The government’s appointment of a disabled person as a Senator is most welcomed. Congratulations to Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh. However, with due respect to Dr Salleh, I would have preferred a person with mobility impairment, specifically a wheelchair user, to represent disabled people in the Parliament. As I see it, people with mobility impairments in Malaysia are facing a host of problems that has gone unresolved for decades.

Disabled people need someone who feels their pain to be an effective representative. While I do not deny that people with visual impairment have their own set of problems, the most marginalised group in the disabled community are people with severe physical impairments. They are unable to be part of mainstream society because the environment is fraught with barriers that restrict their independence in every possible way.

Ours is a government that is reactive. It takes a lot of advocacy and activism on the disabled community’s part to move the government. Even then, progress is slow. Look at the advocacy that the Barrier-Free Environment and Accessible Transport Group (BEAT) has been doing for the past year. BEAT has met Datuk Dr. Ng Yen Yen, Dato’ Seri Chan Kong Choy and government officers regarding this issue. Nothing came out of those meetings. Do not be misled by the wheelchair logo on some of the RapidKL buses. These buses are still inaccessible to wheelchair users.

Sometimes, I wonder if the government is serious in wanting to resolve problems faced by disabled people or they are just doing something for the sake of showing that they are doing something. Time and again, disabled people have been disappointed by empty promises. The Uniform Building By-Law 34A that was supposed to make the environment accessible is as worthless as the paper that it was printed on. The built environment is mostly still as inaccessible as it was before the by-law was gazetted in the 90s.

The government must understand that disabled people want equality, not charity. Charity is a temporary measure that does not empower or enable disabled people in the long run. When disabled people advocate, we should not been seen as asking for more from the pie. We are asking because we have been given crumbs. We have been marginalised for so long that we have almost forgotten how good the pie tastes.

Having said all that, the appointment of a disabled person as Senator is a positive move by the government. I sincerely hope that Dr Salleh will make an effort to truly understand issues faced by the disabled community. While issues like education, employment and accessibility are important, Dr Salleh must never forget the plight of people with severe disabilities who are often forgotten by society and even disability advocates. These are the people whom Dr Salleh’s must represent in the Parliament first and foremost.

Note:
Member of Parliament for Seputeh YB Teresa Kok made same pertinent points in her speech during the debate on the Disabled Persons Bill. The speech is available in her blog.

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Did I say Sabahans are affable people? During the bloggers meet at Shamrock Irish Bar the previous evening, Wei Chuen asked if Wuan and I had anything planned for the next morning. We did not and he invited us to have breakfast with him. He came to pick us up from the hotel and had to wait for a while as we overslept.

Somewhere in Kota Kinabalu. Seamless road and walkway.

We went to this modern-day kopitiam that serves the usual fare that such shops offer. I would have loved to try some of the signature dishes but because of my low-protein and low-everything-else diet, I settled for toasts while Wuan had nasi lemak. Eating has become such a boring event for me now, even when travelling. What I liked most was the accessibility of the place. The road and the entrance to the complex was seamless. If only the rest of Kota Kinabalu were like that.

Wuan, Wei Chuen and Peter Tan at The Pacific Sutera.

Just after lunch, Rosalynn took us to the Filipino Market. Wuan wanted to get handicrafts. That place smells! I gather that the open space beside the handicraft market is a fish market and a place where fishing boats land their catch. Fortunately when we were there, the place had already been cleaned up.

Inside the Filipino Market.

While Wuan and Rosalynn shopped along the narrow aisles of the market, I explored the surrounding areas a little. There was no shade outside. The midday sun was bearing down on me but the salty sea breeze was cooling enough to keep me comfortable. Finally, I got my wish of smelling the salty sea breeze! I know I am weird.

Women fishing at the seafront outside the Filipino Market.

Kota Kinabalu is not an accessible city, especially the shopping complexes. Even the one and only accessible toilet in one of the complexes was out of order. Luckily, I went there not to visit these places. I can imagine how difficult it is for the disabled people there to move around. That was one of the reasons why I did not see many disabled people out and about.

Fishing boats at the seafront outside the Filipino Market.

Rosalynn invited us to visit her apartment after picking up the Justin and Sabrina from school. As hers is a walk-up apartment, I waited at the poolside while Wuan went up. I was beginning to enjoy the serenity of the place, broken occasionally by low-flying aircrafts, when it began to rain. It rained and rained and rained. If I could, I would have played in the rain. My wheelchair cushion was not up to it unless I fancy forking out RM500 for another piece. The rain only turned into a heavy drizzle 90 minutes later.

The Pacific Sutera at night.

Rosalynn and the kids had dinner with us. It was a farewell dinner as we were leaving the next day. Boleh Café has a very nice buffet spread. I could not help but cheat on my diet – well, just a little. It was still early after dinner. Wuan and I went on a walkabout around the hotel grounds. The glow of light reflected on coconut trees, the sounds of lapping waves and the surroundings created an extremely romantic atmosphere. We looked at each other and knew that we would be making another trip to this paradise again.

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N E W S

Nation
Wednesday December 19, 2007

First disabled senator takes oath

By MANJIT KAUR

First Disabled Senator

KUALA LUMPUR: Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh, who is blind, created history yesterday when he became the first disabled person to be appointed a senator.

Dr Ismail, 60, took the oath before Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh yesterday.

The academician and economist, who is married and has six children, said he was delighted when told about his appointment a few days ago.

Dr Ismail, originally from Kelantan and who now lives in Kajang, has been totally blind since he was 13.

Dr Ismail said with the appointment, there would now be a voice for the disabled community.

“I would like to thank Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the appointment, and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil for nominating my name,” he told reporters after the ceremony yesterday.

Dr Ismail graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York in 1973, and received his Master of Science (Economics) from the University of Illinois in 1974, before obtaining his PhD from the same university in 1977.

The Malaysian Association of the Blind (MAB) president also sits on various committees and working groups in the local and internationals levels.

He is the International University College of Technology Twintech vice-chancellor, National Association of Bumiputra Private Colleges president and National Economic Consultative Council chief rapporteur.

He is also a member of the National Implementation Task Force in the Prime Minister’s Department, and the East Asia International Council for the Education of the People With Visual Impairment chairman.

In 2001, in recognition of his work as well as his contribution to the country and the international community, he was awarded the Doctor of Literature from the Irish International University by the European Union.

Dr Ismail said among others, the issues he would bring up would be on education, jobs and facilities for the disabled.

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