"It's not what happens to you, it's what you do about it." - W Mitchell

"Before I was paralyzed there were 10,000 things I could do. Now there are 9,000. I can either dwell on the 1,000 I've lost or focus on the 9,000 I have left." - W Mitchell

“Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were, and say Why Not?” - George Bernard Shaw

The talk details are:

Date: Saturday, 19th May 2012

Time: 10am to 1pm

Venue: UTAR PJ Campus (Map here -->

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www.utar.edu.my

Building an Inclusive Development Community

SUCCESS SUCCESS SUCCESS

Another success story achieve by Damai Disabled Person Association. We manage to convince BSN the "Komuniti Bank" Subang Perdana Branch to be accessible . No more Street transaction

Damai collaboration project with Monash University in malaysia to Read more please click to this link - http://www.med.monash.edu.my/cbp/

Stand up and demand for better public transport

K Pragalath  March 28, 2012

Environmentalist Gurmit Singh said the onus is on the public to pressure the government to improve public transport.

KUALA LUMPUR: An environmentalist is urging the public to pressure the government to improve public transport.

Environmentalist KS Gurmit Singh of Centre for Environment Technology and Development, Malaysia (Cetdem) said :”Stand up and demand, otherwise the (public transport) users are to be blamed.

“Until and unless the middle class are affected, the government will not resolve this issue. Channel the frustration to the politicians,” said Gurmit at a round table discussion entitled, Public Transportation Problems In Malaysia: Issues and Solutions.

He was confident that the issue can be resolved due to the high number of people using Light Rail Transit as a transport mode.

Gurmit added that the time is right to pressure the government since there are speculations that the 13th general election will be held this year.

He also stressed that the public transport sector be treated as a public service since no country treats it as profit making sector.

Another participant, NB Dayananda meanwhile blamed the BN government for the problems.

“For 50 over years everything provided was for personal gain.”

He said this was because public transportation projects profited certain politicians.

Dayananda suggested that the public transportation sector be handled by the government and profits are returned to the government.

The forum was organised by Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s environment bureau.

R Rajiv from the Association for the Improvement of Mass Transit, Klang Valley (Transit) meanwhile suggested that a specific transport authority be formed since there are no authorities responsible in route planning

“There should be one centralised authority and another at council level to plan.SPAD is not suitable as it concentrates on MRT instead of public transportation problem,” said Rajiv.

  

PSM’s central committee member Dr D Michael Jeyakumar, who is also Sungai Siput MP, meanwhile promised the participants that another meeting will be arranged soon for the formation of a coalition that would be dedicated to champion the issue of public transportation.

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/03/28/%e2%80%98stand-up-and-demand-for-better-public-transport%e2%80%99/

BATU CAVES TEMPLE IN MALAYSIA INACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Asia-Pacific Feb 19, 2012

PETALING JAYA: The Batu Caves temple grounds, which underwent a RM3.1 million renovation to turn the holy site into a thriving tourism hub, is not accessibleREAD MORE...http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/02/19/batu-caves-temple-in-malaysia-inaccessible-for-people-with-disabilities/

SELAYANG: Disabled Hindu devotees are sore that a promised cable car to the summit of Batu Caves has been shelved to 2013, preventing them from fully taking part in Thaipusam celebrations this year.

“There have been thousands of disabled Hindu devotees who have missed going to the top (of the cave) for prayers and devotions,” said Damai Disabled Person’s Association president V Murugeswaran in a press statement last Saturday.

He pointed out that the temple committee operated a cable car service to the top of the limestone cave some 20 years ago, but it was abandoned after it proved too costly to repair and maintain.

Murugeswaran is calling on Putrajaya to keep to the revised 2013 schedule after it was announced that the initial deadline this year could not be met.

In early 2011, Sri Maha Mariamman Temple management and Damodar Ropeways and Constructions Pty Ltd inked a Memorandum of Understanding to set up the 250-metre cable car service at a cost of RM10 million. The MoU signing was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak then.

Murugeswaran said devotees had waited in vain for the cable to be started this year. “Looks like 2012 was an empty promise,” he said.

However, he said devotees had not given up hope that next year will see the cable car project completed.

“We will wait. We want the cable car for 2013,” the wheelchair bound non-governmental leader said in a telephone interview.

He added that Thaipusam looked bleak for the handicapped as they could not fully take part in the religious festival due to the lack of disabled facilities in Batu Caves.

He took the temple committee to task for failing to heed the recommendations from disabled groups when major renovations were undertaken in January last year.

“We wrote in with engineering plans to ask for ramps, wider toilet cubicles and other things to be incorporated in the renovations,” he said.

Murugeswaran also claimed to have received the brush-off from committee members when he requested for a site visit in the middle of 2011.

He said Damai had successfully engaged various ministries and local governments in providing input on constructing disabled friendly facilities.

He added that it was not too late for the temple committee to seek the advice of Damai and build disabled friendly facilities in Batu Caves.

“Imagine being left out of the chance to carry out religious obligations due to these needless barriers,” he said.

http://www.selangortimes.com/index.php?section=news&permalink=20120210130916-disabled-feel-let-down-over-unfulfilled-promise

  To read more ........http://www.hinducurrents.com/articles/86751/no-place-for-the-disabled-in-batu-caves/

Hindu temples deny disabled people entry

How long more the disabled need to surfer this type of discrimination. In Malaysia Hindu temples has long way to go !!!!

Cable car for Thaipusam 2013 - GOOD NEWS BUT WE HOPE THE PROMISE MATERIALISE

By VEENA BABULAL AND L. SUGANYA

SELAYANG
streets@nstp.com.my
A COMPANY from India has been granted the development order for a cable car system in Batu Caves. The project, a joint venture between Damodar Ropeways, a Calcutta-based company, and the Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam temple committee, will take off in a month or two.

 
The long and steep climb of 272 steps to the Sri Subramania Swamy to the shrine will no longer be a problem for the elderly and disabled

The service caters for the elderly and the disabled, who cannot climb the 272 steps leading to the hilltop Sri Subramania Swamy temple.

Temple committee chairman Datuk R. Nadarajah said the RM10 million project was fully sponsored by Damodar Ropeways and would be completed in time for Thaipusam next year.

The cars would run from the cave temple complex car park on a 150m cable. However, the number of cars was still undecided.

"There are several technical conditions and guidelines to meet. But initial soil testing, geological surveys and other technical aspects have been covered. We have ongoing meetings with the company to discuss project updates," he said.

Meanwhile, for many of the elderly and disabled in the Hindu community, the cable car service was the answer to their prayers.

"I am getting older and can no longer take the crowd. There is a lot of pushing and shoving on the walk up the stairs during Thaipusam. The heat also makes it unbearable," said G. Sivanes, a 55-year-old diabetic patient who also suffers from hypertension.

"The cable car would also help the disabled folk and people like my 70-year-old mother, who are too weak to climb the stairs. She will be happy to be able to go up again after 15 years.

Photography enthusiast Joseph Jeremiah, 22, also welcomed the move. He said shutterbugs would be able to take pictures from new angles.

"It also gives me a better view of what is going on so I get better ideas for my pictures," he said, adding the cave temple complex was a great setting for pictures."

An appeal from disabled Hindus

Posted on 6 February 2012 - 05:12am


HINDUS will be celebrating Thaipusam tomorrow. The manifestation of the festival is best witnessed at Batu Caves. However, there are thousands of disabled Hindu devotees who never had the opportunity to witness the celebrations in Batu Caves.

The Damai Disabled Persons Association had on various occasions highlighted the plight of the disabled to the temple management, authorities, ministers, non-governmental organisations and the public.

We were informed that the temple was undergoing renovation and upgrading work. Damai had approached the temple management to request it to include some basic facilities like a funicular train, toilets for the disabled and reserved parking lots.

However, until today we have only seen a ramp built to provide access to the toilet. Unfortunately, the design of the ramp is unsuitable for wheelchair users and poses a danger.

The effort to revive the funicular train dates back to 2007, when the Tourism Ministry was told to conduct a study on the old cable railway tracks next to the staircase.

Unfortunately, nothing transpired after that and many Thaipusams have come and gone.

V. Murugeswaran

President
Damai Disabled Persons Association

THAIPUSAM: Batu Caves remains inaccessible to the disabled

IN a few more days Hindu's will be celebrating Thaipusam. In Hindu mythology, it is the day Goddess Parvarti bestowed upon her son Lord Muruga the vel (lance) to vanquish evil.

Thousands of disabled Hindu devotees will never have the opportunity in their lifetime to witness the celebration.

This lance denotes spiritual insight and the ability to differentiate right from wrong.

 There are thousands of disabled Hindu devotees who would never have the opportunity in their lifetime to witness the celebration in Batu Caves. We, at Damai Disabled Persons Association, had, on various occasions, highlighted our plight to the temple management, relevant  authorities, ministers, non-governmental organisations and the public.

 To date, nothing has been forthcoming and the temple remains inaccessible to the disabled.  I am puzzled that in a country which guarantees freedom of religion,   the disabled community  has been discriminated against for years because places of worship on high ground are inaccessible.

 We were informed that the temple was undergoing a RM3.1 million renovation work.

Damai approached the temple management to include some basic necessities for the disabled, such as the revival of the funicular train service, and toilets and parking space for the disabled.

 However, we have only seen a ramp which was built to provide access to the toilet. Unfortunately, the design of the ramp is clearly unsuitable for wheelchair users; in fact it poses danger to  users.

 The effort to revive the funicular train relates back to 2007, when the Tourism Ministry was told to conduct a study on the old cable railway tracks next to the staircase.

Unfortunately, nothing transpired after that and many Thaipusams have come and gone  since.

 V. Murugeswaran, President, Damai Disabled Persons Association Selangor  and  Federal Territory, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

No place for the disabled in Batu Caves

HEAD LINE NEWS 

G Vinod

 | February 3, 2012

The Batu Caves temple is almost inaccessible to the disabled because little consideration was given to include disabled-friendly features. 

PETALING JAYA: The Batu Caves temple grounds, which underwent a RM3.1 million renovation to turn the holy site into a thriving tourism hub, is not disabled-friendly.

According to a disabled group, the temple management had failed to incorporate disabled-friendly features at the site despite having met with the group and heard its suggestions

Expressing his disappointment, Damai Disabled Persons Association president V Murugeswaran said that even if there was a disabled-friendly feature, it was not up to standard specifications.

“Because of that, many disabled Hindu devotees are unable to visit Batu Caves during Thaipusam which falls next Tuesday,” Murugeswaran said, adding that the association had 250 members.

He said the association, which is also a consultant to a prominent bank on providing disabled- friendly facilities, had met with the temple committee last year in a bid to get more suitable features incorporated at the site.

He said among the facilities they requested were the revival of the funicular train, toilets and car parks for the disabled.

“They promised to call us for a meeting but nothing came forth. The only thing they have now is a ramp which was built to provide access to the toilet.

“Unfortunately, the ramp is too steep and could pose a danger to us,” said Murugeswaran.

He added that even the toilets for the disabled were not designed according to proper specification.

He said that in 2007, Tourism Malaysia had announced that it would conduct a study on the old cable railway tracks next to the staircase going up to the temple.

“But nothing has transpired since. We’ve been defeated in our efforts to try and get Batu Caves to become more disabled-friendly.

“Maybe that’s why it may turn to be another Thaipusam-less day for us on Feb 7,” he said.

Ponggal event was organised by Damai Disabled Persons Association and MALAYSIA HINDHUDHARMA MAMANDRAM

Monday January 16, 2012

Ponggal event was organised by Damai Disabled Persons Association of Selangor and Federal Territory  and  MALAYSIA HINDHUDHARMA MAMANDRAM at (Damai) headquarters here

About 200 Damai members and residents around Jalan Carey were entertained to cultural dances and songs during a dinner.

Damai chairman V. Muru­geswaran said the association held the event for the first time since it was formed in 1998.

“We also want to promote and preserve the unique and significant cultural festival of the Indian community in the country,” he said.

He also announced that the facilities for the first disabled-friendly Indian temple in the country would be made at Ramalingeshwara Temple in Bangsar.

Murugeswaran said the temple would have easier access and special parking spots and toilets for the disabled, while a ramp would be built near the staircase.

Well Written Article on Air Asia, MAHB, Air Port Taxes Saga! - The Truth

NGOs protest AirAsia’s reluctance to use aerobridges

By S. PUSPADEVI
puspa@thestar.com.my

SEVERAL associations and NGOs representing the disabled community gathered to express their disappointment over AirAsia’s move to not use aerobridges at KLIA2, saying that the facility was necessary to ease mobility.

Danny Tan, chief coordinator for the Shuang Fu Disabled Independent Living Association said aerobridges were necessary for the disabled as it not only eases mobility, but enhances safety, security and comfort for all passengers.

Suffering from a disorder called muscular dystrophy, Danny, who is wheelchair-bound, stressed that it was never easy for him to get on to an ambulift due to his fragile condition.

Disgruntled: Representatives from associations for the disabled showing their protest with placards to Fernandes’ statement that the low-cost carrier will not be using aerobridges.

“When I returned from China earlier this year, it rained heavily when the plane touched down at the LCCT and the crew told me that the ambulift was not available, and asked if they could carry me.

“This can be dangerous due to my condition and it is very problematic as only my wife knew how to lift me,” said Tan, who flies four to fives times a year.

Meanwhile, Damai Disabled Persons Association of Selangor and Federal Territory president V. Murugeswaran said aerobridges were necessary, especially when it rains.

“We would like to thank Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) for listening and taking our needs into consideration by building aerobridges,” he told reporters during a press conference held at the Damai Disabled Association in Jalan Carey, Petaling Jaya on Dec 10.

“The Government should make it mandatory for all airlines, including budget air carriers, to use aerobridges at airports,” Murugeswaran said, adding that ambulifts were not a solution to their problems as it can be a hassle and dangerous to the disabled.

The disabled community, including Barrier-free Environment and Accessible Transport (BEAT) has held two protests (in August and October), asking MAHB and the Government to build aerobridges in the new airport terminal.

On Nov 29, MAHB confirmed that the new LCCT in Sepang (KLIA2), which is scheduled to be completed in April 2013, will include 80 aerobridges.

The StarBiz on Nov 30 reported that AirAsia boss Tan Sri Tony Fernandes had said the airline will not use the aerobridges at KLIA2 even though MAHB will build them for the new low-cost air terminal.

He said: “For 10 years, AirAsia had run the airline and built it from nothing. We have carried 130 million people and our biggest hub is in Kuala Lumpur where we have not used aerobridges.

“We are confused why they want to spend so much when the client does not want them. What kind of control is there when there is a global economic outlook issue.”

Fernandes said that even Singapore Budget Terminal did not have aerobridges and the Singapore authorities had no intention of building them.

Golongan OKU Kecewa Keputusan AirAsia Tidak Mahu Guna Jambatan Aero Di KLIA2

Sabtu Disember 10, 2011

Golongan OKU Kecewa Keputusan AirAsia Tidak Mahu Guna Jambatan Aero Di KLIA2

KUALA LUMPUR: Sebanyak 10 pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang mewakili golongan orang kelainan upaya (OKU) sangat kecewa dengan kenyataan AirAsia bahawa syarikat itu tidak akan menggunakan jambatan udara di KLIA2 apabila lapangan terbang itu siap kelak.

Dalam satu kenyataan bersama yang dikeluarkan di sini Sabtu, NGO itu meminta AirAsia supaya tidak mengenepikan keperluan penumpangnya, terutama golongan OKU, golongan tua, wanita mengandung dan kanak-kanak.

"Jambatan udara bukan sahaja perlu tetapi penting untuk mengurangkan masalah mobiliti dan meningkatkan keselamatan, dan keselesaan kesemua penumpang di dalam semua keadaan cuaca," katanya.

Kesemua NGO itu turut menyeru pihak berkuasa supaya menjadi mandatori bagi kesemua syarikat penerbangan, yang termasuk syarikat penerbangan tambang rendah menggunakan jambatan udara di lapangan terbang yang disediakan kemudahan itu.

Sementara itu, NGO berkenaan menyambut baik keputusan Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd (MAHB) untuk memasang jambatan udara di KLIA2 bagi kemudahan semua pihak.

"Kami mengucapkan terima kasih kepada MAHB kerana mendengar dan menimbangkan keluhan rakyat seperti kami, individu OKU," katanya.

NGO itu ialah Persatuan DAMAI Orang-Orang Kurang Upaya Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan, Persatuan Mobiliti Kuala Lumpur & Selangor, Persatuan Kristian Shuang Fu untuk Orang Kurang Upaya, Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Orang Buta, Malaysia dan Persatuan Kecederaan Spina Malaysia.

Pusat Maju Diri Y Bagi Orang-Orang Pekak (YMCA), Barrier-free Environment and Accessible Transport (BEAT), United Voice (Self Advocacy Society of Persons with Learning Disabilities Selangor & Kuala Lumpur), Persatuan Orang-Orang Buta Malaysia dan Challenges Magazine dan persatuan spina malaysia

NGOs laud inclusion of aerobridges at KLIA2

Teoh El Sen

 | December 10, 2011

Disabled groups happy with Malaysia Airports but gives their thumbs
down on AirAsia's decision not to use them when the airport is completed

PETALING JAYA: Imagine yourself wheelchair-bound, staring down from an airplane doorway to the ground almost five metres below. You have to negotiate a dangerous gap if you want to get onto an ambulift which will lower you down.

This is what Danny Tan, who has muscular dystrophy and wheelchair-bound, has had to endure whenever he wanted to fly. But sometimes it was even worse for Tan, whose limbs are stick-thin and his bones fragile due to his condition.

“Earlier this year I returned from China, it rained heavily when I touched down at the LCCT Terminal and they told me the ambulift was not available and asked if they could carry me,” said Tan, who take flights 4-5 times a year.

However, Tan told the crew only his wife knew how to lift his body correctly without injuring his brittle bones.

“I believe they just wanted to save time by not providing the ambulift. My wife had to walk down the staircase while the air hostess held an umbrella over me,” said Tan, who is chief coordinator for the Shuang Fu Disabled Independent Living Association.

Such inconvenient and stressful situations are commonplace for disabled and that is why they have been especially vocal about having aerobridges for the impending KLIA2.

Today, a group of 10 NGOs fighting for the disabled held a press conference to welcome the decision made by Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad (MAHB) to install aerobridges at KLIA.

“We thank MAHB for taking into consideration the voices of the people including us, persons with disabilities,” said Barrier-free Environment and Accessible Transport (BEAT) pro-tem president Christine Lee.

The disabled community, including BEAT, has been lobbying for the inclusion of the aerobridge, and has held two protests – once in August and another in October, asking MAHB and the government for it.

Lee had also personally met with Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha over the matter in September. He thanked Kong, the cabinet, as well as politicians from both divides.

On Nov 29, MAHB confirmed that the new LCCT in Sepang (KLIA2) will include 80 aerobridges, when it is due to be completed in April 2013.

MAHB managing director Bashir Ahmad had said aerobridges would help those with restricted movement, expectant mothers, young children and the elderly.

‘We deserve to be accorded equal rights’

However, AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes, who has been a vocal opponent of the use of aerobridges, said his planes will not be using the aerobridges even if they were built at KLIA2. He claimed it was a waste of money as customers did not want them.

“We are disappointed that AirAsia is not going to use aerobridges when KLIA2 is completed. We urge AirAsia not to disregard the needs of its passengers especially persons with disabilities, people with reduced mobility, elderly, pregnant women and children,” said Damai Disabled Persons Association of Selangor and Federal Territories Malaysia, V Murugeswaran.

Murugeswaran said Aerobridges were not only necessary but crucial to ease mobility, enhance the safety and security and comfort of all passengers in all weather conditions.

“As full paying consumers, we deserve to be accorded equal rights to enjoy basic public facilities and services that are convenient and safe for us to use.  An aerobridge could determine whether we can fly or not.

“We call on the government to ensure that all newly built airports be equipped with aerobridges. We also urge the authority to come up with regulations to make it mandatory for all airlines, including budget air carriers, to use aerobridges at airports where provided,” said Murugeswaran.

Asked about the view that aerobridges were too costly and ambulifts were sufficient for the disabled community, Murugeswaran said that the extra cost incurred by MAHB were not from the aerobridges.

“When they announced that KLIA costed about RM2billion, the plan already included aerobridges, and they initially scrapped it just because one airline was against it,” said Murugeswaran.

Lee said that ambulifts were not the solution for disabled people.

“Ambulifts are problematic and dangerous and furthermore, with the increasing volume of flying customers, it would not be enough.

LCCT currently only has two. Aerobridges would be much safer and more convenient, for all, not only for us,” said Lee.