DATELINE MAJLIS PERBANDARAN SELAYANG:
A top level representative of the local council's town planning department will be meeting a group of disabled persons to set up a special committee on disability concerns within the MPS.
The special body is expected to be made up of people with disabilities as well as experts from the various key departments of the local council.
In addition to town planning, representatives from the engineering and building concerns will also be involved.
The special committee on disability is expected to sit monthly and offer technical advice on how to make Selayang and Rawang more disabled friendly.
The committee will be fashioned much like the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ)'s Disability Technical Committee that was responsible to bring about much changes in handicapped-friendly facilities in PJ since the middle of 2008.
The disability meeting in MPS was first initiated by the then disabled local councillor Gurdip Kaur and MBPJ's Anthony SB Thanasayan.
A special initiative meeting was held last year in MPS by Puan Sharipah Marhaini, head of planning for MBPJ.
However, there was no follow up after that until a month ago.
Several disabled persons led by Francis Siva, president of the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) handed over a memorandum to MPS' Yang DiPertua Dato Haji Zainal Abidin demanding that follow up action be carried out to the earlier historic discussion.
Fingers crossed, everyone, for a most positive meeting today.
(Please scroll below for the background story to today's MPS' meeting.)
Note: All file pictures courtesy of ILTC.
PET+BLOGSPOT
Wednesday January 20, 2010
Disabled group wants council to do moreBy STUART MICHAEL
THE Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) in Rawang handed over a memorandum to the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) recently to build disabled-friendly facilities.
The memorandum asked the council to implement and enforce Local Building By-Laws to make the environment friendly to the disabled.
Speaking out: ILTC members gathering outside the council before handing over the memorandum. According to ILTC president Francis Siva, people with disabilities do not want a welfare-based approach but prefer initiatives based on individual rights.
“In Malaysia, we urgently need significant improvement in our quality of life.
“We are part of the community and deserve equal treatment.
“We are disappointed with the council as there has been no progress and development in the infrastructure for the disabled in Rawang and Selayang.
“They should have taken into account proper accessible walkway pavements, elevators and toilets for the disabled and the elderly,” Siva said.
Siva added that last year, at a MPS full board meeting, the council decided that a lift and a ramp would be built for the disabled at the old MPS building and a Technical Working Committee For The Disabled’s Facilities would be set-up.
“Despite many promises made by the MPS there has been no progress.
“We demand to know if the needs of the disabled will henceforth be included in the planning.
“We will be speaking out on our struggle, plight and challenges and against prejudice of the disabled,” he added.
Twelve disabled members from ILTC were present at the MPS building to hand over the memorandum and voice out their concerns.
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