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."
IT 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.
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.
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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