The Sun part 1 of 2, April 3, 2006

MPs: Do more for disabled persons
They should be treated with more dignity.' ­ Shahrizat
by B. Suresh Ram



KUALA LUMPUR: Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil yesterday took to task local authorities for failing to provide proper and adequate facilities for disabled persons.
Commenting on the plight of wheelchair-bound paraplegic Gurdip Kaur Pritam Singh who faces arrest for not paying her parking tickets, Shahrizat said she was extremely disappointed with such a situation.

She said this could have been prevented if more bays for the disabled were provided as was the norm overseas.

"The local authorities must make this part and parcel of their development programmes," she told reporters at parliament lobby.

She said the country lacks in the area of providing more amenities to the disabled.

"They should be treated with more dignity."

Earlier, in the Dewan Rakyat, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister S. Subramaniam agreed the treatment of disabled persons by the staff of local authorities left much to be desired.

Coincidentally, the ministry's efforts in facilitating the disabled and low- income groups in paying their bills was scheduled for discussion in parliament yesterday.

The disabled persons are not the only ones facing such a problem, he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (BN-Johor Baru).

Shahrir wanted to know what steps were being taken by the ministry to ensure that local authorities treat disabled persons in a more respectable and humane manner.

He also wanted to know how they were addressing Gurdip's plight.

Subramaniam said the ministry holds seminars and courses to ensure council employees are more aware of the facilities and ways of dealing with ratepayers.

He said among the 50 local authorities that responded to a survey last year, 72% out of the 217 buildings in their holdings are disabled friendly.

The rest were not disabledfriendly and were old buildings built before the guidelines on disabled persons were gazetted.

Subramaniam said under the 9th Malaysia Plan, the ministry has sought allocation to provide more facilities for the disabled.

To the original question from Juslie Ajirol (BNLibaran), Subramaniam said in 1990, the ministry had amended the Uniform Building By-laws by incorporating provision for disabled persons such as barrier-free paths, special parking lots and counters for the disabled to pay bills.

"The department had also issued the Guideline on Building Requirements For Disabled Persons to require all quarters involved to follow and implement the by-laws."

Subramaniam said most government agencies including, local authorities, have prepared special counters and barrier free paths for the disabled.




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KUALA LUMPUR: Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil yesterday took to task local authorities for failing to provide proper and adequate facilities for disabled persons. Commenting on the plight of wheelchair-bound paraplegic Gurdip Kaur Pritam Singh who faces arrest for not paying her parking tickets, Shahrizat said she was extremely disappointed with such a situation. She said this could have been prevented if more bays for the disabled were provided as was the norm overseas. "The local authorities must make this part and parcel of their development programmes," she told reporters at parliament lobby. She said the country lacks in the area of providing more amenities to the disabled. "They should be treated with more dignity." Earlier, in the Dewan Rakyat, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister S. Subramaniam agreed the treatment of disabled persons by the staff of local authorities left much to be desired. Coincidentally, the ministry's efforts in facilitating the disabled and low- income groups in paying their bills was scheduled for discussion in parliament yesterday. The disabled persons are not the only ones facing such a problem, he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (BN-Johor Baru). Shahrir wanted to know what steps were being taken by the ministry to ensure that local authorities treat disabled persons in a more respectable and humane manner. He also wanted to know how they were addressing Gurdip's plight. Subramaniam said the ministry holds seminars and courses to ensure council employees are more aware of the facilities and ways of dealing with ratepayers. He said among the 50 local authorities that responded to a survey last year, 72% out of the 217 buildings in their holdings are disabled friendly. The rest were not disabled- friendly and were old buildings built before the guidelines on disabled persons were gazetted. Subramaniam said under the 9th Malaysia Plan, the ministry has sought allocation to provide more facilities for the disabled. To the original question from Juslie Ajirol (BN- Libaran), Subramaniam said in 1990, the ministry had amended the Uniform Building By-laws by incorporating provision for disabled persons such as barrier-free paths, special parking lots and counters for the disabled to pay bills. "The department had also issued the Guideline on Building Requirements For Disabled Persons to require all quarters involved to follow and implement the by-laws." Subramaniam said most government agencies including, local authorities, have prepared special counters and barrier free paths for the disabled.