government will look into ensuring that all multi-storey buildings are equipped with lifts for the benefit of the wheelchair-bound and the elderly. One way is to come up with incentives for developers who provide such facilities.

Tuesday March 29, 2011

Welfare dept bent on eradicating KL of beggars

By FAZLEENA AZIZ
fazleena@thestar.com.my
Photos by LOW BOON TAT

THE Federal Territory Welfare Department (JKMWP) is taking steps to rid Kuala Lumpur of beggars.

It is not an easy job because the officers from the department have to deal with various people and situations while carrying out operations.

Often the officers have to use their persuasive powers to get the beggars to follow them while some had to be carried into the truck.

When it involves women and children, female officers are called in to handle the situation.

Helped out: Welfare department officers wheeling a beggar found in Chow Kit to the van.

Federal Territory Welfare Department deputy director Mujah Hamad said begging was now more of a profession.

“People used to beg for food and money. But now even if the beggars have a comfortable home, they still go out into the streets to beg.

“In genuine cases, they usually have family problems so they end up on the streets.

Some of these beggars may be disowned or abandoned by their families,” he said during an operation last week.

A total of 18 beggars were caught under Section 3 (2) of the Destitute Persons Act 1977 in the operation in Chow Kit, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Metro Prima Kepong and Jalan Peel in Kuala Lumpur.

Under escort: Several Myanmar women and children being taken away from Jalan Bukit Bintang.

Once caught, the victims are documented and sent to Desa Bina Diri in Kuala Kubu Baru.

The Welfare Department will then file papers in court to get a temporary holding order, requiring the person to stay at the centre for 30 days.

After investigations, the court can order the beggars to be sent for rehabilitation at Desa Bina Diri in Mersing, Johor, and Desa Bina Diri Jerantut, Pahang.

Those aged between 18 and 59, are placed at Desa Bina Diri for rehabilitation and vocational training while those below 18 are placed at the Rumah Kanak-kanak/Rumah Budak Laki-laki under the Children Act 2001.

Those over 60 years with no relatives or caretakers or no source of income will be cared for at Rumah Seri Kenangan.

Getting details: Darus (left) talking to a beggar in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

While waiting to be documented after the operation, several Myanmar women and children were caught begging in Bukit Bintang.

The women with babies said their husbands had left them and they had to find money for the sake of their children.

A young Myanmar girl and her sister who were caught in Bukit Bintang said begging was the only way to get money for the family.

The girl who was born here speaks fluent Bahasa Malaysia and said there were 11 of them at home.

“My mum earns very little to take care of the children and we don’t receive money from the United Nations refugee agency anymore, so how are we to survive.

“Some of us go to school, so we need the money otherwise we won’t have anything to survive on,” she said, adding that begging was the only available option.

The department also picked up some abandoned old people in Jalan Peel based on complaints received.

An old fragile Chinese woman and an Indian Muslim man with poor hearing and vision were seated in the van waiting to be transferred to a home.

The old woman said she lived with her son but he was not at home most of the time.

“I have to resort to wearing pampers and I hate it.

“I had a hard life where I used to sell coffee and often had blisters from the spilled hot water,” she added.

There was also a case where an old Indian man chose to follow the department officers because his children no longer wanted to take care of him due to his unpredictable behaviour.

There were three “colourful” beggars nabbed in Bukit Bintang.

The three men had painted their faces and clothes in gold dust to earn some money.

Mujah, who spoke to the three of them, revealed that they were jobless and were ex-convicts.

They said it was hard to find any job in the city but Mujah assured them that there were opportunities if they were not so choosy.

Senior community welfare assistant officer Darus Hassan, who coordinated the operation, said they had to move fast to nab the beggars to prevent them from running away.

For Darus, some of the beggars are “repeat offenders”.

“I know most of them as I have caught them a couple of times before.

“Each time I place them at the centre, they manage to escape and get back to the streets.

“However, some of them have progressed and live a good life now.

“It is not easy to get rid of these beggars because in some places there are syndicates operating and we have act very tactfully to catch them,” he said.

Darus added that he always prepared the officers before any operation because the beggars would use tactics to get themselves out.

“Usually the beggars will say they have a home and that they are only here for a short time to rest.

“In the case of women and children, they will start to cry.

“But we must be resilient and immune to all of this, otherwise we cannot get any work done.

“At the end of the day, they must be taken off the streets,” he said.

Darus spends his evenings and free time roaming and scouting areas that are hotspots for beggars and tries to save them from the syndicates

Saturday March 26, 2011

New by-laws to be drafted to prevent abuse of facilities meant for the disabled

By TEH ENG HOCK
enghock@thestar.com.my

IF YOU have escaped countless times for parking your car in a bay meant for the disabled, you may not be so lucky the next time around.

All local authorities in Selangor will soon have a new by-law empowering the councils’ enforcement officers to issue compounds to the drivers who misuse facilities meant for the disabled.

Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu said the new by-law would be drafted for the 12 local authorities in the state to prevent people from using facilities designated for the disabled.

“The summons should also be extended to places such as shopping malls, where the toilets for the disabled are being used as store rooms,” he said at a press conference to announce the setting up of technical committees on facilities for the disabled at state and local council levels.

Liu was surprised when Malay Disabled Society representative Suhairi Abdullah told him that while it was good to have more facilities for the disabled, it was pointless if there was no enforcement.

“There are all these facilities but people are using it.

“I live in Ampang and many times I have complained to council officers or the police about people parking in the bays for the disabled but they say they cannot issue a summons,” said Suhairi.

Liu immediately responded that something had to be done and said it would take at least three months to pass the new by-law empowering the local authorities to issue summonses.

He said workshops would have to be held to determine the mechanism and the amount for the fine, before it could be forwarded to the state executive council for approval.

“We can have a uniformed by-law for the whole state. The whole process will take at least three months.

“It is only March now, so we have to get it done by this year,” he added.

On the setting up of technical committees for the disabled, Liu said this would ensure the disabled community had a say in the planning and development of disabled-friendly facilities.

“It is not that a person is not sensitive to the needs of the disabled but sometimes it does not cross his mind.

“And it is then too late when the structure is up and found to be not suitable for the disabled,” he said.

Liu said the committees would have representatives from the disabled community.

The committees at the local authority-level will be set up one at a time, with all councils to have them by the year-end.

At the moment, only the Petaling Jaya City Council has a technical committee on disabled facilities.

Gifts For The Disabled

Gifts For The Disabled

Selangor State Local Government Committee chairman Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew officially appointed The Selangor State Level Disability Committees on today. Finally we’re able to see some positive changes happening for us in the state.

He said that, these Committee will have to actively include and work with people with disabilities with all types of categories at least once a month.

All 12 local councils in Selangor have been ordered to set up disability committees within few months as part of the state government's plan to improve the quality of lives of disabled Malaysians in towns and cities.

The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), however, has been exempted from the ruling as they already have a very active disability committee going within its council since the Pakatan government was formed in 2008.

All the 11 other councils will have to set up their committees by soon.

On Monday, March 28, 2011 we (Selangor State Level Disability Committees) will be having a special follow up meeting at the headquarters of the Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS) in Bandar Baru Selayang, Selangor.

Up the garden path

Thursday March 24, 2011

Up the garden path

At last, a forest reserve with disabled-friendly facilities.

TRAVELLINGnin cyberspace and making new friends on Facebook and Twitter is wonderfully convenient for people who use wheelchairs and walking sticks.

But I must admit that when it comes to getting out and actually being on the ground, there is simply no comparison to the real fun and excitement that Mother Nature can bring into your life. About 150 persons – including people in wheelchairs and the elderly – pleasantly discovered so last Saturday when we turned up at Kota Daman­sara in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Community gem: The LA21 Herbal Garden initiated by Friends of Kota Damansara, Selangor, is purposefully inclusive of the disabled, the elderly, women and children.

We were there to witness the official launching of Kota Daman­sara’s LA21 Herbal Garden by the mayor of Petaling Jaya. The herbal garden isn’t the only unique feature that one can find at the Kota Daman­sara Community Forest Reserve (KDCFR).

Visitors to the area will also be able to find people-friendly facilities, such as wheelchair ramps that are also suited for mothers with prams and the elderly.

“We had to think carefully before we came out with strategic spots in the half acre area in which we decided to place the disabled-friendly facilities,” said local conservationist Jeffrey Phang.

Phang, who has been actively involved in the forest for nearly a decade, pointed out that the facilities included a wheelchair pathway, handicapped-friendly toilet that was also geared towards elderly persons, and an outdoor barbeque stand that was at the height level of wheelchairs.

Phang, an assistant professor at University Tunku Abdul Rahman in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, added that ideas are in the pipeline to bring disabled communities inside the forest instead of just remaining at its fringes.

“The idea to integrate all communities of people instead of only selected groups was brought up at the historic Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.

“It was there that the local agenda concept of getting governments, businesses and communities to work together from a more holistic approach rather than a parochial perspective in developing liveable cities and towns, was born,” said Phang.

“In other words, LA21 challenged us to be more inclusive of all persons in creating structures that provide solutions for everyone, instead of just some people.

“We have to build our cities to be more conscious of safety, more caring about the environment and more inclusive of the disabled, elderly, women and children,” said Phang, who was a key organiser of the launch together with the Petaling Jaya City Council and the Selangor Forestry Department.

Besides the disabled, other parti-cipants included the elderly, boys and girls, and business groups.

Among the two new groups of stakeholders present were residents from low-cost flats and representatives from nearby primary and secondary schools.

After the speeches, the dozen or more disabled and elderly participants couldn’t wait to test the facilities.

We were delighted that a special ramp was designed to take wheelchairs and prams right down to the herbal garden area.

The wheelchair users pointed out areas where the ramp was rather steep and needed to be levelled further. All these points were noted as their participation was also meant to provide user-friendly feedback.

Many of the handicapped visitors were thrilled that the people behind the reserve had taken the trouble to install disabled-friendly facilities, compared to other parks that hardly have any wheelchair accessibility.

“Because we at the KDCFR are a community forest, we felt that we should set an example to other parks and forests in the country, so that every stakeholder and their needs will be considered,” said Phang who is also chairman of the Friends of Kota Damansara group.

“Our next plan is to get wheelchair-users as close as possible to the lake where they will be able to dip their feet in the water, if they wish.”

Phang pointed out that a perfect location had been identified for the disabled to do this.

“Some environmentalists may frown at the idea of having some alterations in the forest and feel that nothing at all should be disturbed,” said Phang.

“However, to view things this way is rather inward-looking. Whilst the deeper areas of the forest can be left untouched, we should seriously consider making some parts of the forest accessible to those who otherwise may never be able to appreciate its benefits.

“The goal is to include people with their differences and diversities. In this way, environmentalists will be able to garner more support for their clarion call to save our forests,” Phang added.

'Pua insensitive to the disabled’

G Vinod

| March 17, 2011

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

Wednesday March 16, 2011

Disabled trader finally gets her licence

By CHRISTINA LOW
christinalow@thestar.com.my

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.

Wednesday March 16, 2011

MP comes to MBPJ councillor’s defence

By YIP YOKE TENG

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”.

Of Press Conferences, Police Reports And Final Victory

Story Courtesy from Petpositive

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Of Press Conferences, Police Reports And Final Victory

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.

I bet she won’t be caught doing that ever again!

The End

Councillor may face the sack

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

Updated: 12:14AM Mon, 14 Mar 2011

Disabled Hawker To Get Her License Soon

Story & Pictures Courtesy from Petpositive

Disabled Hawker To Get Her License Soon

Changing location is discrimination say disabled!

DATELINE TAMAN MEGAH MARKET, PETALING JAYA:

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.

Give due respect

Thursday March 3, 2011

Give due respect

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.