The Big Picture That Local Councils Need To See

TO those of you who may not know it by now, I have good news to share with you.

I’m absolutely delighted to say that I was sworn in as councillor of Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) last Thursday.

Following my appointment, it my third stint in holding such a responsible job in a high position. My term, like all my other councillor-colleagues in PJ and Selangor, will end on 31^st December next year.

I sit in the monthly council meetings of health, infrastructure and sustainable development. 

In health, we cover a wide range of issues from checking and taking action on dirty eateries, environmental hazards to the control of rats to avoid the spread of diseases.

For the disabled and the hardcore poor, we succeeded in offering them free treatment in MBPJ’s clinic. Plans are already in the pipeline to install a disabled-friendly loo there too.

Recently we went a step further.

We re-launched MBPJ’s two disabled-friendly vans in the poorest areas of PJ so that those who need it the most would know about the service and use them. The vans are available free-of-charge.

However, we are not stopping there.

For the next one-and-the-half years, we will be literally knocking on the doors of the homes of the poor in PJ to check on the disabled and elderly persons who might need help from the council.

In a recent exercise we came across several elderly folk who were bedridden and needing help after a heart attack, diabetes or some other ailment.

They had no wheelchairs so they remained in bed all the time. They couldn’t even go out to the balcony of their low-cost flat homes for some fresh air even though it was only a few metres away.

They had little or no help at home because their children were out working to eke out a living.

For one or two who possessed rickety wheelchairs, they couldn’t fit them in the toilet because the entrance was too small. They didn’t have proper grab bars so that they could use the facilities safely and comfortably.

For these people, MBPJ has decided to have a special fund to do the renovations for them for free. We are also inviting financial sponsors to come in as part of their community social responsibility to assist deserving people like this in order to raise a higher quality of life for them.

This initiative was started by Haniza Talha, the state assemblyperson for Taman Medan together with the planning department of MBPJ headed by its director Sharipah Marhaini. 

In the infrastructure committee, efforts are underway to start incorporating disabled-friendly features in all of the pavements that are being upgraded.

Residents with disabilities and the elderly in PJS 5 and 6 and some parts of PJ Old Town are already witnessing the changes literally from right outside the windows of their homes.  

The yellow tactile markings for the blind on the pavements and ramps with gentle gradients for wheelchairs are already opening up doors of opportunity for the once ignored disabled community there so that they are able to interact normally with the rest of the non disabled residents.

It will be easier for them now to find jobs, get married and even raise a family and live on their own without having to depend on anybody.

At the sustainable development meeting, we are checking on elderly and disabled homes to ensure that the people who live there get the facilities that they require from the operators.

We are making sure that none of them are short-changed: toilets must be designed with enough space to manoeuvre a wheelchair along with a caregiver, grab bars provided and steps levelled to facilitate wheelchairs before approvals are given.

Those who don’t provide such facilities are called in and explained in detail to as to why such needs are necessary.

There are so many other things that MBPJ is doing – as well as also needs to be done – in order to create a barrier free PJ for everyone.

One of the best recently is a special new image designed by the Planning Department.

It is a striking drawing depicting the true and real people of Petaling Jaya.

What is dynamic about the picture is that for the first time, instead of only non disabled children and adults making up the artwork, there are images of people with special differences.

There is an able-bodied mother with her two children, an elderly man with his walking stick and a father pushing his child in a pram alongside his pregnant wife.

There is also someone wheeling her disabled loved one in a wheelchair whilst a blind man is being led by his guide dog.

I sincerely think folks that the days are finally here when we are all beginning to see the bigger picture now.

The End

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