Some time in July this year, the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Association (FOMCA) invited me to submit a paper on access to public transport with regards to disabled persons for the Consumer Digest. I had to complete the piece within a very short time frame as the digest was to be published the following month. I received two copies of the digest two weeks ago.

Nothing much has changed since July. There is still no accessible public transport for wheelchair users. The RapidKL buses that are plastered with the very prominent wheelchair logo still refuses to board wheelchair users. A Malaysian has gone to outer space and back. We have just celebrated our nation’s fiftieth year of independence. Disabled persons are still stuck at home. Apa macam Malaysia?

The following poem was posted in this blog on October 28, 2005. It is still as relevant now as it was during World War II sixty years ago when this poem was believed to have originated. We have the right to choose who and what causes we support. Nevertheless, we should never forget the rights of our fellow humans who are oppressed, marginalised and discriminated. We should and must stand up for them too as long as we are able in any way we can. This poem tells us why.

First They Came…

A poem by Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)

Original

Translation

Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten, habe ich geschwiegen; ich war ja kein Kommunist. Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten, habe ich geschwiegen; ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat. Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten, habe ich nicht protestiert; ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter. Als sie die Juden holten, habe ich nicht protestiert; ich war ja kein Jude. Als sie mich holten, gab es keinen mehr, der protestierte.

First they came for the communists, I did not speak out because I was not a communist. When they came for the social democrats, I did not speak out because I was not a social democrat. When they came for the trade unionists I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. When they came for the Jews I did not speak out because I was not a Jew; And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.

Links:
Martin Niemöller
First They Came…

Every journey has to come to an end. On a bus, one simply has to press the buzzer to let the driver know that he or she wants to get down at the next stop. I pressed the buzzer on my journey with the Barrier-Free Environment and Accessible Transport Group (BEAT) and had gotten down from the bus already.

The reaction from some of my colleagues in BEAT to my circulating an email on the bad experience with AirAsia to the entire group recently literally took the wind out of my sail. I was chided for revealing that I was compelled to sign an indemnity form before I was allowed to board the plane. I guess it never occurred to them what I had to give up the moment I signed the form.

I do not regret blogging about it. I do not regret being part of BEAT. I do not regret leaving BEAT. I am first and foremost a blogger. I want the freedom to blog without fear or favour. I will continue to blog about such injustices perpetrated against disabled people. This is what The Digital Awakening is all about – my life, my thoughts and my opinions.

Question: What can be worse than an itch that refuses to go away?

Answer: An itch that refuses to go away at a spot that the hand cannot reach to scratch! Arrrgh, stupid itch.

There is a list of outstanding things that I should have blogged about but have not. Top in the list is my trip to Kota Kinabalu, especially the Bloggers Meet at Shamrock Irish Pub, which was three weeks ago. After procrastinating for so many weeks, I decided that today would be the day. There were so many wonderful memories that I would like to blog about.

If I were to run a marathon like I blog, I would not only finish the race last but…

I had to stop mid-sentence to scratch an itchy neck. As I continued to scratch, the itch spread down to my back and shoulders. The urgency to blog dissipated. Long after the itch subsided leaving my skin tender and smarting, I began to wallow in self-pity at the condition of my failing kidneys which is the cause of the itch.

This itchiness has been plaguing me even before I went to Seoul in September. At first, I thought it was just an allergy. The situation exacerbated in the last two weeks as my shoulder, back, neck and chest were afflicted as well. Besides that, unexplained bruises appeared on and off on my left chest and right arm. These are some of the symptoms of chronic renal failure.

Is the health of my kidneys deteriorating? This is the answer only a blood test will reveal. Am I worried? Yes, but this not something that I am not expecting. I would be lying if I said this is not affecting me emotionally. I was depressed. I am depressed. Now that I am done with feeling miserable, I am going to go on living. Life has to go on come what may. Excuse me while I scratch my itch again.