PETPOSITIVE AT THE WOMEN, FAMILY & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY

PETPOSITIVE received a last-minute telephone call and fax from the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development in Kuala Lumpur requesting for us to be present at a meeting at 4.30pm in the building with the Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

The call was made on Monday at noon.

I immediately made a call to Francis Siva, President of the Independent Living and Training Centre in Rawang, Selangor and the next thing I knew, we were all at the Ministry by 3.30pm.

Petpositive was also represented by Stanislaus Anthony who is a person with walking difficulties.
The meeting was held to discuss what special measures in terms of finance was needed for the disabled community in the light of the price hikes that the Government introduced last week.

Representatives of nearly a dozen disabled organisations - together with ours - were also present as we deliberated for two-and-the-half-hours with the Ministry, as well as the Welfare Department about our needs.

The disabled unanimously suggested that a financial aid of RM500 a month be given to all disabled persons - whether they have cars or not. We also suggested that the same help be given to our family caregivers.

There were other suggestions too. Some suggested that the current excise duty for the purchase of cars for the disabled be done away with. Others wanted significant cuts in Internet bills so that all disabled persons can afford them.

Dr Ng Yen Yen was quick to concur by saying that the Internet was a "necessity" for the handicapped.

Dr Ng also invited the disabled to give their frank feedback regarding the services they receive from her Ministry as well as that of the Welfare. She promised that quick action will be taken to our requests.

The meeting ended with the Minister requesting all the participants to send in their final proposals within the week. She will then take our requests to the Ministry of Finance, she said, and lobby for our cause.

Well, let's keep our fingers crossed everybody, that something good and helpful will come out of the meeting to help us all.

One of the things that I was personally disappointed was that no date or follow up meeting was decided on when we left the building.

Let's hope that we will all be called again to the Ministry so that we can effectively tackle many of the other issues that plague the disabled in our Malaysian society.

The meeting was attended by the physically handicapped, the blind, Deaf and a parent or two of the disabled.

PETPOSITIVE was quick to point out that the group present only represented a small section of the disabled.

Others like persons with Parkinson's disease, stroke sufferers, diabetics who became disabled were not present and that all of these persons and more need to be sought to help improve their quality of lives as well.

aNt PET+BLOGSPOT

Here is a report from The Star yesterday regarding our meeting with Yen Yen:

Tuesday June 10, 2008

Yen Yen: Disabled need help in facing price hikes

KUALA LUMPUR: The disabled need help in facing the challenges and difficulties of global inflation, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

The ministry, at its dialogue yesterday with various organisations representing the disabled, touched on several issues which could affect their lives as a result of the recent price hikes of goods and materials.

Dr Ng said the majority of the disabled did not earn much.

“The global inflation will definitely affect them.

One for the album: Dr Ng (centre, in white) taking a group photo with Wanita MCA members (seated from left) Chew Poh Thoi, Datuk Chang Yok Ying, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun and Yayasan Nanyang Press executive director Ann Woo. At back row (from left) are Carol Chew, Datuk Kian Sit Har, Sarryan Cho of Yayasan Nanyang Press and Chew Lee Geok.

“In fact, 98% of these people earn less than RM3,000 a month,” she said after receiving 500 tickets for Disney's Beauty and the Beast – The Broadway Musical, courtesy of show organiser Yvents!

The tickets will be distributed to various homes under the ministry's purview.

Among the issues highlighted at the dialogue were for a reduction in excise duty and no road tax for all cars owned by the disabled.

At present, road tax is free for all national cars owned by the disabled.

“We are getting input from these organisations on how we (Government) can work together to help reduce the challenges faced,” she said.

Other issues include enhancement of the transport system as well as reduction in toll rates.

“There is a need to work out how we can give them a definite support system,” Dr Ng said, adding that at present families who were looking after a handicapped or chronically-ill person were given RM300 per family.

“The organisations have asked for an increase in the amount,” she said.

Dr Ng said her ministry would study the input provided before submitting a proposal to the Finance Ministry.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast – The Broadway Musical will be held from June 24 to July 3 at the Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

For booking details, contact Ticketcharge at 03-2241 9999 or Yvents! at 03-2287 2811.

The Star is the official newspaper for the musical.

The Star: Another Burden For Us, Say The Disabled

Thursday June 5, 2008

Another burden for us, say the disabled

PETALING JAYA: The disabled are unhappy with the fuel price increase because many of them, especially those who are wheelchair-bound, are also drivers and it is inconvenient for them to take public transport.

“The disabled, who are weighed down with expensive medical bills, will be further burdened with the increase in the price of petrol,” said Anthony Thanasayan, president of the Malaysian Animal Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association.

Some of the disabled pay RM300 a month in medical bills and a good wheelchair costs about RM5,000, he added.

He said the disabled spent a large portion of their income on petrol, adding that the association had repeatedly asked the Government for a RM500 monthly allowance for each disabled individual, but had yet to receive a positive answer.

“Now is as good a time as any for the Government to grant us this monthly allowance, considering the significant rise in the petrol price,” he said.

Petrol Price Hike: Killer Tsunami For The Disabled - Malaysiakini

The drastic 40 percent rise in petrol price and 64 percent increase in diesel price, effective midnight, is seen as a “killer tsunami” and a “catastrophe”.

MCPX

Motorists and motorcyclists will pay RM2.70 and RM2.58 for a litre of petrol and diesel respectively.

Social activists, political analysts and consumer groups have their say.

Anthony Thanasayan, coordinator, Malaysians Against Discrimination of the Disabled

This is a terrible tsunami for the disabled. We have suffered enough from several fuel hikes before this. The disabled are forgotten by the government. The last fuel hike saw assistance to some groups but the disabled were forgotten.

We can only be independent if we are able to leave our house. How are we supposed to be independent if the fuel price keeps going up? Some of us have managed to get our own cars, and that’s a great. But increasing the fuel price will result in the cars becoming white elephants.

Previous hikes may be tsunamis but this one is a killer. The government will have compensate us immediately. I suggest a rebate of about RM500 for each disabled person. (Former premier) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) was a little more considerate.

A few years ago, he waived road tax for the disabled. (Prime Minister) Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi) has to understand the disadvantages that the disabled face.

Khoo Kay Peng, independent political analyst

It’s a catastrophe and it does not only affect the working class. Everyone is affected. It would be difficult for them to adjust their social activities and behaviour. Inevitably, the whole economic structure would be affected. Prices of goods and services will soar.

To make things worse, we also have really poor public transportation that is not reliable. The government should improve the public transportation system. Since the last fuel hike in 2004, steps should have been taken to improve it.

The RM625 rebate is definitely insufficient. That’s only worth about three months of fuel and we’re talking about a 60 percent increase of fuel hike. There is a lack of planning by the government.

Patrick Sindhu, president, Consumer Association Sabah and Labuan

We in Sabah have to evaluate our lifestyle to face rising petrol prices. The rakyat must understand that rise in oil prices is a global issue. There is not much we can do. Even if we pray or go and hug Pak Lah, the fuel price will still go up. So it is time that we change our lifestyle.

The fuel price increase was just too fast and too drastic. I’m afraid that there will be demonstrations on fuel prices, as has happened elsewhere.

In Sabah, there are a lot of people who do not own motor vehicles. However, they are not going to benefit from the RM625 cash rebate. But they are going to suffer from subsequent increases in the price of goods and services.

Jacob George, president, Consumer Association Subang and Shah Alam

This comes as a shock. We expected an increase but didn’t expect it to be so drastic. We surveyed many petrol stations this afternoon and found that there was panic buying all over the Klang Valley.

Consumers we interviewed are worried about the impact of the price hike; What will the impact be like across the board? Based on precedent, the government cannot stop the price of goods and services from rising as well.

It is obvious (from the cash pay-outs) that the government wants to protect lower income groups. But consumers expected a gradual increase in price. The impact is too fast. Too sudden.

Generally, there was an impression that the price hike would only take effect in August. That would have given people enough time to adjust. People are caught off guard and not ready to make a transition.

On that note, many complainants told us that the since the government had asked the people to change their lifestyle, the government must change its lifestyle as well to stop leakages and wastage.

M Marimuthu, president, Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations

We knew this was coming. What we want to know now is whether there has been a comprehensive study on how the government is going to spend the money saved on subsidies in other areas like education, public transportation and food security.

For now, the public must be guaranteed three things: Firstly, public transportation fares must not go up; secondly, low-income families must be allowed a rebate for public transportation; and lastly, public transportayion operators must not take advantage of the situation.

End