Have a heart for the disabled, KLCC told
Andrew Ong
Jan 18, 07 11:40am Adjust font size:
Mohd Firdaus Azizan suffers from cerebral palsy. The condition prevents the 24-year-old from being able to feed, dress or clean himself.
He suffers from speech impediment and cannot use his limbs. He has limited use of his fingers, but still manages to manuever a motorised wheelchair.
Despite this, Firdaus is determined to live as independently as possible.
The youth sells souvenir items such as key-chains and postcards along the pedestrian tunnel linking the KLCC Putra LRT station and Suria KLCC shopping complex.
"I enjoy selling these things and making an honest living," said Firdaus with the help of an interpreter during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
But now, his livelihood is at stake because KLCC Urus Harta managing director Mustafa Awang said that 'beggars' along the tunnel portray a negative image about Malaysia.
KLCC Urus Harta took over the tunnel from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on Jan 1 and has given its ‘squatters’ till Jan 18 to vacate.
Failing which, Mustafa reportedly warned that enforcement officers from the DBKL and Welfare Services Department would be summoned to remove them.
'Be proud of him'
Are petty traders with physical and mental disabilities seen as ‘damaging’ to the country’s reputation?
This was the question raised at the press conference called by the newly formed Malaysians Against Discrimination of the Disabled (Madd) coalition.
“Being able to sell things gives Firdaus some purpose and joy in his life,” said the coalition’s legal adviser N Surendran (right).
While acknowledging that KLCC has full rights over the tunnel, he said the company could have handled the situation better.
“We would think that KLCC would use their discretion and allow them to continue trading, or at least propose an alternative for them to earn a living,” he added.
KLCC should help the disabled as part of their corporate social responsibility, stressed the lawyer.
Meanwhile, wheelchair-bound activist Anthony Thanasayan also expressed disappointment over the issue.
“Why should we see people like Firdaus as a shame to the country? KLCC should be proud of him,” he told the press conference.
He said inaccessibility of public transport and buildings hinder many talented disabled people from seeking meaningful employment.
Contacted today, Mustafa declined to comment on the criticisms. He referred malaysiakini to a public relations officer who could not offer immediate comments.
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Thursday, January 18, 2007
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Disabled Protest the MPS, The Star
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Nation
Thursday January 11, 2007
Group protests against treatment
By STUART MICHAEL
KUALA LUMPUR: About 50 disabled people gathered at the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) building at Bandar Baru Selayang yesterday to submit a memorandum expressing their dissatisfaction over the manner some MPS staff were treating disabled people.
The group mostly in wheelchairs, who alleged that MPS acted unfairly against the physically-challenged community, were frustrated when they did not get a chance to hand over the memorandum personally to MPS president Zainal Abidin Azim.
“I told them to meet me in a meeting room three times but they refused,” said Zainal.
The group of disabled persons was accompanied by lawyer N. Surendran.
The memorandum cited the alleged harsh treatment faced by disabled trader Murugan Rajoo last Thursday when MPS enforcement officers seized his motorcycle when he was nabbed for selling titbits outside a school in Rawang without a trading licence.
Murugan’s motorcycle was kept at the MPS branch office in Rawang.
A few hours later, with the assistance of MPS councillor M.B. Raja, the motorcycle was returned to Murugan.
Among those who turned up at the protest was Support Group Society for the Blind of Malaysia master mariner Capt A. Karim Stuart Russell, Police Watch & Human Rights Committee (Malaysia) secretary S. Manikavasagam, Support Group Society for the Blind of Malaysia Kuala Lumpur vice-president Anthony Thanasayan, Independent Living and Training Centre president Francis Siva and former TV3 newscaster Ras Adiba Radzi.
Anthony said the disabled people merely wanted justice.
“Why can’t Zainal come down to see us? We just wanted to give him the memorandum, that’s all. It shows that the council is not sympathetic to the needs of the disabled,” said Anthony.
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Nation
Thursday January 11, 2007
Group protests against treatment
By STUART MICHAEL
KUALA LUMPUR: About 50 disabled people gathered at the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) building at Bandar Baru Selayang yesterday to submit a memorandum expressing their dissatisfaction over the manner some MPS staff were treating disabled people.
The group mostly in wheelchairs, who alleged that MPS acted unfairly against the physically-challenged community, were frustrated when they did not get a chance to hand over the memorandum personally to MPS president Zainal Abidin Azim.
“I told them to meet me in a meeting room three times but they refused,” said Zainal.
The group of disabled persons was accompanied by lawyer N. Surendran.
The memorandum cited the alleged harsh treatment faced by disabled trader Murugan Rajoo last Thursday when MPS enforcement officers seized his motorcycle when he was nabbed for selling titbits outside a school in Rawang without a trading licence.
Murugan’s motorcycle was kept at the MPS branch office in Rawang.
A few hours later, with the assistance of MPS councillor M.B. Raja, the motorcycle was returned to Murugan.
Among those who turned up at the protest was Support Group Society for the Blind of Malaysia master mariner Capt A. Karim Stuart Russell, Police Watch & Human Rights Committee (Malaysia) secretary S. Manikavasagam, Support Group Society for the Blind of Malaysia Kuala Lumpur vice-president Anthony Thanasayan, Independent Living and Training Centre president Francis Siva and former TV3 newscaster Ras Adiba Radzi.
Anthony said the disabled people merely wanted justice.
“Why can’t Zainal come down to see us? We just wanted to give him the memorandum, that’s all. It shows that the council is not sympathetic to the needs of the disabled,” said Anthony.
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Stress and Anxiety
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www.eStressAndAnxiety.info
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Health Coach; Lifestyle Coaching Health, Wellness, Stress Management
www.totallycoached.com
More News:
Nation Headlines Deaths the second fatal incident in five months Soldiers hurt in blast Chan orders probe into airport closure Now it’s mosquito menace Where to send your donations Heavy weather until Sunday Repairs needed – fast 120,000 free AirAsia tickets snapped up Pesta Ang Pow events are cultural, not religious Six Abu Sayyaf men killed Two die in scaffolding mishap PAS joins PKR in boycott Pak Lah at Asean Summit Pahang Umno not ruling out a woman candidate Adopt a village Wedding album matters most to him Highland Towers survivor chips in RM6m to help farmers, breeders Tempers flare over delays in giving out aid Praying for good weather Net rule given nod in 1967 Planning for the year ahead Abducted teen rescued within three hours Nasruddin rejects appeal to stay on Anwar questions haste for by-election Apple unveils smart cellphone EC slams claims that it will drop voters MCA Youth backs move to change election laws Buoyed by small talk Rain a damper to prices of chicken 20% interest every 5 days Il Divo in Kuala Lumpur to kick off world tour Sun, sea and spa for PD Entry No. 10 is simply divine BN and PAS offer to help ex-DAP rep carry out work Metal theft: Ex-cop one of suspects Ex-Semangat assemblyman in Johor dies No problem enrolling kids Thai community brushes off complaint Motorcycles to the rescue Boyz coming to KL Illegals deserve fair trial Two with hand grenade and gun nabbed Hawkers not raising prices Postmen: Street numbering confusing Excuses annoy Khir Fund-raising drive for Chinese schools Cops bust foreign, local drug rings Sarawak cops conduct dry run for flood ops Friction over new branch Community service better than jail or fine Almost all Utar grads have jobs or furthered studies The knifing that changed my life Group protests against treatment
Most Viewed
PAS joins PKR in boycott
Deaths the second fatal incident in five months
Two die in scaffolding mishap
120,000 free AirAsia tickets snapped up
Adopt a village
Abducted teen rescued within three hours
Walgreen selling cigarette in a hand gel across U.S.
Highland Towers survivor chips in
Bush to send more troops to Iraq, admits mistake
Bush: mistake not to have more troops in Baghdad
Sponsored Links
Alexandria Home Security
Arizona Home Security
Baltimore Home Security
Birmingham Home Security
Brownsville Home Security
Burlington Home Security
California Home Security
Cincinnati Home Security
Connecticut Home Security
Self Defense Device
Latest Jobs from StarJobs
Business Development Executive
Civil & Structure Engineer
Senior Engineer
General Clerk
Quantity Surveyor
Executive, Sales & Marketing
Clerk of Works
Resident Engineers
Project Executive
Manager, Security & Safety
More Jobs...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Copyright © 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
Managed by I.Star.
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