PETALING JAYA: Not handicapped-friendly enough. Some of the handicapped feel the Ninth Malaysian Plan is too general when it comes to addressing their needs.Eleven organisations of handicapped people held a gathering at the Damai Disabled Peoples’ Association yesterday, reminding the Government that there was "still a lot to do" for the handicapped.
"The Government should concentrate on providing more handicapped-friendly facilities in the public and private sectors, and providing incentives for the handicapped to excel in the job market," said Malaysian Confederation of the Disabled secretary Bathmavathi Krishnan.
She said the Government should also focus on making public transport more handicapped-friendly.
"Public transport does not address the needs of the handicapped much, and many handicapped people find it difficult to travel to their workplaces," she said.
Damai Disabled Peoples’ Association of Selangor president V. Murugeswaran said: "We hope that the Plan, when translated into policies, will address the needs of the handicapped. We all want to contribute effectively to the realisation of Vision 2020."
Beautiful Gate Foundation director Pastor Sia Siew Chin said: "Too often, parking places for the handicapped are taken by the able-bodied motorists. The Government must put a stop to this.
"There should be public education on the rights of the handicapped."
舞獅助興
財神爺派利是（八打靈再也訊）為了推動地方經濟以及促進地方社會的交流，靈市SS2特舉辦一項愛心關懷嘉年華會，部分的攤位將由殘障人士負責。
該嘉年華會於週日（28日）下午由百樂鎮州議員拿督林春景及八打靈再也市政局秘書朱基菲主持開幕。
有關開幕活動開始時是財神爺派利是，寓意人人有財發。人們爭先恐後，唯恐拿不到利是，來年就不能發，更有的人拿了一封又一封。
過后林春景受詢時說，此次的嘉年華會不止吸引SS2居民，也成為附近居民辦年貨的好地方，包括來自白沙羅和美門殘障中心附近地區的居民。
他說，這里有義賣春聯，所得的盈利將捐助美門殘障中心及愛心殘障之家。
此外，著名留法版畫家盧伙生也將2幅水墨畫捐出來拍賣，同樣的也由該2家殘障中心受惠。
新春又怎麼能少得了舞獅助興呢？此次由千百家村阮梁龍獅團帶領的5頭瑞獅祝賀，取名為“五福臨門，花開富貴”。
據其負責人陸滿鴻說，舞獅表演將持續到過年期間。
過年前一週生意大好
一些受詢的小販表示，雖然居民的反應熱烈，不過因為離過年還有一段時間，所以人們還未開始辦年貨。估計臨過年前一個星期，生意將會更好。
有些小販更表示，除夕當天他們也會照常營業。
SS2小販小組主席黃玉福表示，該嘉年華會的攤位擺賣時間雖從早上6時至午夜12時，不過仍要視各別小販而定。
上述活動將使到SS2/62路部份路段暫時關閉，車輛無法行駛。 （星洲日報／大都會‧2007.01.29）
“來來來！財神爺駕到！”林春景（左二）扶協助殘障朋友接過財神爺的利是，以期許來年能平平安安，大吉大利！
瑞獅向人們祝賀新年，左起八打靈再也市政廳市議員王鍾璇，林春景，朱基菲，SS2南區居民協會主席林汀高及陸滿鴻
摘自：http://www.sinchew-i.com/article.phtml?artid=200701290289&data=scnews&spid=183508
By VIVIENNE PAL
Photo by TK LIMIT IS not a common occurrence but Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said and Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen have done it. So have PJU MP Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun and Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Yong Dai Ying.
The latest to join the list in dancing in public is Kelana Jaya MP Loh Seng Kok during a New Year celebration with the disabled community at Summit Shopping Complex, USJ on Saturday.
Sporting: Loh (second from right) joining in a dance performance by the disabled folks from Beautiful Gate Foundation.
The incident occurred when a group of performers from the Beautiful Gate Foundation encouraged the 100-odd guests to stand up and join them in their dance.
The event was jointly organised by the Beautiful Gate Foundation and various other NGOs including the Petaling district Young Men Movement (YMM), with sponsorship from Loh and Summit Shopping Complex, USJ.
"We are all partners in life and in building a caring and loving community," said Loh who sponsored some RM12, 000 for the celebration that evening.
He also sponsored 15 wheelchairs for the foundation.
"Some of those who are perfectly able-bodied don't value their lives and are not even productive. The disabled community surpass them in valuing their lives and making the best of it," he said.
Also present at the event were Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) secretary Slamat Hamzah and representatives from Kelana Jaya MIC division, Summit Shopping Complex, USJ and YMM.
Beautiful Gate Foundation executive director Sia Siew Chin represented the disabled community in applauding Loh's idea of initiating the celebration.
"The care demonstrated by Loh makes us feel like part of the community," said Sia.
"He never treats us like disabled folks but like his friends. This is what we wish from the public. Just because we are disabled does not mean we do not want to or cannot live independently or contribute to society."
The night commenced with dinner sponsored by Summit Shopping Complex, USJ, stage presentations and a variety of games and lucky draws with prizes also sponsored by Loh.
Source : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/1/27/central/16640966&sec=central
By STUART MICHAEL
Photos by ART CHEN
Independent: Chan getting off a train at the KLCC LRT station.
EVEN THOUGH the act of begging by underprivileged disabled members of society is generally accepted in this country, wheelchair-bound Chan Ming Lai wants nothing to do with it.Instead, the 35-year-old resident of the Beautiful Gate Foundation in Paramount Garden, Petaling Jaya, is out to prove that disabled people like him are also able to earn a living for themselves.
Chan, who hails from Kelantan, goes out on his motorised wheelchair three times a week to sell handicraft like keychains and souvenirs made by the foundation’s handicapped residents.
No sale: A security guard asking Chan to leave the premises after mistaking him for a beggar.
His favourite spot for selling his wares is the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC).
Unfortunately, he was wrongly identified as a beggar in a StarMetro report headlined “Beggars spoiling KLCC's image” on Jan 4.
“I am not a beggar. I sell these items to benefit the disabled people.
This is my bread and butter.
“Some of the money that I make will be given to those who made these handicraft,” he said Chan, who was struck with cerebal palsy just four days after his birth, said he had wanted to be independent and mobile from a young age and never stopped aiming for it.
Dainty souvenirs: Some of the handicraft made by the handicapped that Chan helps to sell.
He received his first motorised wheelchair in 1995 when he came to the Beautiful Gate Foundation. It was also here, after seeing that there were other people worse off than him, that he became motivated to do more for himself and the disabled community.
To sell souvenirs, Chan would ride his motorised wheelchair from the Foundation in Jalan SS2/59 at lunchtime to the Paramount LRT Station. From there, he would take the train to the KLCC LRT station and would only return home at about 10pm.
Chan is such a familiar face that even the ticketing counter personnel and security guards at both ends of the LRT station know him.
Upon arrival at KLCC, he would station himself at a regular spot and display his souvenirs for sale. This routine of his has been going on for the last two years.
Streetwise: Chan manoeuvring his motorised wheelchair on a road in SS2 as he heads towards the Paramount Garden LRT station to board a train to KLCC.
“I want to prove that disabled people can fend for themselves and be independent at the same time,” he said.
He expressed sadness that the disabled were sometimes wrongly perceived as beggars.
“I want to give the public a good image of disabled people. We just want to be accepted as part of society,” he added.
Chan occasionally sells the souvenirs at the SS2 night market on Monday and Thursday.
Source : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/1/18/central/20070117191102&sec=central
PETALING JAYA: Not handicapped-friendly enough. Some of the handicapped feel the Ninth Malaysian Plan is too general when it comes to addressing their needs.
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