Of Pay TVs and Dog Licenses

FRIENDS, have you had one of those crazy mornings when you wake up and the first thing that you read in the newspapers is a really silly remark made by somebody that is bound to get everyone upset all day?

Well, last week was one such occasion.

A front-page news story in a local newspaper on April 22, quoting the Welfare Department, said that Malaysians with disabilities who come under the very poor category wanting aid of RM150 each month won’t be qualified to get it if they have Astro.

The guideline in question is said to apply even for someone who lives in another person’s house, either temporarily or otherwise.

In other words, those who came up with such a ruling seem to think that the disabled who can afford pay TV are really rich and not poor. And, according to them welfare aid should only be given to those requiring food, clothing and shelter – and certainly NEVER for entertainment.

This incident reminded me of another similar situation a few weeks ago that had disabled dog owners, this time, howling in protest.

A local council decided against giving disabled residents free dog licenses.

The reason for denying them such a privilege was purportedly to “teach the handicapped about the need for administration costs”.

Another “reasoning” was: If a disabled person can keep a dog, why can’t he pay RM10 a year?

Talk like these frequently makes me seriously wonder how truly in touch are our authorities – and the people who work for our needs – with what people with disabilities actually go through daily in their lives?

Especially in their homes that are often concealed from the public eye.

For example, why would a bedridden man who became disabled in a car crash only a few months ago, and in a state of depression want to learn lessons about processing fees when all he is thinking about is ending his life?

Becoming paralysed for life as anyone can imagine is never an easy thing for anyone to take.

It is especially harder for those who have been very independent in their lives.

Not only does disability rob one of his dignity of being able to do things for himself but the situation often results in one losing their job as well.

Let’s face the facts friends – we don’t live in a perfect society.

Despite the Welfare Department’s noble efforts in trying to help disabled Malaysians find jobs so that they can be self sufficient, not many people want to hire the handicapped.

Many people are still bound by negative stereotypes about the disabled which they find hard to shake off.

Life is especially hard for the bedridden. Many of them often live in their homes and hardly have any opportunity to come out.

Quite a few of them have no one strong enough to carry them out of their beds and back again.

They have to depend on others for everything. Their only “entertainment” is often to stare at the four walls in their room.

For these people the only way out is often suicide.

In the case of pets, they play a super diversion from their depression. By stroking and bonding with them they receive unconditional love and acceptance.

In the area of entertainment, Astro offers a window to the outside world to the handicapped as to what is happening there.

It is important for disabled Malaysians who are locked inside their homes to realise they are not alone in their struggles.

I have seen health shows that offer the latest information about disability which is an important piece of information for the handicapped.

Also watching how others cope with disabilities and live positive lives in other countries is also essential in helping motivate people with handicaps in our country.

Even the blind “watch” TV. I know many who tune in to the international news channels every day on pay TV in order to keep abreast with newsbreaking events around the world.

Isn’t access to information and education also a basic human right of all human beings?

Would the welfare stop aid for disabled people with computers and the internet as well?

Something is obviously very wrong here with the guideline.

Instead of appearing to crack down on these helpless and hapless disabled poor, the Welfare Department should really be working hard to help all disabled persons in Malaysia to have such facilities.

The department should engage in talks with Astro to provide free subscriptions to the service through the handicapped disabled identifications as part of the company’s social responsibility.

On the very day that the article came out, about 20 disabled people in wheelchairs – including me – met up with Senator Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development.

She promised us that she would look into the matter and come up with realistic solutions to our problems.

The End