Thanasayan To Fight Harder For Disabled And Animal Welfare

THE four vacant councillor seats in the Petaling Jaya City Council were finally filled on Monday.
Councillor T. Anthony Siva Balan, 52, who is wheelchair-bound, was appointed a councillor for the fourth term under the  non-governmental organisation allocation.

"My priority will be to focus on the needs of the disabled and the welfare of animals. These two areas must always be given priority even if I am not a councillor," he said.

The other three councillors  were new faces.

Councillor Suriase Gengiah, 44, who is a  trader, will be serving residents in PJU8, 9, 10, Damansara Damai, Sri Damansara and Damansara Perdana.

Councillor Lee Chin Chen, 41, runs a law firm and hopes to share his legal knowledge with the council. His area of service has yet to be decided.

Councillor Azman Yusof, 40, owns a construction-related business. He said his area of service will be PJS 5, 6, 8 and 10.

Azman said he hoped to help the poorer community.

Several residents' representatives and councillors attended the swearing-in session to show their support for Anthony and the other newly-appointed councillors.

Section 6 RT chairman Rajesh Mansukhlal said Anthony rightly deserved the post, and  was glad to see his re-appointment.

In March, the swearing-in of the councillors were cancelled at the eleventh hour.

Subsequently, a total of 21 councillors were appointed in the following month, including the mayor.

Read more: Final four MBPJ councillors appointed - Central - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/final-four-mbpj-councillors-appointed-1.91386#ixzz1wzGi87VS

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Thanasayan Reappointed Due To Proven Track Record

Wednesday June 6, 2012, Star Metro

Thanasayan reappointed as councillor due to proven track record

By EDWARD R. HENRY and PRIYA MENON
metro@thestar.com.my

PETALING Jaya City councillor Anthony Thanasayan has been reappointed to serve for another term, while two others — Tang Fuie Koh and Harmony Ghani Ismail — whose appointment was put on hold were dropped.

There were calls for Thanasayan to be dropped following several allegations against him.
However, following a two-month indepth investigation these were found to be baseless.
On Monday afternoon, Thanasayan took his oath under the Local Government Act 1976, which was the declaration of acceptance of office in front of Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohammad Roslan Sakiman.

Tang was replaced by Petaling Jaya Utara PKR division chief Lee Chin Cheh or better known as C. C. Lee, 41, while Harmony was dropped in favour of Kelana Jaya PKR Youth chief Azman Yusof, 44.

The chosen ones: (From left) Councillors Suresh, Azman, Yusof Lee and Anthony Thanasayan during the swearing-in ceremony.

Another vacant position was filled by Subang PKR division committee member Suresh Gengiah, 44 — a businessman.

On March 8, the council was thrown into confusion when the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for 10.30am was called off five minutes before the start. It was called off on technical grounds.
Again on March 12, the PJ City council postponed the swearing-in ceremony of its councillors for the second time. On March 20, only 20 councillors were sworn-in for the 2012-2013 term with five new faces.

They were non-governmental organisation members Norliana Ahmad, 41, Ahmad Akhir Pawanchik, 45, DAP member Lee Suet Sen, 42, an engineer and PAS duo Azri Mohamad Arish, 42 and Ghazali Daud, 58.

According to a state administrative official, Lee, Azman and Suresh were vetted thoroughly.
“On Thanasayan’s case, the allegations against him were baseless as there were no documents to support them. It all involved allegations outside the scope of being a councillor. As a councillor, he has a proven track record,” she said.

Thanasayan said he was now more determined to help the disabled community that’s financially disadvantaged.
“For animal welfare, I will think of plans that will involve pet lovers understanding their pets,” he said.

Thanasayan added that his first move was to work with state exco Dr Xavier Jeyakumar to establish a special state council for animals.

Meanwhile, Suresh who lives in Lembah Subang said he was informed of his appointment as a councillor on Friday last week while he was in India.

“I accepted the councillor’s post, as I have the desire to serve the people,” he said.
Lee, a lawyer, said he was eager to use the post to create a more greener environment for PJ folks.
“I have been working behind the scenes for the party for four years and now the party would like me to come to the forefront. I will accept it graciously,” said the former Gerakan member who has been with PKR for 10 years.

Azman, a businessman in the construction line, said he would visit the urban poor of Desa Mentari and Desa Ria who are in need of help.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Thanasayan Is Back To Serve Again!

Swearing-in celebration with Mayor and new Councillors

aNt's aNgle:

(Pictures courtesy from MBPJ)

YESTERDAY was abosolutely fabulous!

At approximately 3.40pm, I was sworn-in as a Petaling Jaya councillor again after a two-month wait. 

I was thrilled to receive my letter of appointment last Friday. 

But rather than experiencing the risk of getting disappointed at the very eleventh hour as on March 7th, this year, when the swearing-in of councillors was suddenly called off, I decided it was best to keep things quiet until I really got in.

Sweet Monday was the result.

I took my oath in front of three new councillors and some veterans. Derek Fernandez and Latheefa Koya were there to support me.

Good ol' Michael Soon, a wonderful person whom I got to know after we were both sworn-in together for the first time in 2008, also took the trouble to attend my grand moment. 

Of course, the powerful NGO representatives were also there, on my personal invitation. Jeffrey Phang from Friends of Kota Damansara, Pamela Lim and Rajesh Mansukhlal from my Zone area in Section 6, PJ.

I told Lat moments before I took my oath to come up and slap me on my face if I suddenly got mushy and started to sob. 

She replied: "Don't be silly, you'll be fine!"

The congratulatory messages that poured in from my Facebook, Tweets and SMS were incredibly humbling.

It just reminded me that there was a great mission ahead of me. 

I am so glad - and deeply thankful - to all those "powers-that-be" in the Selangor government for clearing my name from all the vicious lies to get me out of my post.

It was clearly a personal vendetta and agenda to get me out. 

But now, it is time for me to move on and ahead. 

I am now much more motivated and raring to go in helping not only my residents but also my two pet concerns - people with disabilities and animals in Petaling Jaya. 

Please pray for me dear friends, that despite my disability, I will be able to do my very best in my new tenure.

For it is together that you and I can make a lasting difference. 

Thanks for your support!

aNthoNy thaNasayaN :)



PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Thanasayan Confident Of Being Retained

All council posts to be filled soon

Delay caused by need to check backgrounds of certain individuals, says exco man

Monday, April 02, 2012 - 12:45

by Meena Lakshana

(Pix by PET+BLOGSPOT)
 

Dr Xavier speaking to the press on Sunday

PETALING JAYA: The four vacant seats in the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) full board will be filled next week.

Selangor executive councillor for health, plantation workers, poverty and caring government Dr Xavier Jayakumar said yesterday the announcement on the councillors would be made within the week.

"The disabled will also definitely be represented in the council," he said during an event organised by the Malaysian Parkinson's Disease Association (MPDA) in conjunction with World Parkinson's Day on April 1.

The state government has pledged RM10,000 to the association.

He said there was no delay in the appointment of councillors and it was merely an administrative task of checking the backgrounds of the individuals recommended for the posts.

"There were some objections to certain people, so that needed to be looked into. Also, the menteri besar (Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim) wanted to check certain names given by political parties," he said.

There are 24 councillors' posts vacant in the state — four in Petaling Jaya and the rest in Subang Jaya, Hulu Selangor and Klang.

The Pakatan Rakyat state government had been criticised for taking too long to appoint its councillors, with accusations of "horse trading" and victimising vocal representatives.

Anthony Thanasayan, who has yet to know if he would be reappointed as a Petaling Jaya councillor, said the delay was frustrating as he had many projects to work on.

"In Section 52, we want to create a disabled-friendly model," he said.

"We were going to embark on that. It is frustrating because we can't get the project going."

Thanasayan, who was the sole representative of the physically-disabled community in the council, said he was confident of being reappointed.

"When it comes to corruption, I am clean. If I am being judged on my performance, I am quite sure I will be retained."

Several animal welfare non-governmental organisations and associations representing the disabled, however, had protested against the reappointment of Thanasayan.

They had claimed he had interfered in their canine welfare advocacy work and were against his support on euthanasia and "commercialising" dog catching in Selangor.

Thanasayan said the council was working with the Veterinary Services Department to create more animal-friendly vans for the transport of stray dogs to PAWS.

He also said the department was working with the Petaling Jaya City Council,, Klang Municipal Council (MPK), Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) and the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) on setting up spay and neuter clinics.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Disabled NGO Makes Police Report Against Animal Group Leader

PETPOSITIVE NEWSFLASH!

DATELINE RAWANG, SELANGOR:

ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN nongovernmental organisation for people with disabilities here has made a police report against the leader of an animal group for harassment and intimidation.

The Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) - a well-respected national self-help NGO to rehabilitate Malaysian with disabilities - president Francis Siva made a police report yesterday against Wani Muthiah, the director of Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better in Klang, Selangor.


Francis claimed in his police report that Wani had called him up on Saturday and harassed him as well as his wife - Gurdip Kaur or Rina - for organising a press conference in Shah Alam on the 12th of this month to support Anthony Thanasayan as councillor for the Petaling Jaya City Council. 

He said that Wani was particularly fuming over a segment of the press conference video featuring his wife. 

Francis said he and his wife who are both in wheelchairs tried their best to end the conversation with Wani but she continued to harass the couple over the phone.

The next morning the disabled couple were horrified to find vulgar comments on Wani's Facebook that were apparently directed at his wife. 

According to the report when Francis confronted Wani over the offensive posting, she continued to yell and harass him over the video.

Francis said since his picture had gone up in Wani's Facebook depicting him as a gangster, he has received crank calls by strangers.

His handicapped centre with a total of ten residents has also witnessed unknown people and vehicles passing by. 

He now fears for his as well as his wife's safety and the rest of the disabled residents in his centre.

Francis has demanded the police to take action against Wani Muthiah, who also works as a senior writer for The Star. 

"The woman is clearly an absolute lunatic," he told PET+BLOGSPOT. 

"Wani has made a police report against me accusing me of wanting to kill her," Francis added.

"Only a total loony who is able-bodied will accuse a tetraplegic of wanting to harm her.

"What shocks me about her conduct is also that she is supposed to be a senior writer of a reputable newspaper."     

Francis also wants the offending comments and pictures on her Facebook about him, his wife and his centre to be removed at once. 

He is considering holding a protest against Wani Muthiah at the newspaper's headquarters in Petaling Jaya.


PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Jeffrey On Working With Thanasayan

PETPOSITIVE NEWS!

DATELINE PETALING JAYA:

FRIENDS OF KOTA DAMANSARA head Jeffrey Phang shares his views on what it was like to work with Petaling Jaya City Councillor Anthony Thanasayan:
 




PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Hurrah For Anthony's Abilities - Sunday Star Letters

Sunday March 25, 2012

Hurrah for Anthony’s abilities

I READ the beautifully written Journey of discovery by Anthony Thanasayan (Wheel Power, March 15). It’s amazingly superb and insightful.

Amir Tayebi and his mother deserve accolades for being splendid individuals. Their choice of Anthony as a candidate for Amir’s leadership training programme is truly remarkable. Best wishes to Amir, a blessed individual indeed, in his endeavours.

This article just proves that there is hope for everyone. Best wishes to Anthony, too.
Kudos to The Star for being so supportive of Anthony by giving him an avenue to pen his thoughts for so many years.

A grand salute must be given as well to the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) for naming him as a councillor and thus, recognising his “abilities”.

D. Meena

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Thanasayan Not Afraid Over Sensitive Issues

PETPOSITIVE NEWS!

File pix: Thanasayan and animal activists in Ipoh

DATELINE PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR:

AS MANY AWAIT news to see if Anthony Thanasayan will be reappointed as councillor of Petaling Jaya, here are more comments from disabled and other NGO organisations lending their support to the wheelchair using activist:





COMING SOON: Testimony from Jeffrey Phang, Friends of Kota Damansara.

Click HERE for a link to this story. 
   

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Journalist Created Hate War Against Thanasayan

PETPOSITIVE NEWS!

Pamela Lim, animal activist, speaks up for Thanasayan's work with animals:



For background details, see HERE

For next story, see HERE

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Not Easy To Be Wheelchair Councillor

Rina - former MPS councillor

PETPOSITIVE NEWS!

DATELINE SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR:

GURDIP KAUR, SECRETARY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING AND TRAINING CENTRE talks about the difficulties a councillor in a wheelchair has to endure.

Here is her speech at last week's press conference at the State Secretariat Building (SUK) in Shah Alam, Selangor: 



PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Thanasayan Must Stay On As Councillor - Petpositive

Mr and Mrs Yam were at the press conference

PETPOSITIVE NEWS!

DATELINE SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR:

YAM TONG WOO, 58, SPOKESMAN FOR PETPOSITIVE and Malaysian Association for the Blind's Cyber Club Chairman says Anthony Thanasayan must stay as Petaling Jaya City Councillor in order for the many planned disability projects to go on.

Here is his speech at last Monday's press conference at the State Secretariat Building (SUK) in Shah Alam, Selangor:

Click HERE for earlier story.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!