Access audit at Langkawi international airport & Kuah Jetty with DBKL and Ministry of transport

Unity council should have a rep from the disabled

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/11/29/unity-council-should-have-a-rep-from-the-disabled/

November 29, 2013

FMT LETTER: From V Murugeswaran, via e-mail

It is appalling to hear the newly-appointed senator Bathmavati saying that the country does not need national unity council. The current generation is facing a dilemma in identifying themselves as Malaysians first.

There have been many occasions and incidents in past which indicate that the national unity is an important factor which needs immediate attention.

Nearly everyday, either in mainstream media, opposition media or social network we hear stories related to racism or supremacy of one race and/or religion. The validity of such news is subject to verification.

But the fact that there are so much hatred and feeling being left out from the development of nation just because one belongs to particular race and/or community needs the government’s utmost attention.

Hence, the formation of national unity council is a right move which was long awaited one.

The council and its member should be given the chance to serve the people to ensure better racial integration among Malaysia.

We are not in the position to pre-judge the function and what can be achieved by the council without giving them a chance to carry out their duties.

The council will be a great platform for it members to discuss and comment with resolution on issues pertaining to all races and most importantly the formation of the same is line with the prime minister’s 1Malaysia aspiration.

With regards to the need of a disabled representative in the council, once again I have to disagree with Bathmavati.

There are many disabled advocates out there who have been fighting for disabled rights. Maybe the
newly elected senator has not been in touch with grassroots, which translates into such statement.

There are many pressing issues concerning disabled people in this country which need to be addressed. Hence, a
representation on behalf of all disabled irregardless of race is important and much welcomed.

The writer is president of the Damai Disabled Person Association Malaysia

Unity council needed due to existing racial, religious tensions, says NGO leader

Nation

Published: Wednesday November 27, 2013 MYT 3:56:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday November 27, 2013 MYT 3:59:16 PM

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/11/27/Unity-council-needed-NGO.aspx

BY TAN YI LIANG

   

Email

Facebook 1

PETALING JAYA: The National Unity Consultative Council is needed due to current racial and religious tensions in Malaysian society, said Damai Disabled Person Association Malaysia president V.Murugeswaran.

"The current generation is facing a dilemma in identifying themselves as a Malaysian first.

"National unity is an important factor which needs immediate attention," said Murugeswaran in a press release issued on Tuesday.

Murugeswaran disagreed with the opinion of Dewan Negara Senator and Malaysian Confederation for the Disabled secretary Bathmavati Krishnan, who had said that there was no need for a representative on the council speaking for people with disabilities (OKU) in Malaysia.

On Tuesday, Bathmavati had said there was no need for a OKU representative on the council as almost all non-governmental organisations representing the interests of Malaysia's OKUs already assisted people regardless of race.

"There are many pressing issues concerning OKUs in this country which need to be addressed.

"A representation on behalf of all disabled - regardless of race - is important and much welcomed," said Murugeswaran.

On the Council itself, Murugeswaran said the 27-member council should be given a chance to serve the people and ensure better racial integration in Malaysia.

National Unity Consultative Council should have a representative from the disabled

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/11/26/PWD-OKU-Disable.aspx

Published: Tuesday November 26, 2013 MYT 5:43:00 PM 

BY TAN YI LIANG

Damai Disabled Persons Association president V Murugeswaran.

  

Email

Facebook 2

PETALING JAYA: The recently-launched National Unity Consultative Council should include an appointee representing people with disabilities (PWD) in Malaysia, said Damai Disabled Persons Association president V Murugeswaran.

"Maybe the Prime Minister should re-look the appointments to allow a PWD to sit on the council to offer the viewpoints of Malaysia's PWDs. 

“I am concerned that out of the 27 people appointed, no one is representing the PWD community," he said to Star online.

He added that the Consultative Council was a good platform that is needed in Malaysia. 

The Council was launched on Monday is headed by Employees Provident Fund chairman Tan Sri Samsuddin Osman, with social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye serving as the council's deputy president.

Other members include Malaysian Bar Council immediate past president Lim Chee Wee and Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir.

However Dewan Negara senator and Malaysian Confederation for the Disabled secretary Bathmavati Krishnan said there was no need for a PWD on the council.

"National unity cannot be taken like a chemical formula of components combined together and dressed up. It comes from mutual respect between the races where you see each other as Malaysians first.

"We should also learn the languages of other cultures, and this would promote unity in a working situation. Why must unity be limited to an appointed council," said Bathmavati.

She added that while she was not skeptical of the council, one could not legislate for unity. 

"We actually do not need this council, as you cannot just sit down and say that we must have unity," said Bathmavati.

Bathmavati pointed out that currently, almost all non-governmental organisations representing the interests of Malaysia's PWDs, such as Beautiful Gate, United Voice, and the Independent Living and Training Centre assisted all PWDs regardless of their race. 

"All their programs are organised for disabled persons of all races.

“We a microcosm of a multicultural society without realising it. Almost all of us cater for all races and we promote national unity in our way," she said.

Universal design courses and audit access facilities for disabled organize by Ministry of urban welfare, housing and local government together with local authorities Kuantan Pahang

Govt urged to do more for disabled Malaysians furthering their studies

Nation

Published: Tuesday November 12, 2013 MYT 8:35:00 AM 

BY TAN YI LIANG

PETALING JAYA: Improvements need to be made to the financial assistance offered by the Education Ministry to people with disabilities who are furthering their education in institutions of higher learning, say stakeholders.

Monetary aid is currently capped at a rate of RM5,000 per year, or at RM20,000 per course.

According to Damai Disabled Persons Association president V. Murugeswaran, there should be no fixed amount given to disable persons seeking to further their education at a tertiary level.

"While I appreciate what the Government is doing, they should be more flexible in assisting qualified students. If a disabled person is doing a course that requires more financial assistance such as medicine, the Government should be flexible and not too rigid when supporting them in pursuing their educational aspirations," said Murugeswaran.

At a press conference last Thursday, Social Welfare Department director-general Datuk Noraini Mohd Hashim had told The Star Online that all students with disabilities were entitled to receive this financial assistance.

"The onus is on the registrar of the institution to inform the Education Ministry" said Noraini.

Noraini added that university or college registrars should inform these students of their eligibility to receive this assistance, and notify the Education Ministry that these students are studying at their institution.

The allowances are available to all students with disabilities looking to study in government or private institutions of higher learning, polytechnics, or community colleges.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Selangor and Federal Territory Association For The Mentally Handicapped general manager T. Kamaraj said RM5,000 per year was inadequate when compared with the cost of living and inflation.

He said many parents spent much more than RM5,000 per year on the education fees, accommodation fees and meals of their university-going students.

"I know of parents who spend RM3,000 per year on private pre-school education. Here you're talking about university education and you're talking about RM5,000 per year," said Kamaraj.

An online search found that a Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences) degree at a private university can cost approximately RM34,100 per year at a private college, and therefore RM102,300 over the three-year period a student would be enrolled in a course.

A five-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) would cost RM99,000 per year, totaling RM455,000 in fees spent obtaining the full degree.

Kamaraj added that people with disabilities should be given special consideration due to the limitations created by their disabilities.

"We are talking about a rights-based society and not a charity-based society and we have to walk the talk. We must do more for people with disabilities," said Kamaraj.

V.Murugeswaran's interview in Astro Awani - Ensure disabled-friendly premises, local authorities told

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnO4EHUTiFg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://english.astroawani.com/videos/show/buletin-awani/local-authorities-should-play-a-greater-role-18543

Ensure disabled-friendly premises, local authorities told

Syafique Shuib| Updated: October 31, 2013

Read more at:http://english.astroawani.com/budget/news/show/ensure-disabled-friendly-premises-local-authorities-told-24836?cp

KUALA LUMPUR: Not being able to take legal action against premises which are not disabled-friendly is frustrating for persons with living disabilities (OKU) in Malaysia.

Here, disabled people still have trouble accessing buildings and various premises such as restaurants and banks. But unlike how it is in some western countries, OKUs in Malaysia could not take legal action against such premises.

Damai Disabled Persons Association of Selangor and Federal Territory president, V. Murugeswaran, said this is so because Malaysia’s Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 is not supported by the Anti-Discrimination Act.

“Our Act is more like a guideline, unlike those in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

“America has the Disabilities Act and it’s supported by the American Discrimination Act. In America, if a restaurant doesn’t provide access for a wheelchair-bound, they can be brought to court because their law allows it,” said Murugeswaran.

He said the local authorities here should play a greater role in ensuring that all buildings were built according to standardised guidelines, making the premises accessible for all.

He said the gradient of the ramp and the size of the parking space at some premises were not built according to standard.

“We cannot even use the facilities,” Murugeswaran said.

Click the video below for Astro AWANI’s interview with him:

http://english.astroawani.com/videos/show/buletin-awani/local-authorities-should-play-a-greater-role-18543

Meanwhile, television personality and activist Ras Adiba Radzi called for those in the service industry to have an open mind and to look at the minute things of accessibility.

“The attitude of those in the service (industry) is not up there for us. It’s not just for the wheelchair-bound but the elderly and those with children in prams.”

She noted that facilities at new buildings were up to par but the older buildings need to be refurbished to be more accessible.

Below is the video for our interview with Ras Adiba:

http://english.astroawani.com/videos/show/buletin-awani/service-industry-should-look-at-the-minute-details-18542

The activists’ comments came following PJ City councillorAnthony Thanasayan’sclaim earlier this week that a staff at a restaurant he recently went to had denied him his seating preference. Anthony had claimed that the staff had cited restaurant policy in disallowing wheelchairs into the premises.

Subsequently, Pizza Hut Malaysiaclarified in a statementthat they did not have a policy which discriminated its customers with special needs.

Read more at:http://english.astroawani.com/budget/news/show/ensure-disabled-friendly-premises-local-authorities-told-24836?cp

How will RM441m budget allocation be spent, asks disabled communit

Nation

BY TAN YI LIANG

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/10/28/budget-2014-people-with-disabilities.aspx

PETALING JAYA: The RM441mil allocation in the 2014 Budget for the welfare and development of people with disabilities (PWDs) raised more questions than answers in the minds of PWD advocacy groups.

"I am unsure how this funding will be allocated. Previously funding was given to the Women's Ministry which started a program called Karisma and they used the money for charity handouts. RM 441mil is quite a huge sum," said Damai Disabled Persons Association of Selangor and Federal Territory president V. Murugeswaran.

Murugeswaran, who spoke to The Star Online on Monday, added that the money should be spent on addressing the root causes of problems that were keeping PWDs from leading independent lives.

"The Prime Minister said that 33 new schools would be built and all schools would be upgraded. My call is that these schools also consider PWDs," said Murugeswaran.

He said many PWDs could not get meaningful employment as they lacked basic education qualifications because they could not gain entry into the mainstream school system.

"I urge the government to use this opportunity to make schools fully accessible so that PWDs can get a full education from Year 1 up to university," said Murugeswaran.

He added employment was another point of concern for PWDs, pointing out the public and private sector had a quota system where 1% of job openings had to be given to PWDs.

"In order for this quota to be achieved, they have to look into accessible building infrastructures and public transport infrastructures such as accessible pavements, bus stops and other public facilities," said Murugeswaran.

He added that an integrated, accessible public transport system should be drawn up by the government.

On Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said RM441mil would be allocated for the development and welfare of PWDs.

"We recognise that everyone is special and we are all perfect in the eyes of God. In relation to this, the contribution of PWDs is highly appreciated," said Najib in his budget speech.

Selangor and Federal Territory Association For The Mentally Handicapped general manager T. Kamaraj questioned whether non-governmental organisations (NGOs) would be included as recipients of the allocation.

"Usually these funds will go to the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development. Does this allocation include the NGOs that are providing a variety of services for PWDs. We are unsure if the money will also support the relevant NGOs," said Kamaraj.

He said he wanted to know if grants to the relevant NGOs would be increased.

"Will 50% of the RM441mil go to government bodies with the rest to NGOs? There are NGOs all over the country complementing the work the government does to help and serve PWDs," said Kanaraj.

Kanaraj also questioned whether grants for NGOs would be increased with the new allocation.

He said currently, a working PWD earning less than RM1,200 would be eligible for a RM 300 allowance from the government.

"We expected an increase in Budget 2014 to RM500 considering the increase in the cost of living, but there was no mention of this," said Kanaraj.