JOBS FOR THE DISABLED FORM OUT NOW - berita harian

QUICK COMMENT:

Here's a report published in Berita Harian last Saturday where I attended as a representative from PETPOSITIVE. The invitation came from the Welfare Department.

Seen with me holding the latest employment forms is Gurdip Kaur @ Rina from the Independent Living and Training Centre who will be officially sworn-in as Councillor for the Selayang Municipal Council on Thursday.

Rina and I are so far the only disabled councillors that we know of. There appears to be one more in Klang who is either a disabled person or a representative of a disabled NGO.

I will be sworn in tomorrow as a MBPJ Councillor along with human rights workers Latheefa Koya and Cynthia Gabriel.

Here now is the Berita Harian report:

OKU dibantu dapat kerja sektor awam

Oleh Nor Azma Laila

BANTU OKU: Anthony Siva (dua dari kanan) berbincang dengan Sapura Ramdhan (dua kiri) sambil diperhatikan, Siti Nor Baya Ramli dan Gurdip Kaur @ Rina (kiri) pada sidang media dan majlis penyerahan borang pekerjaan untuk orang kurang upaya oleh Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat.

Borang khas maklumat, nilai kelayakan disediakan

KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat mengambil langkah proaktif untuk membantu orang kurang upaya (OKU) memperoleh pekerjaan dalam perkhidmatan awam dengan mewujudkan Borang Maklumat Pencarian Kerja OKU.

Ketua Setiausahanya, Datuk Faizah Mohd Tahir, berkata borang itu adalah untuk mengumpul maklumat OKU bagi memudahkan peluang penempatan pekerjaan oleh agensi kerajaan yang dilantik, antaranya, Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam (SPA).

"Usaha yang juga membabitkan Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Pelajaran (SPP) dan Jabatan Tenaga Kerja (JTK) ini juga selaras dengan Pelaksanaan Dasar Satu Peratus Peluang Pekerjaan Dalam Sektor Awam kepada OKU.

"Dasar yang diwujudkan sejak 1988 itu bertujuan memastikan OKU yang berpotensi dan berkelayakan tidak dipinggirkan dalam mendapat peluang pekerjaan di sektor awam," katanya pada sidang media penyerahan borang berkenaan kepada beberapa persatuan OKU, di sini, semalam.

Hadir sama, Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM), Meme Zainal Rashid dan Ketua Penolong Pengarah, Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA), Yuswan Yunus.

Faizah berkata, melalui maklumat yang diperoleh daripada borang berkenaan, JKM dapat mengenal pasti jumlah OKU yang mempunyai kelayakan dan akan diberi khidmat nasihat mengenai jenis pekerjaan yang sesuai berdasarkan kelayakan serta jenis kecacatan yang dialami.

"Bagaimanapun, tindakan untuk menempatkan OKU mengikut kelayakan dan jenis pekerjaan yang diminati bergantung kepada SPA dan kekosongan di sesebuah organisasi.

"Kita di JKM cuma membantu memudahkan urusan OKU untuk memohon pekerjaan selain memberi cadangan supaya mempertimbangkan permohonan mereka," katanya.

Beliau berkata, berdasarkan rekod SPA, pembabitan OKU secara keseluruhan dalam perkhidmatan awam sehingga April 2008 hanya 0.22 peratus atau 581 OKU selain 1.77 peratus atau 92 OKU daripada 5,179 orang yang berkhidmat di JKM.

Beliau berkata, bilangan kakitangan OKU di JKM sudah melebihi peratus yang ditetapkan dan pihaknya kini mensasarkan peratusan itu dalam perkhidmatan awam lain dalam tempoh terdekat.

Katanya, borang itu yang antara lain memerlukan OKU mengisi maklumat peribadi, kelayakan akademik dan pengalaman kerja boleh didapati pada laman web kementerian dan agensi berkaitan seperti JKM, Jabatan Pembangunan Wanita, Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara (LPPKN).

"OKU juga boleh mendapatkan borang berkenaan di pejabat JKM negeri dan daerah, LPPKN negeri, klinik LPPKN dan di suruhanjaya terbabit iaitu di SPA, SPP, JPA, dan JTK," katanya.

Sementara itu, Presiden Persatuan Bantuan Haiwan untuk Warga Kurang Upaya dan Warga Tua, Anthony Siva Balan Thanasayan, berkata usaha itu adalah langkah baik untuk membantu OKU mendapatkan pekerjaan terutama dalam sektor awam.

Tamat.

Weekend View: Getting A Chance To Speak - wheel power, the star

I NEARLY fell off my wheelchair last Friday, folks! Honest.

It was not because of an accident or anything like that.

Rather, it was for an incredibly good reason. And my eyes almost popped out in disbelief at the news.

I was thrilled to bits to discover in The Star that I had been picked as one of the five councillors with disabilities by the new Government in Selangor.

(At the time of writing this article, however, the other four handicapped representatives’ identities had not yet been disclosed.)

I was especially surprised as I had not made any application for the post.

Which disabled person would not jump for joy over such news?

Being included in decision-making bodies has been the clarion cry of disabled advocates the world over for ages.

In fact there is one particularly popular saying that has served as a common motto for most disabled persons and organisations around the world.

It is this: “Nothing about us, without us.”

What this means is that whenever decisions are made about handicapped people anywhere, it is imperative and only proper that disabled people themselves be involved in such processes.

More so in matters that determine their future and livelihood.

Malaysia is no exception.

For nearly two decades, Malaysians with handicapping conditions and organisations that support us have been calling for opportunities to be involved in decision-making bodies.

Although well-meaning, we were generally fed up with non disabled people such as doctors, social workers and others speaking up on our behalf.

Without wanting to seem unappreciative, one really has no clue as to what disability is unless one has “walked a mile in our shoes.”

I mean that literally.

Treating disabled persons and being with them is not the same at all as living life in a wheelchair or having a neurological condition, for examples.

And it is no surprise to us either why many local councils have not got many things right so far for the handicapped.

When you consider their lack of orientation with handicapped conditions, who can really blame anyone?

Pavements for wheelchair users are not completely flattened at access points.

The blind can’t avoid crashing into lampposts and garbage bins that are positioned indiscriminately on walkways.

Lifts made for wheelchairs have pathways with a sudden step or two to access them.

Disabled-friendly car parks are nowhere to be seen. When you do come across one, it is tucked away at a distance rather than next to entrances of buildings.

These are just some of the myriad of ridiculously challenging situations that Malaysians with disabilities have to needlessly confront in Petaling Jaya, for instance, where I am to serve.

Local authorities, therefore, need to be in touch with real people in order to be able to make a real difference in the lives of the people in their municipalities.

Studies in more advanced nations abroad show that things for the disabled had only effected a positive change when disabled citizens were part and parcel with non disabled members in local councils.

Despite our earnest plea, our calls had only fallen on deaf years. Even when disabled persons were consulted previously, it was never as fully-fledged councillors.

Not until now.

Hence the move by the Selangor Government to finally include disabled persons into the local council on an equal status is a history-making effort since the birth of our nation.

They certainly deserve our praise for having taken the unprecedented and bold step to do this.

As for me, this is a completely new journey.

It is never about supporting political parties on any side but rather to use my God-given new position and influence in the local council to help do what is needed to raise the quality of lives of the disabled and elderly in our society.

I also hope to play an instrumental role through my NGO Petpositive.

I hope that I will be able to help bring a new understanding about the tremendous, unique and complementary role that animals and pets play in the lives of handicapped and elderly Malaysians through the power of animal-assisted therapy.

I will be attending meetings with my canine companion Soo who is trained to assist me during an emergency – whether it is to rush to my aid or call for help when required.

When I am seen there with him, I hope that prejudices in whatever form will be set aside.

Instead of some people expecting me to see things from their point of view, I hope that they will be magnanimous and see things from my perspective instead.

Special pets play an indispensable and key role in providing greater independence in the lives of the handicapped – often far greater than humans ever can or have the time to do.

Well, wish me luck, everyone! I can’t wait to tell you more about my adventures!

The End

malaysiakini: DOGS NEVER MEANT FOR THE DINING TABLE

QUICK COMMENT:

Here is our media statement issued by legal writer - and Our Assistant Secretary Shenaaz Khan that appeared in Malaysiakini yesterday.

The SPCA Selangor apparently has issued a statement too. I was told that they are planning to do something regarding this matter. You can be rest assured that PETPOSITIVE will too.

More news, as and when, everybody!

aNt
PET+BLOGSPOT

Malaysiakini Letter:

We refer to media reports on how foreign workers in our country have resorted to eating dog meat following the recent price hikes.

PetPositive is repulsed by this sheer act of savagery against innocent animals. To lay blame on the rising cost of food is a foul and shameless justification.

Unfortunately, every time such barbarism is reported, it brings about an outpouring of animal activist anger but not much else.

There are no existing laws pertaining to the consumption of dog meat.

And though the Animal Act 1953 explicitly states that any person who cruelly beats, kicks, ill-treats, tortures or terrifies any animal shall be guilty of an offence of cruelty, such a person shall only be liable to a paltry fine of two hundred ringgit or a measly imprisonment term of six months!

Therefore, substantive changes within the legislative framework need to be formulated. Any form of cruelty to animals should be regarded as criminal act to send a clear message that to cause such suffering is criminal.

One such dog-barbequing brute is quoted as saying the meat of the puppy is ‘tender’.

But an animal’s true tenderness is its companionship, its loyalty and its innate ability to bring meaning and purpose to a human life and this no more apparent than with the elderly and persons with disabilities.

There is NO excuse, be it economic or epicurean, to bludgeon a defenceless animal to death.

Lest we fancy a plate of puppy paws and feline fillet dipped in squirrel sauce, these monsters of mankind must be stopped.

The writer is assistant-secretary, Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (PetPositive), Kuala Lumpur.

And here's the story:

Wednesday June 25, 2008

Foreign workers eating dog meat

By WANI MUTHIAH

KLANG: Stray puppies are ending up as meals for foreign construction workers keen on reducing their food bills.

Indonesian construction worker Wagang Saring said the high prices of food and the need to send as much money to families back home had forced him and his friends to eat pooches.

“Puppies are the best as their meat is tender,” said the 37-year-old Saring. “The meat gives us energy to work at construction sites. Three puppies will do for five men.”

Saring was approached by The Star at a petrol kiosk in Bukit Tinggi after he was seen hitting a puppy with a piece of wood.

He knocked out the puppy with two blows and carried it back to his kongsi where his friends had already built a fire.

Fellow Indonesian worker Marcel Jeheta, 30, said the large number of stray dogs in Klang provided ample supply of meat.

Jeheta, who comes from Flores Island, said dog meat was a popular source of protein back home.

“Dog meat is widely eaten in Flores Island and we continue the practice in Malaysia,” he said.

A check around the construction site found many dogs, mostly females, that appeared to have littered recently . But there were no puppies in sight.

Cleaner Suriyati Norsalim, 40, from central Jawa, was quick to point out that only some Indonesians ate dog meat.

“Only those from Flores Island, who are not Muslims, and some non-Muslim Bataks (from Sumatra) eat dog meat,” she added.

Vietnamese Nguyen Thi Thu, 25, who works at a factory in Klang, said she noticed her countrymen eating more dog meat recently.

She said dog meat was a popular delicacy in Vietnam.

Animal welfare activist Sabrina Yeap said dog eating was gaining momentum among foreign workers because there was no law against it. “It is not illegal and so no action can be taken against those who do so,” she added.

Yeap, who manages the canine sanctuary Furry Friends Farm, said it was time the Government banned dog eating as it involved inhumane killing methods.

PETPOSITIVE PRESIDENT TO BE SWORN-IN ON TUESDAY

PETPOSITIVE UPDATE:

Good news everybody!

Tuesday at 10.30am is the day and date when I, together with all the other Majlis Bandaran Petaling Jaya will be sworn-in as local councillors.

We will be under probation for a year before the powers-that-be decide to confirm us.

I have not received any letter yet to date. However, I was told by another councillor who got hers that Tuesday will also be our first official meeting with each other.

The MBPJ says that they will send their disabled-friendly van to pick me up. This will be the first time that I will be seeing the van, as well as have a chance to use it.

In the meantime, here are two stories in today's StarMetro on the issue:

Happy reading!

aNt
PET+BLOGSPOT

Thursday June 26, 2008

Gurdip Kaur elected into Selayang council

By STUART MICHAEL

INDEPENDENT Living and Training Centre (ILTC) secretary Gurdip Kaur Pritam Singh, who has been fighting for the rights of the disabled for the last 10 years, has been included as one of the 24 councillors in Selayang Municipal Council (MPS).

Gurdip, 47, said she was surprised that the state government hadappointed a disabled person as a councillor.

“I have always wanted to be a councillor someday to help the disabled community. Now, it's turning into a reality.

“I will make a promise to all the disabled people that I will help tackle problems like transport, toilet facilities and recreational areas. .

“In Rawang for example, motorists have always parked in disabled parking lots and I want this to stop . What the previous councillors did not fulfil, I will promise to bring it up in the council meetings,'' she said.

The others appointed under the non-political quota are Tan Kian Boo of Lembaga Arkitek Mia corporate member, Tan Hui Chuan (Rawang High No High Tension Cable committee), Associate Professor Dr Husin Mohd Dini (Dean of the Faculty of Architecture & Built Environment), Lim Jit Lee and Datuk Abdul Rashid Omar, a former Public Works Department director.

Most of the political appointees were made up of party workers of the Pakatan Rakyat’s coalition parties. Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has the highest number of representation with nine followed with five from PAS and three from DAP.

MPS president Zainal Abidin Azim said that the councillors have a week to reply before the swearing-in ceremony.

“In fact, most of them have replied and the swearing in process and full board meeting will be held in the second week of July. We are following the directive from the state and like previously offering the councillorship for two year term,'' he said.

Thursday June 26, 2008

Pua joins chorus against MBPJ line-up

FOLLOWING the statement by Kam-pung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San, Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua (picture right) also spoke out against the appointment of a political party member under the non-governmental organisation (NGO) quota of the MBPJ councillor list.

“I’d like to express my regret and disappointment that such action has blemished an otherwise excellent step taken by the Selangor state government to include NGO participation while waiting for the local government to be democratically elected in the near future,” said Pua in his media statement.

He said while it was an important change for NGO members to be appointed to the local council, he called upon the state government to review its decision to ensure that only genuine and reputable NGO members and local residents association leaders are given priority.

In an earlier statement, Lau noted that that there were only six NGO councillors in the list: Richard Yeoh (Transparency International), Anthony Thanasayan (coordinator of Malaysians Against Discrimination of the Disabled), Dr Melasutra Md Dali (town planner), Cynthia Manonmani Michael Gabriel (Suaram), Derek Fernandez (prominent lawyer on local governance) and Paneer Sivam (labourer activist).

This singles out social activist Chan Chee Keong and certain quarters claim that he is a PKR member.

End

REALISING A VISION FOR PETALING JAYA - malay mail

Malaysiakini Letter: Handicapped Need More Help

Petpositive is glad and greatly encouraged by the interest taken by the women, family and community development ministry to consider the special needs of the handicapped community in view of the spiraling cost of living in the country.

MCPX

We were delighted to be invited by its minister Dr Ng Yen Yen to a meeting last Monday together with the Welfare Department for this purpose.

In our meeting, we proposed to the Minister that a minimum monthly aid of RM500 a month be given to all disabled Malaysians – and their family care-givers – to help deflect the effects of the recent petrol price hike.

The financial aid should be given in addition to any other current monetary help that is being received by Malaysians with disabilities from the ministry

This proposal was unanimously supported by nearly a dozen other disabled NGOs and disabled- related organisations present at the meeting.

Totally scrapping road toll charges and excise duties for cars used by the handicapped and the introduction of minimal token subscriptions for communication services such as for telephone, mobile and Internet services in order to help improve the quality of lives of the disabled were among the other measures that were put forward to the minister.

Increasing the benefits of the disabled identification card such as qualifying for free parking was also suggested as discounted prices would not only help the handicapped community to be better able to cope with inflation but also be an incentive for more Malaysians with disabilities to register themselves with the government.

We expressed our deep concern that many other handicapped persons have yet to be given disabled ID cards such as persons with Parkinson’s disease and people with mental illnesses because the authorities were having problems recognising them as handicapped persons.

We also reminded the minister about the need to cut down unnecessary red tape when all of the abovementioned such services are made available.

The meeting ended on a positive note leaving us hopeful that the handicapped community should have some good news coming our way soon.

The writer is president, Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive).

ALL SET FOR ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY TOMORROW

DATELINE: PETPOSITIVE, PETALING JAYA.

IT IS ALL SET.

Six disabled people will converge at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Selangor (SPCA) in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

The individuals who are all members of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or PETPOSITIVE will be going there for some animal-assisted therapy.

The participants are blind and physically handicapped. Some are also elderly persons with disabilities.

The project, done for the first time at the SPCA, is a joint event organised by the animal shelter and PETPOSITIVE.

The event is scheduled to be graced by YB Edward Lee, the state assemblyman for Bukit Gasing N.34.

The PETPOSITIVE coordinator for the animal-assisted therapy activity is Lynda Merican.

Look out for a report of this event soon.

MBPJ COUNCILLOR/FORMS FILLED

Meanwhile I was kept busy on Sunday doing all the needful in preparation for my MBPJ councillor post that is scheduled to take effect on July 1.

I received a couple of detailed forms to be filled up by the municipality on Saturday. Yesterday evening was spent going to old town to take a passport-sized picture of myself. I am required to submit four copies of it together with my forms, latest by Tuesday.

I was lucky to have my best friend Andrew Martin help me to do this. Whilst driving to Old Town Petaling Jaya, I could see that there was much work for the new government to do in Selangor.

Basically, doing what the previous government had terribly failed to do. It's no wonder why we don't see many handicapped people out in the streets!

I also spent a chunk of my evening calling several disability NGOs and medical doctors to ask them to help me with their expertise when I obtain my new position.

One of them is Dr Chandra Muzaffar. He is currently one of PETPOSITIVE's special advisers. He is with us to give us advise on Islam and animals.

Well, keep it right here folks for further updates on this MBPJ Councillor development as and when it comes.

And here's to looking forward to a positive change in the near future.

aNt
PET+BLOGSPOT

weekend view #2: MBPJ WORK A CALLING - malaysiakini

DISABLED COUNCILLOR: IT'S A CALLING - Malaysiakini

Wheelchair-bound Anthony Thanasayan has been at the forefront of advocating the rights of the disabled for the past decade and local authorities have regularly been the brunt of his criticism.

MCPX

So it was no surprise when he describes his recent appointment as one of Petaling Jaya’s 24 city councillor as “a calling”.

“This is a chance given to me to make a difference, so to me it is a calling from God to take up the position,” said Anthony, who heads the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association.

And even before he was officially made a councillor, Anthony had already came across a MBPJ officer who would use some lessons in sensitivity when dealing with the disabled.

Yesterday, he had a discomforting call from the officer who wanted Anthony to fill up certain paperwork pertaining to his appointment as a councillor.

“The office called me and asked me to come over to the MBPJ office immediately to pick up the forms and to submit a photo but how can they expect me to show up whenever they like knowing my condition,” lamented Anthony.

“When they thought of hiring a disabled person they must have been prepared to make changes necessary to accommodate to the needs of the disabled persons,” he reiterated.

Geared for change

The episode with the MBPJ officer reminded Anthony that he has an uphill task ahead of him, but the plucky activist believes that he is ready to face any challenges to champion the rights of the disabled in the council.

“I’m happy I was given the opportunity, as this is a chance for a disabled person to speak for the disabled rather than having an able-bodied person to voice our concerns,” he said.

“We (the disabled) believe that we must be a part of any decisions made for us. There is an international saying among us disabled – ‘nothing about us without us’. Therefore, I’m happy I’ll be a part of the decision-making process,” he added.

Anthony said his first agenda was to propose for specials queues and parking lots for the disabled and elderly as these amenities are not available at all avenues in Petaling Jaya.

“The previous government promised us many things but nothing really materialised. I feel like I’m under house arrest because I’m not able to go to the neighbourhood grocery shop because it is not disabled friendly,” he said.

“All this has to change and I’ll speak up for it until it does. And I won’t hesitate to quit, if I don’t see anything materialising,” he stressed.

weekend view #1: PETPOSITIVE PRESIDENT TO BE MBPJ - the star

Friday June 20, 2008

Disabled rep among 24 new city councillors in MBPJ

By DEBBIE CHAN and TAN KARR WEI

Anthony

THE Petaling Jaya City Council will have, for the first time, representation from the disabled community on its board of councillors.

Animal Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association president Anthony Thanasayan is one of the 24 newly chosen councillors for the MBPJ.

Anthony has been fighting for the rights of the disabled community for years and his selection as a city councillor will definitely enhance the cause of the disabled in PJ.

“If it is true that I made it to the list, it's fantastic. We have always asked to be included in the decision-making process,” he said.

Fernandez

“We strongly believe in the motto 'Nothing about us without us'. We must be there to make the decisions,” the wheelchair-bound Anthony said.

Among the changes the plucky crusader would like to see are designated car parks for the disabled.

The list of new councillors includes some prominent names from the non-governmental organisations.

Two such persons are Suara Rakyat Malaysia executive director Cynthia Gabriel and Transparency International executive director Richard Yeoh.

Environment activist and lawyer Derek Fernandez, who has been making newspaper headlines for being vocal on various community issues, is also on the list.

Mak

The representation from community and NGOs is part of the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government’s move to include members of the public in the decision-making process and to tap their views and expertise for the benefit of the community.

The rest of the names on the list are members of the three Pakatan Rakyat coalition partners – PKR, DAP and PAS.

However, none of the coalition’s elected representatives, whether MPs or state assemblymen, had been appointed as councillors.

This is a change from the previous Barisan Nasional state government where most of the elected representatives are appointed as councillors.

Among the people named on the list is former StarMetro reporter Mak Khuin Weng.

“There are some issues I would like to look into, like condominiums and privatisation of contracts. These are the things that I've been following up as a reporter,” Mak said.

He looks forward to working with the other councillors to help resolve issues affecting PJ while striving for transparency and accountability.

As a reporter, Mak has met many PJ residents and worked with former MBPJ councillors.

“I would be able to draw from their experience. I look forward to working with the other councillors,” he said.

NEW COUNCILLORS FOR PETALING JAYA

1. Mohd Halil Haji Harun – Petaling Jaya Utara PKR deputy chief

2. Syed Abdul Malik Syed A Hamid Al Jafree – Subang PKR deputy chief

3. Thiruvenggadam Aamuthu – Petaling Jaya Selatan PKR deputy chief

4. Halimey Abu Bakar – Kelana Jaya PKR Youth chief

5. Mahharul Ismail – Petaling Jaya Selatan PKR Secretary

6. Latheefa Koya – Petaling Jaya Selatan PKR treasurer

7. Tang Fuie Koh – Petaling Jaya Utara PKR treasurer

8. Dr Melasutra Md Dali – Urban planner

9. Michael Soon Kwai Choy – DAP

10. Mak Khuin Weng – DAP

11. Robert Tan Siang Chok – DAP

12. Tiew Way Keng – DAP

13. Francis Chang – DAP

14. Ahmad Yusof Ludis – PAS

15. Ghazali Shaari – PAS

16. Kamarudin Suhaimi – PAS

17. Muzammil Hafiz – PAS

18. Chan Chee Keong – Social activist

19. Richard Yeoh – Transparency International executive director

20. Anthony Thanasayan – Representative of the disabled community

21. Cynthia Gabriel – Suaram executive director

22. Derek Fernandez – Environment activist and lawyer

*23. Ramakrishnan Suppiah

*24. Paneer Sivam

* The last two names are yet to be confirmed.

malaysiakini: S'GOR GOVERNMENT ABOUT TO MAKE DISABLED HISTORY

QUICK COMMENT:

So sorry everyone. My report yesterday said that the local councillors - at least in Petaling Jaya - would be announced yesterday. Apparently the media who gathered at the event were disappointed that this was not so.

However late yesterday evening both The Star and the Malay Mail rang me up to ask if I was one of the disabled persons who was appointed as a councillor.

It has been reported in some newspapers that as many as five disabled Malaysians would be appointed as disabled councillors by the Selangor Government. If and when such a thing is fulfilled, it will be disabled history for the first time since Malaysia since Merdeka in 1957.

I told the media that I had not received any news from the Majlis Perbandaran Petaling Jaya about the news to date.

They went on to ask me whether I would accept the position if I was selected. I, of course, said "yes", adding that being part of decision-making bodies is what the disabled all over the world want. Especially when it involves matters that affect our lives.

Please check both the dailies later this morning to see if my interview with them will be featured.

In the meantime, please scroll Malaysiakini's report on what happened at that event this morning.

aNt
PETPOSITIVE

Malaysiakini: S'gor local councillors list finally ready.

The Selangor state government has finally completed the task of appointing 288 local councillors for all 12 local councils in the state, the majority of whom are new faces.

MCPX

However the public would have to wait a little longer to find out the identities of those appointed by Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim.

selangor announcement of local counciller list 190608 02" title="selangor announcement of local counciller list 190608 02" align="right" height="223" width="280">Khalid revealed in a press conference today that the list of councillors was ready but passed the buck to the respective councils to reveal the names of people appointed to sit in the councils.

He said that the names of the chosen individuals will only be disclosed by the respective local authorities once they are done with assessing the list.

Khalid had said yesterday that he would be revealing the names today. The Selangor councillors' list has been a long-drawn affair, purportedly due to behind-the-scene moves by various parties on the composition and make-up of the councillors.

And the final list as revealed by Khalid today showed that 25 percent of those named are made up of NGOs, professionals, activists and academics.

selangor local councils 190608" title="selangor local councils 190608" align="left" height="525" width="186">The remaining 75 percent are members of parties from the Pakatan Rakyat with PKR dominating the composition. Neither Khalid nor state exco member Ronnie Liu revealed the exact numbers granted to each parties.

Khalid said that some of those in the list came from the disabled community. The list also included 49 women councillors while about 87 percent of them possessed at least a diploma.

"The councillors will all undergo a one-year probation period and if they prove that they are good with what they do, we will extend their contract to three years," said Khalid.

Khalid also said that there were many talented applicants who had vied for the council posts - numbering slightly more than 1,000 people.

He added that it would be a waste not to give them the opportunity if those chosen are found to be performing below expectations.

Khalid also explained that Selangor will be divided into zones and that some of the councillors will lead each of their respective zones whereas some will lead numerous zones.

Councillors will be given a salary of between RM500 and RM1,000 and a meeting allowance of RM100 per meeting.

Khalid has retained city mayors, municipal council presidents and district chiefs.

No MPs or Adun named

Khalid also said that unlike under the Barisan Nasional administration, the present list of councillors had no members of parliament or state assemblypersons.

The rationale for doing so, he explained, was to allow residents and ratepayers the ability to participate in a matter that would affect them the most.

When asked if the list contained any BN members, Khalid said that none were as they would not be allowed to accept any position in the Pakatan government by their party leadership.

selangor announcement of local counciller list 190608 01" title="selangor announcement of local counciller list 190608 01" align="left" height="210" width="260">The race-based quota for selecting local councillors has also been rid off, Liu added.

The BN-led Selangor state government had in the past practiced the race quota system where representatives from each of the BN's race-based component parties would be allocated slots for representations based on the number of state seats controlled by that particular party.

Liu, a DAP leader, however said that the Pakatan government want the tradition to be eliminated.

"We cannot function like that anymore. We have to understand that Indian people can also serve the Chinese community and vice versa," he stressed.

The issue of implementing local council elections, one of the key features of Pakatan's elections promises, was also raised by reporters.

Both Khalid and Liu said that the Pakatan Selangor government was currently working towards studying the possibility of re-implementing it.

"We know that local representation is important and we are working on it," added Khalid.

End

CAT OWNERS HAVE HEALTHY HEARTS - bbc online

QUICK COMMENT: Here's a great article from BBC Online 19, March 2008!

'Healthier hearts' for cat owners

He may help reduce your stress levels

Cat owners appear to have a much lower risk of dying from a heart attack than their feline-spurning counterparts, a study suggests.
Researchers looked at nearly 4,500 adults and found that cat ownership was related to a 40% lower risk of suffering a fatal heart attack.
The team speculated that having a cat may reduce stress and anxiety, and so protect against cardiovascular disease.
The findings of the study were unveiled at the International Stroke Conference.
The study, led by Professor Adnan Qureshi at the University of Minnesota, suggested that even those who no longer owned a cat benefited from these protective effects.
But specifically, some 3.4% of those who owned a cat during the duration of the study died from a heart attack, compared with 5.8% of those who did not.
The benefits held true even after the researchers adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and high cholesterol.
However the authors warned against impulsive cat purchases.
They said while cats may indeed have a calming effect, it was unclear whether the kind of people who opted for a cat in the first place may have a lower risk of heart attack.
This study did not examine the advantages of having a dog, although previous research has suggested this too may have health benefits above and beyond taking them for walks.
The Pet Health Council notes "there is an increasing amount of research proving that contact with animals can bring real physiological and psychological benefits including reducing stress, helping to prevent illness and allergies, lowering blood pressure, aiding recovery and boosting fitness levels.
"Research has also shown that pet owners make fewer annual visits to the doctors than non pet owners proving the saying, 'a pet all day keeps the doctor away'."

petpositive newsflash: PETALING JAYA TOWN COUNCILLORS TO BE ANNOUNCED ON THURSDAY!

PETPOSITIVE NEWSFLASH!

I have just heard from a senior news journalist friend of mine that the town councillors list for Petaling Jaya will be announced tomorrow morning!

Fingers crossed everybody that PETPOSTIVE will be one of the non governmental organisations selected to be in the lineup in PJ.

If confirmed, you can be rest assured that we will do our darndest to make a difference in the lives of disabled and elderly Malaysians - and the animals - in PJ!

aNt
PET+BLOGSPOT

DISABLED & ELDERY TO VOLUNTEER AT SPCA SELANGOR

PETPOSITIVE NEWS:

It is confirmed! And plans are underway at this moment to make it happen.

Early next week, five disabled and elderly members will be taking a trip to the Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Selangor to volunteer their time and learn more about what this well-known non governmental organisation is doing to help animals in our society.

The event, organised by PETPOSITIVE will include the blind and the physically handicapped.

Besides manning the telephones for a while, Our Society's members will also help bathe, groom and feed the puppies at the SPCA. There will also be an opportunity to play with some of the resident kittens of the animal shelter.

The purpose of the trip is to educate the disabled and elderly about animal welfare and rights and also to promote animal-assisted therapy for them.

This will be the first time that PETPOSITIVE is having a project in the SPCA. It is also the first time that the SPCA is doing something like this with disabled and elderly people.

The last time the venue had several disabled people was when SPCA had invited Bivai Special Dogs to their shelter to help a disabled man have a pet.

A dog (not from the SPCA) was trained for almost a year under Bivai Special Dogs for the wheelchair user as a service dog.

The human candidate unfortunately however, passed away a year later - just when his service dog was about to graduate. The training was sponsored by the Lion's Club.

On another note, scroll below for a special feature - just for laughs - that was submitted to us recently by PETPOSITIVE volunteer Sally Addington.

aNt
PET+BLOGSPOT

HERE ARE FIVE SITUATIONS WHEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE REALLY IN DEEP TROUBLE:

FIVE DISABLED PERSONS PICKED AS COUNCILLORS FOR SELANGOR - NAMES TBA SOON

PETPOSITIVE BREAKING NEWS!

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO BE TOWN COUNCILLORS SOON.

StarMetro reports today that five handicapped individuals are scheduled to be picked as town councillors for Selangor Darul Ehsan state.

The move to offer the posts to disabled Malaysians is a tremendous history-making effort for the Government of Selangor as disabled rights advocates - who are disabled themselves - have always be championing for their rights to be represented in decision-making bodies.

"Nothing about us without us!" is the internationally popular clarion call by disabled communities the world over.

It was reported in The Star on June 3 that a representative from Malaysians Against the Discrimination of the Disabled (MADD) and the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) were tipped by the newspaper as a couple of the names that are on the list to become town councillors.

However we in PETPOSITIVE or the ILTC have not heard anything about being selected to date.

The next few days will be interesting to watch. It has been reported that the list is scheduled to be known by Friday.

Fingers crossed, one and all!

aNt
PET+BLOGSPOT

Here now is today's story in The Star:

Tuesday June 17, 2008

Final background checks being done on councillors

By JADE CHAN

THE new local council line-up in Selangor will see PKR having the majority in terms of party representation.

Sources said PKR members would make up the majority of councillors in 10 out of the 12 local councils.

The party representation in the Selangor councillors line-up would be as follows: PKR 28.5% (82 councillors), DAP 26.4% (76 councillors) and PAS 17.0% (49 councillors), while the remaining 28.1% (81 councillors) would comprise representatives from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), residents’ associations and professional groups.

The breakdown list, made available to StarMetro, showed the Petaling Jaya City Council, Subang Jaya Municpal Council and Ampang Jaya Municipal Council having the largest representation of non-political councillors.

Out of the 288 councillors, five would comprise those from the disabled group (orang kurang upaya or OKU).

The party representatives encompass senior division committee members who have strong leadership qualities as well as adequate experience and qualifications while those from NGO and professional groups comprise those who specialise in fields like urban planning, law, health and environment.

“None of the wakil rakyat’s assistants are on the councillors list. Nominated party members also cannot be involved in the construction business to avoid conflicts of interest,” a source said.

“On PKR’s side, we try to emphasise that each council has at least one Chinese and one Indian representative to reflect a multi-racial line-up.”

The source added that all the councillors’ performances would be reviewed after a year and those who had not performed would be replaced.

One of the reasons for the delay in announcing the new councillors line-up, the source said, was the early resignation of the previous batch of councillors.

“It was irresponsible of the Barisan Nasional side to have their councillors resign. The previous councillors should have completed their contracts and left once the new councillors were sworn in.”

Sources said final background checks are being conducted on the candidates and that the new line-up would be announced at the end of this week , during a celebration to mark the 100 days of the Pakatan Rakyat coming into power in Selangor.

It was also revealed that the mayors and presidents heading the present local councils would be retained, unless they resign, are unable to perform their jobs or if their contracts expired.

End

DISABLED CONVENTION UPDATE - bbc online

Entry into force of disability pact closes major gap in rights protection – Arbour

Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

6 June 2008 – The recent entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities closes a major gap in human rights protection for hundreds of millions of people around the world, the Organization’ s top rights official said today.

The Convention and its Optional Protocol, which entered into force on 3 May, does not create new rights but aims to ensure that the benefits of existing rights are fully extended and guaranteed to the estimated 650 million people around the world with disabilities.

“The speedy entry into force of both instruments attests to their centrality in the fullest possible reach of human rights protection,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour told the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, which held a celebration of the entry into force of the landmark treaty today.

“As a major gap has now been closed, it is imperative that these obligations take real effect in the lives of all persons with disabilities,” she added.

The treaty asserts the rights of people with disabilities to education, health, work, adequate living conditions, freedom of movement, freedom from exploitation and equal recognition before the law for persons with disabilities.

It also addresses the need for persons with disabilities to have access to public transport, buildings and other facilities and recognizes their capacity to make decisions for themselves.

The Convention’s Optional Protocol allows individuals to petition an international expert body with grievances.

The High Commissioner underscored that the new treaty is about change. “It requires us to move away from charity-oriented or medical-based approaches to a human rights-based approach to disabilities. These traditional approaches and attitudes, no matter how well-intentioned they might have been, regarded persons with disabilities either as passive recipients of good will or deeds or as problems to be fixed, or both,” she stated.

The Convention embodies the celebration of diversity and the empowerment of the individual as essential human rights messages by envisaging a fully active role in society for persons with disabilities.

“It asserts that they are free to live independently in their community, to make their own choices, and to contribute to society so that we can all learn and benefit from their diverse experiences and knowledge,” Ms. Arbour said.

She added that the Council has an important role to play in the future of the treaty, noting that as the principal UN body dealing specifically with human rights, the Council is “perfectly positioned, and indeed expected, to advance the Convention’s goals among States and within the UN system.”

AN EVENING OUT WITH PETPOSITIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

DATELINE: LITTLE VIETNAM, MID VALLEY MEGAMALL, KUALA LUMPUR.

A most unusual thing happened with PETPOSITIVE last week. The frequently workaholic Committee Members decided to take things easy for a change to have a personal get-together on Wednesday, June 11, 2008.

Some of Our Society's most active volunteers decided to tag along to our "special outing." Our "adventure" led us to the Little Vietnam restaurant on the third floor of Mid Valley.

The purpose? To celebrate the 2nd anniversary of PETPOSITIVE's registration on June 7. It was also to celebrate the birthday of one of Our Society's dedicated volunteers: Captain Abdul Karim Stuart Russell.

The blessed gentleman came into our world on the same day sixty years ago.

Here is our picture story of everything that transpired during the two-hour event.

The captions and words are by aNt. The pictures are by Tuty Liana.

Above: The trained photographic eye of Tuty turns what would otherwise be an ordinary menu booklet into a work of art.

Above: As usual, all dinners have to start with a drama from aNt. He wants to know if there is anything that he can eat at all as he is gluten sensitive. Everyone is concerned. A good 5 to 10 minutes is gone with the waitress making several trips to the kitchen to consult with the chef before reappearing.

That pitiful look from the President is enough to convince anybody!

Once that was over, it was the others' turn to place their orders. From left to right: The Captain himself who is adviser to PET+, Fasidah Sabeh (or Idah, as we fondly know her), Our Society's Secretary and Special Projects Coordinator Lynda Merican.

Tuty has managed to catch the always bubbly Lynda in one of her serious sides.

The Captain appears to be still undecided - leaving aNt to wonder if the waiter and chef had truly got the message and would be able to produce a gluten-free special for him.

More menu-photography art work from Tuty.

Lynda and Tuty smile for the cameraman Waidy, who is husband to the one in blue on the right side.

A fickle-minded aNt, still worried about his food. Hey, what's that dish on that table? Maybe I should order that one instead?

One of the first culinary delights to arrive on the scene. Those white pancake-like thingy's are made of rice. But who knows if forms of wheat lay on the inside!

A classic shot: aNt and dental surgeon Dr Padma Pillai at loggerheads over whether soya sauce has wheat. Committee member Padma says "no" but aNt is adamant and says "yes."

Sign language from Our Vice-President Dr Anna Soosai saying she wants the biggest dish?

Now that the orders are made, it's the waiting that is the hardest part. I would like to know what's on the minds of these two, wouldn't you? The lovely woman, by the way, is Sara Lew, Our PET+ Committee Member who is an ex banker.

She also wears another hat as President of the Malaysian Parkinson's Disease Association in Kuala Lumpur.

Now, that fried thing definitely has wheat in it!

The good Captain with his backup singers? Interesting!

The waiting is finally over. Bon appetit everyone!

Omigosh! They were serious. A do-it-yourself dish! They literally separated everything so that you can tell from the gluten and non gluten products. Well, I asked for it!

Two Committee Members, at least, looking rather pleased that aNt had finally found a suitable dish to dine with. At least that would get me to shut up for a while and stop complaining.

Delicious!

And mmmmm again!

The little one is Dental Dr Vijay's and Dr Anna's who is a paediatrician. She's just upset because she just went over to the pet shop and saw the most gorgeous rabbit and wanted to take home with her. Her parents sadly, didn't approve. Her name is Manishia.

Rabbit's ears? Perish the thought. That pink stuff is only Keropok!

The other side of our lovable Sara - she's sweet but watch out for her "ferocious streak".

The many faces of AKS Russell: Here is the cautious side

The friendly side

And really over the top!

And then, it's back to being wary again. That guy next to the Captain is Andrew Martin, Our Assistant Treasurer. Dr Vijay is the Treasurer.

And here's a surprise cake from Dr Vijay. That certainly got Sara in an all smiles mood again.

Here's what I ordered (I think)

Here is the birthday boy Captain cutting his side of the cake and aNt doing the honours for PET+

A table-length shot by Waidy for the album. Notice his wife's sign language. Is that a sign for peace or scissors, symbolising the cutting of the cake?

Gosh the cake is really hard to cut, says aNt as Padma looks mystified by it.

An "aerial view" of the action. Not sure if it's Tuty or Waidy taking the shots of this one.

Three candles. Two for PET+ and one for the Captain.

Phew! That was incredibly tiring. Time to replenish my energy.

Hey, do you mind? I'm trying to enjoy my food here, says Waidy. (Nah, I'm only kidding, folks!)

All over. Now it is time to get back to the car. Hey! That's not a slope at all. It is just Tuty playing tricks (special effects) on her camera.

aNt still can't keep his mouth shut as everyone waited for the lifts on their way home.

Okay, my friend. Safe, no cars. Let's go!

The disabled-parking bay in Mid Valley Megamall on P1 at the South Court.

The final goodbye to a terrific evening. The total bill of our food was RM182. 30 sen. We all went dutch. The cake was a gift by Dr Vijay.

Goodnight everyone!

Don't forget to hug your pet everyday - unless he or she happens to be in a fish bowl!

aNt
PET+BLOGSPOT