Will Brian's Death Help All Other Disabled & Elderly Homes?

PETPOSITIVE SAYS:

First, Our deepest sympathies and prayers go to the deceased Brian Goh Kah Heng and his family.

Check this out:  

• An illegally run centre for people with learning disabilities. They had no approval from the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) to operate. And none, obviously, from the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) as well because permits are only given with the JKM's blessings - in writing. 

• As many as nineteen persons with learning disabilities - possibly of various ages - were cooped up in what clearly seems like an overcrowded situation. People with special needs have specific needs related to their type of disability and should never be "lumped together". It may seem like the "easiest thing" to do. But it certainly IS NOT the right; and professional, and wisest thing to do. 

• Two caretakers were looking after the boys. (We assume, at this time, that it was an all-boys outfit.) One of them, at least, is said to be an illegal worker. Who was the manager or supervisor? Where were the professionals or experts who are specially trained to work with people with learning disabilities? Did anyone have any knowledge at all about autism or cerebral palsy? At least the head of the centre should have a good knowledge or training to work with people with learning disabilities.

• One can't really expect or blame the Welfare Department for not spotting out this dubious centre - which by the way has been operating (most probably for profit) for a good three years. Hence it is essential for local councils - in this case, the MBPJ - to do active and vigilant monitoring of all disabled and elderly outfits - together with JKM - in order to ensure their professionalism in their delivery of their services.

Or do local councils look at the disabled only with pity and displaced sympathy?

It is time for both the federal and the local councils to raise the quality of care and services of disabled and elderly centres to one where their dignity, rights and safety are protected.

It should not and never be about profit-making at all but rather on what is ethically right and wrong. 

Otherwise, Brian's suffering and death would only have been in vain.  

PET+BLOGSPOT

The Star   

Thursday October 28, 2010

Man held over teen’s death

PETALING JAYA: A foreigner has been remanded in connection with the death of an autistic teenager, who is believed to have been abused and sodomised at a centre for the disabled.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed said the 26-year-old man was picked up at Section 3 near here at 2pm on Tues­day and police obtained a seven-day remand for him yesterday.

The man was a caretaker at the centre.

Too much to bear: Chin crying as she follows the hearse carrying Goh’s (inset) body at the funeral in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

It was later found that he did not have any work permit.

“We have recorded statements from several witnesses and more people may be questioned before we wrap up investigations,” he said.

ACP Arjunaidi said investigations revealed that the centre was not registered with the Welfare Depart­ment.
It is learnt that the shelter in Section 18, believed to have started operations about three years ago, has two caretakers looking after 19 mentally-disabled patients.

The funeral of Brian Goh Kah Heng, 19, was conducted at 10am yesterday and he was buried at the Lutheran Gardens cemetery in Kampung Melayu, Subang.

His mother, Elizabeth Chin, 50, said she noticed there were bruises on her son during her last visit to the centre two weeks ago but was told by the caretaker that the boy had fallen.

Goh, who was sent to the home in May, had cerebral palsy and autism.

On Sunday, the family received a telephone call from the centre, inform­ing them that Goh was having breathing difficulties.

The family quickly took him to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem revealed that he had a ruptured spleen and severe injuries to his anus.

Doctors also found severe internal injuries and bruises on the teen.

It was learnt that police recovered a metal rod from the centre which could have been used in abusing the victim.

The case is being investigated as a murder.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive). Our reports and 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 is now 70,000 and going strong! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Sometimes even twice or three times a day. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog 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 as 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. Thank you!

Disabled Protestors Harassed For Seeking The Truth

Disabled protesters harassed for seeking info

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 12:10 Free Malaysia Today

By G Vinod
BANTING: A group of 12 disabled individuals wanted to find out why the nine pedigree dogs belonging to the alleged murderers of cosmetics millionaire Sosilawati were killed in such a cruel manner.

They got more than they bargained for: they were harassed by unknown persons at the Kuala Langat district council and the Kuala Langat police headquarters when they visited these places today.

The members belonged to the Independent Living and Training Centre and The Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association.


The group, led by ILTC coordinator Francis Siva, arrived at the district council at 9.45am to demand an explanation over the decision to kill the dogs.

“We went there to speak to the officer, Abdul Razak Jaafar, to seek answers over the killings. He told us that it was the police who gave the instruction.

“Suddenly, three unknown men started harassing us at the office after a press conference and used racial slurs against us before being stopped by some officers,” Silva said.

Insults hurled
But their ordeal was not over. When they went to the Kuala Langat police headquarters, they were again harassed by another group of five men.

“We spoke to an officer, Assistant Commissioner Nordin Manan, who told us it was not the police who decided to put the dogs to sleep.

“When we left, we were again harassed by another five men who started hurling insults and banging our vehicle while we were moving out,” Silva claimed.

Silva was shocked that though they were being harassed in front of Nordin, it took him (Nordin) nearly five minutes to stop the troublemakers.

“We are not even safe even in a police department,” he said.

When asked what he planned to do next about the harassment, Silva said he will consult his lawyer before pursuing any legal action.

“I am also planning to meet the new Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar over the matter,”he added.

PET+BLOGSPOT is an ACTIVE ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive). We strive to keep our reports and stories 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 is now 55,000 and counting. PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Sometimes even twice and three times a day. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog 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 as PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Thank you for your support.

Cardinal Rejects Sex Abuse 'Gossip' - bbc online

Catholic Cardinal rejects sex abuse 'gossip'

Pope speaks of 'profound crisis'

A senior cardinal has said the Roman Catholic faithful will not be swayed by "petty gossip" about child sex-abuse allegations.

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, made the remark in an unusual message of support to Pope Benedict XVI during Easter Mass.
The Pope did not did not mention the scandal directly in his Easter address.
He said humanity was suffering from a "profound crisis" and needed "spiritual and moral conversion".
Meanwhile, the Pope's personal preacher has apologised for comparing criticism of the Catholic Church over child abuse to "collective violence suffered by the Jews" in a Good Friday sermon.
Fr Raniero Cantalamessa told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper that he had only meant to point to "the use of stereotype and the easy passage from individual to collective guilt".
'Humanity's crisis'
Allegations of abuse - many dating back decades - have put pressure on the Church recently in many countries, including the Pope's native Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, and the US.

ANALYSIS David Willey, BBC News, Rome The Pope seems uncertain how to deal with a crisis of confidence unparalleled in modern times. The Vatican's public relations strategy so far has been to blame the media - particularly the foreign media - for exaggerating the problem. Many bishops have rallied to support the Pope and his policies for dealing with paedophile priests, although some are openly demanding greater humility and transparency from the Church. The Vatican has in the past consistently played down the extent of clerical paedophilia. Its spokesman has been engaged in a major damage control operation. He has to try to convince the world that policies now in place are adequate to tackle the problem and ensure that clerics who commit these crimes are properly tried in the civil courts as well as punished by Church authorities.

The Church has persisted in playing down the developing scandal provoked by the allegations, says the BBC's David Willey in Rome.
During Easter Mass in St Peter's Square, Cardinal Sodano expressed solidarity with the Pope, who has himself come under scrutiny for his role in handling past cases of abuse.
"Holy Father, the people of God are with you and will not let themselves be influenced by the petty gossip of the moment, by the trials that sometimes assail the community of believers," the cardinal said.
His remarks echoed comments made a week earlier by Pope Benedict.
With the Church already under pressure over the abuse allegations, the Pope said his faith would help give him the courage to deflect "petty gossip".
In his Easter "Urbi et Orbi" address, the Pope said the salvation of the Gospel was needed "to emerge from a profound crisis, one which requires deep change, beginning with consciences".
'No Magic'
After offering prayers for victims of crime, conflict and natural disasters around the world, he added:
"Easter doesn't work magic... After the resurrection the Church always finds history filled not only with joy and hope but also with grief and anguish."
Pope Benedict has not made any explicit comment on the issue since he penned a letter apologising for child-abuse in the Irish Church late last month.
The pontiff has been accused personally of failing to take action against a suspected abuser during his tenure as archbishop of Munich - a claim the Vatican strongly denies.
Critics also say that when he was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which deals with sex abuse cases, he did not act against a priest in the US state of Wisconsin who is thought to have abused some 200 deaf boys.
The Vatican's official newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, stepped up its defence of the Pope in its Sunday edition, publishing messages of support from around the world and denouncing the "slanderous attacks and the defamation campaign surrounding the drama of abuse by priests".

PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive).

We take pride in the fact that everything you read in our blog is ACCURATE, RELIABLE and THE LATEST.

Our blog which was first established in October 2007 currently has more than 35,000 hits. PET+BLOGSPOT is updated frequently.

Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of Petpositive.

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Easter Horror: Pope To Resign Over Sex Abuse Of Deaf Boys? - bbc online

Pope's preacher sorry for anti-Semitism remarks

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, left, expressed support for the Pope

The Pope's preacher has apologised for comparing criticism of the Catholic Church over child abuse to "collective violence suffered by the Jews".

Fr Raniero Cantalamessa said Pope Benedict XVI had not known the remarks would be included in his Friday sermon.
At Easter Mass in St Peter's Square a senior cardinal, Angelo Sodano, said the faithful were not affected by the "petty gossip" of the moment.
He was referring to a child sex-abuse scandal that has engulfed the Church.
Allegations of abuse - many dating back decades - have emerged recently in countries including the Pope's native Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, and the US.
Fr Cantalamessa's comments provoked anger among Jewish groups and victims of sex abuse.
'Truly sorry'
In an interview with Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper, he said he was sorry and had no intention of offending Jewish people or victims of abuse.
"I am truly sorry to have hurt the feelings of Jewish friends," he said.

Father Cantalamessa is the only person allowed to preach to the Pope

He also said he did not think one could compare anti-Semitism to the "attacks on the Church in these days".
He said he and the Jewish friend he had quoted in his sermon had meant to point to "the use of stereotype and the easy passage from individual to collective guilt".
The Vatican said earlier that Fr Cantalamessa's remarks did not represent its official view.
During Mass in St Peter's Square Cardinal Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, paid tribute to the Pope as he wished him a happy Easter.
"Holy Father, the people of God are with you and will not let themselves be influenced by the petty gossip of the moment, by the trials that sometimes assail the community of believers," the cardinal said.
His remarks echoed earlier comments by Pope Benedict.
A week ago, with the Church already under pressure over the abuse allegations, the Pope said his faith would help give him the courage to deflect "petty gossip".
Pope Benedict has not made any explicit comment on the issue since he penned a letter apologising for child-abuse in the Irish Church late last month.
The pontiff has been accused personally of failing to take action against a suspected abuser during his tenure as archbishop of Munich - a claim the Vatican strongly denies.
Critics also say that when he was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which deals with sex abuse cases, he did not act against a priest in the US state of Wisconsin who is thought to have abused some 200 deaf boys.
The Vatican's official newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, stepped up its defence of the Pope in its Sunday edition, publishing messages of support from around the world and denouncing the "slanderous attacks and the defamation campaign surrounding the drama of abuse by priests".

Can a pope resign from office?

The possibility has been raised that Pope Benedict XVI should resign over the snowballing paedophile priest scandal in the Catholic Church. The BBC's Vatican correspondent, David Willey, examines the question.

The Vatican has vigorously defended Pope Benedict's record in office

In theory, there is nothing to stop Pope Benedict taking a piece of paper out of his writing desk and drafting a letter of resignation to hand to the College of Cardinals, the supreme electoral body of the Catholic Church.
Under Canon Law, the only conditions for the validity of such a resignation are that it be made freely and be properly published.
But no pope has done this in modern times.
There has, however, been persistent speculation by historians that during World War II, Pope Pius XII drew up a document stating that if he were to be kidnapped by the Nazis he was to be considered to have resigned, and a successor should be chosen.
As the Vatican has delayed the full release of its archives relating to Pius's pontificate, because of a dispute over his reaction to the Nazi Holocaust, there is no means of verifying whether this is true.
Rival claimants
Going back further in time, the last case of a pope resigning dates back a further five centuries. Pope Gregory XII - who reigned from 1406 to 1415 - did so to end what was called the Western Schism.

No pope has resigned as head of the Catholic Church in modern times

There were three rival claimants to the papal throne at that time, the Roman Pope Gregory XII, the Avignon Pope Benedict XIII, and the Antipope John XXIII. Before resigning, Gregory formally convened a Church Council and authorised it to elect his successor.
The only other significant example of a papal resignation dates back even further in time.
In 1294, Pope Celestine V, only five months after his election, issued a solemn decree declaring it permissible for a pope to resign and then did so.
He lived for two further years as a hermit, and was later declared a saint. The decree that he issued ended any doubt among canon lawyers about the validity of a papal resignation.
Having said all this, the likelihood of Pope Benedict voluntarily laying down his high office remains slim.
The Vatican is for the moment vigorously defending the record of his five-year papacy, and Benedict's previous conduct during the period when he was Cardinal Archbishop of Munich and subsequently head of the CDF, the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the watchdog Vatican department responsible for disciplining priests guilty of bad conduct.


PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive).

We take pride in the fact that everything you read in our blog is ACCURATE, RELIABLE and THE LATEST.

Our blog which was first established in October 2007 currently has more than 35,000 hits. PET+BLOGSPOT is updated frequently.

Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of Petpositive.

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DISABLED TO KTM: Please conduct investigations professionally - StarMetro

Friday March 26, 2010

Disabled group wants a fair probe

(Click on link to watch the video)

A GROUP of disabled people is disappointed over the method of investigation by the KTM Komuter management in the case of a disabled person who was kicked by a KTM Komuter driver.

Anthony Thanasayan, who is a member of Malaysians Against Discrimination of the Disabled (MADD) and a MBPJ councillor said the KTM management had briefed the press without their presence.

“Also, the investigation committee interviewed their own staff first and the victim was only called for the interview today. The victim should be interviwed first.

“This is unfair and the investigation should be conducted professionally. The disabled 57-year-old Karuppannan Veeramalai is the victim and he is being treated like the guilty party.

“They (KTM management) are trying to protect their staff.” Independent Living and Training Centre president Francis Siva said.

“They only wanted the investigation to be carried out in a fair and professional manner.

“If there is no action taken, we will take the matter to the higher authority of the police.

“In fact, after the incident happened on March 4, the police have not got back to us. We want justice to be served,’’ he said.

KTMB acting general manager (Commuter Services) Mohd Hider Yusoff said they had to complete the investigations before any decision was made.

“We know the driver’s story but still have not heard the disabled person’s account. We will come out with a report within the next two weeks.”

(Note: Pictures courtesy of Independent Living and Training Centre, Rawang, Selangor)

PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive).

We take pride in the fact that everything you read in our blog is ACCURATE, RELIABLE and THE LATEST.

Our blog which was first established in October 2007 currently has more than 35,000 hits. PET+BLOGSPOT is updated frequently.

Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of Petpositive.

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ABUSE CONTROVERSY AT ILTC

The following extracts is from the Independent Living and Training Centre's blog:

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

False Allegations Against ILTC

As a President of ILTC, I would like to inform that the A. Kogilavani's allegations towards ILTC was false information.

On behalf of ILTC we already very clearly made a police report against her for tanishing our good society and waiting for full investigation from the police department.

We will keep up the latest development information.

Thanks

Mr. Francis Siva
President of ILTC

_____________________________________________________

View below the article from Malay Mail

Malay Mail July 15th 2008

Allegations false, says councillor

SELAYANG municipal councillor Gurdip Kaur Pritam Singh yesterday refuted A. Kogilavani's allegations that she had abused her on several occasions.

SELAYANG municipal councillor Gurdip Kaur Pritam Singh yesterday refuted A. Kogilavani's allegations that she had abused her on several occasions.

"These allegations are false," said the 47-year-old woman, who runs the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) in Taman Garing, Rawang, with her husband.

She told Malay Mail that Kogilavani, 29, had made the claims probably because the latter was unhappy with the training classes conducted at the centre. “She just wants an easy way out of the centre,” said Gurdip.

She said Kogilavani first came to the centre over a year ago, but left shortly after because she had wanted to be with her father who was suffering from diabetes.

“You know how it is with fathers and daughters. But after her father passed away, it seemed that the family couldn’t cope with her, so they contacted the centre and asked us to take her back,” said Gurdip.

She said Kogilavani returned to the centre earlier this year and was given lessons in computer, sewing, handicraft and English language.

“We have different classes every week, and computer classes in between. On weekends, they are encouraged to clean their own rooms.On Sundays, everyone would do gardening.

“We gave Kogilavani a sewing kit to work with but while everyone else was keen to learn, she didn’t seem interested. She cried a lot. She also slept in class,” said Gurdip.

She said the inmates had it quite easy at ILTC, adding that classes were free. She said sometimes, the centre would organise outdoor programmes for the inmates such as going to the movies or eating out.

Gurdip said before Kogilavani, the centre never had any problems with any other inmates.She said some former inmates even kept her updated on their progress in their working life.

Asked if she would lodge a report to counter Kogilavani’s allegations, Gurdip said: “No, I don’t want to do that. She’s like a daughter to me. Also, she’s an OKU (orang kurang upaya or disabled person) and I don’t want to make her life harder than it is.

“This is a small matter and I’ve got nothing to hide.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disabled woman lodges report on abuse
By Najiah Najib and Pauline AlmeidaA

WHEELCHAIR-BOUND inmate of a training centre in Rawang has lodged a police report against the operator of the centre, also disabled, for allegedly abusing her physically. In one incident, the victim claimed shelost a tooth after she was punched in the face.

In her report, lodged at the Ipoh police headquarters last Tuesday, A. Kogilavani, 29, said her abuser is also wheelchair-bound.Speaking to Malay Mail, the alleged victim from Menglembu, Perak, said the woman was recently sworn in as a Selayang Municipal councillor.

Kogilavani claimed the incidents took place at the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) in Taman Garing, Rawang, where she was an inmate since February. I

t is learnt that the centre was established eight years ago by the woman, Gurdip Kaur Pritam Singh, and her husband, G. Sivasangararao, also known as Siva, to help disabled people learn living skills like sewing, computer, handicraft and English.

Kogilavani said she enrolled in ILTC in June 2006, with the hope of learning how to cope with her disabilities better so she could find work.

However, she said she and the other inmates were instead told to do housework such as sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning the bathroom, feeding and grooming the dog, gardening, cooking and doing the laundry.

“There was so much work to be done everyday. I didn’t go to the centre to learn housework, so I decided to return home in July 2006.” She said the reason she left was also to be with her sickly father who was suffering from diabetes. Her father, whose legs had been amputated, died in January last year. After being encouraged by her uncle, Kogilavani returned to ILTC in February this year. However, she claimed she and the other trainees only underwent training during the first month.

“After that, the other trainees, who were living outside, stopped coming for the classes. As I was the only student left, the trainers stopped coming to the centre to teach,” she claimed.

She said as there were no more classes, she had intended to return to Ipoh but was held back by the centre operators.It was then that her nightmare began, she said.

“Once, I was cooking rice in the kitchen and forgot to turn off the switch after the rice had cooked. Just then, Gurdip approached me and noticed my mistake. She scolded me, saying that it could cause an electric shock if I didn’t turn the switch off.

“Suddenly, she punched me in the chin, so hard that a tooth from my lower jaw fell out. Blood gushed out of my mouth,” claimed Kogilavani, adding that she was then told by Gurdip to just clean herself up.Kogilavani claimed another incident took place about a week later.

This time she was arranging the inmates’ shoes on a rack when a sole fell off. Gurdip then approached her and scolded her for not knowing how to arrange the shoes properly. Gurdip then allegedly hit her with the sole that had fallen off. Kogilavani also claimed she not only had to endure physical abuse from Gurdip, but verbal abuse from Siva as well.

She said Siva was also wheelchairbound.

While Gurdip was paralysed from waist down, Siva was paralysed in his upper body and couldn’t move his hands much.Kogilavani said the latest abuse that took place was between June 30 and July 1, when she tried to run away from the centre.

“I sneaked out of the centre at 5.20am on a wheelchair and went to the bus stop a kilometre away.

A woman from the centre, Thevanai, spotted me and telephoned her husband Murugan who is a friend of Gurdip and Siva.

“Murugan arrived soon after. I told him that I couldn’t bear Gurdip and Siva’s bullying any longer. He coaxed me to stay on, saying that he would advise the centre operators to stop picking on me,” she claimed.

However, Kogilavani claimed that when they returned to the centre at 6.30am, Murugan turned the tables on her.

“When he told Gurdip and Siva that I had attempted to run away, Gurdip told him to beat me up. Murugan took a large stick and whacked me on my arms, thighs, back and the back of my head.” Kogilavani alleged she received another beating from Murugan three days later, under the couple’s orders, when she again tried to run away from the centre.

Depressed, Kogilavani said she swallowed a mothball that night to try to commit suicide. When the couple found out what she had done, they immediately contacted her family to take her
back.