Sunday, November 17, 2013

Will The Disabled Senator Be The Handicaps' Choice For Change?

aNt's aNgle:

So it looks pretty much that we are going to have our second disabled senator after all - tomorrow at 10am to be exact in Parliament House.

It's all, at this point, only a rumour, of course, and we won't know until it really happens. 

But already the entire disabled community are talking about it. 

So who is it going to be? 

No one really knows. Those in charge appear to be behaving very tight-lipped over it for really God knows what reason.

However, there are already some guesses. 

On top of the list - and a nightmare for many - is a woman in a wheelchair. Although she is well-educated and comes from an affluent home, many don't like her for her poor record in helping other disabled people in a worse of situation than her. 

She is probably one of the most globally well-travelled disabled Malaysians and has attended scores of disability conferences but when it comes to translating all those valued exposure into useful action at home, she draws a major zilch.

We can only hope that she is not the "chosen one" for tomorrow. 

Speaking of which, why all the shrouded secrecy over the matter of picking a disabled senator? Clearly, the Ministry concerned has failed to consult the views of various disabled organisations in the matter. 

I know many who were not even asked. And it's a shame too considering how critical the issues of disability are in our country. 

The second choice is a blind man. No better than the first, he has been blamed for being arrogant in both his personality and views. Whilst he may make a better choice than the letter, he does have another disadvantage - that is, the blind have used up their quota for now as the first senator was a blind man too.

The third is a Deaf individual whom everyone thought would make it as the first senator. Although he appears strong in his advocacy work, many Deaf have accused him in being poor in his work with the grassroots.

The fourth and final likely candidate is another woman in a wheelchair. She is much more acceptable than all three. Her only downside - and a real one to consider - is that she lacks experience with disability with grassroots again. 

Well, let's see what Parliament brings tomorrow - if it is in fact ever going to happen - and it will tell if there will finally be hope for disabled Malaysians in this country.   

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