Employ the disabled, says PM: The Star – November 15, 2007

N E W S

Nation
Thursday November 15, 2007

Employ the disabled, says PM

By LOONG MENG YEE

PM urges for a more caring society

KUALA LUMPUR: She is a capable woman and presentable enough to be a newscaster – but she could not get long-term employment because she is wheelchair-bound.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, stressing that he wants Malaysia to have a culture of caring where those who need help know they will receive help, said it reminded him of the woman.

“She looks good and capable. I told her she could be in front of the camera or become a compere.

“But she told me, she had yet to find a job,” Abdullah said, not naming the woman.


Best of the lot: Abdullah presenting the overall award to DiGi chief executive officer Morten Lundal at the Prime Minister’s CSR Awards presentation in Kuala Lumpur yesterday while Shahrizat looks on.
“No one wanted to employ her because she sat in a wheelchair,” he told corporate bigwigs at the Prime Minister’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards presentation here yesterday.

Representatives from Petronas, Maybank, BP Malaysia, DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd and Procter and Gamble (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd were among those who attended the event.

“Companies must give attention and be ready to employ disabled people who are able to perform the tasks given and do something for the company,” he said.

Abdullah said jobs should be offered to suitable candidates even if they were handicapped, adding that this is what folks in a caring society would do.

The Prime Minister said a progressive Malaysia meant that the people would enjoy quality of life.

More important, he added, the disadvantaged – such as the sickly, the poor and the handicapped – are assured they also have a place in this country and would be well cared for.

He said the nation and its people had demonstrated its caring nature in many ways and it was a contribution he hoped would continue to flourish.

The awards are given in recognition of companies that carry out strong community and social responsibility projects.

There were 316 entries from 161 companies for the award. They competed in seven categories, including education, environment and workplace practices.

DiGi Telecommunications was named the overall winner.

It also grabbed first places in two other categories – best workplace practice and protecting culture and heritage.

Present at the event were Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Effendi Norwawi.

Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) – Message To Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi unveiled the Northern Corridor Economic Region blueprint on July 30. The NCER programme is a government initiative to accelerate economic growth and elevate income levels in the north of Peninsular Malaysia, covering Perlis, Kedah, Penang and northern Perak. According to Bernama, its key thrusts are to transform and expand the agricultural, manufacturing, tourism and logistics sectors in the region.

Penang was also declared as the logistics and transportation hub for the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) through the implementation of several massive projects namely the expansion of Penang Port and the Penang International Airport, the RM2 billion integrated terminal for rail, road and sea travel known as “Penang Sentral” and the development of the RM18bil Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project. The initiative to develop the area into a world class economic region by 2015 will certainly bring prosperity to the people in the northern states and to Malaysians in general.

Datuk Seri Abdullah must ensure that all these projects adopt an inclusive policy to make possible for disabled persons to have equal opportunity to benefit from the massive development that is to take place. This consists of making the built environment such as buildings and walkways barrier-free, safe and functional. All public transport including the integrated rail, ferry, monorail in the Penang Sentral must also take into account the needs of people with reduced mobility and disabled persons.

An accessible environment and public transport system provide freedom to disabled persons to move around conveniently and affordably in performing tasks of daily living. This includes going to school, work, socialise, and participate in cultural, religious and political activities. Additionally, such accessibility will also attract tourists with reduced mobility such as senior citizens to visit Malaysia.

Datuk Seri Abdullah must also make sure that disabled persons can benefit from these projects through employment and other economic activities. Many disabled persons are unemployed or unable to get employment due to obstacles in the environment and public transport. Another reason is the perception of society towards disabled persons, thinking that we are inefficient and unable to perform duties entrusted to us. This, of course, is a misconception.

In conclusion, since these projects are planned from ground up there is no reason whatever not to include the needs of disabled persons at the planning stages to guarantee that at the completion of the project we are not left out again. Disabled persons have as much rights as anyone else to reap the windfall from this unprecedented growth in the northern region of Malaysia. Therefore, I humbly remind Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah to not forget or ignore disabled persons anymore. We have suffered for 50 years since our nation’s independence. Please do not let us undergo the same hardships anymore. We want to live independently and have the dignity to make choices and achieve self-determination. We just want to enjoy what non-disabled persons have taken granted for so long. Is that too much to ask for?

AirAsia – BEAT Coordinator Christine Lee’s Speech At AirAsia’s Press Conference

Speech by Christine Lee, BEAT’s Coordinator
In conjuction with the Press Conference by AirAsia with BEAT
Date : 4th August, 2007, Time : 11 am
Venue : LCCT Departure Hall, Sepang

Dato’ Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia Malaysia Berhad,
Staff of AirAsia,
Representatives and friends of BEAT,
Members of the press and televison,
Caring volunteers and supporters,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very good morning and salam sejahtera to all of you !

First of all, on behalf of Barrier-free Environment and Accessible Transport Group ( BEAT), I wish to thank AirAsia for inviting BEAT to attend this meaningful occasion.

For those who may still not be aware, BEAT is a coalition of 18 NGOs representing the voices and interests of various disability groups comprising thousands of members all over Klang Valley and Malaysia. BEAT is actively advocating for a barrier-free environment and accessible transport and an inclusive society for all.

BEAT welcomes the announcement made by AirAsia to enhance its facilities or amenities which include the provision of ambu-lifts, aisle chair in aircraft and assistance to travellers upon request. We certainly look forward to the day when disabled persons can travel with greater comfort in AirAsia.

We are equally happy to hear that AirAsia is also looking into making their budget hotels accessible. We urge Skybus or Skyvan to include accessibility features in their vehicles to provide cheaper and accessible mode of public transport for disabled persons to commute from town to LCCT.

We thank Dato’ Tony Fernandes, who took time off from his busy schedule to meet us and gave assurance of his full commitment to resolve the issues highlighted. ( Dato’ Tony…..you deserve our highest applause )

BEAT also wishes to acknowledge and thank Dato’ Seri Chan Kong Choy, Minister of Transport, for his immediate attention and intervention.

The move undertaken by AirAsia is a praiseworthy initiative and a positive step towards making AirAsia, an accessible and inclusive low cost airline in the region. It is a significant step by AirAsia in empowering disabled persons and other passengers with reduced mobility by giving them equal opportunity to travel, like every one else.

The provision of such user friendly facilities and services must not be seen as a privilege and extended exclusively for disabled persons only. They must be understood as universally accessible facilities which must be automatically incorporated as part and parcel of the overall package of services that all airlines and airports must extend to all its passengers.

We must emphasise that these facilities and services benefit not only disabled persons but also senior citizens, other passengers and international tourists with reduced mobility as well as their family members. What is good for people with reduced mobility is good for everyone.

Freedom to travel is a basic and fundamental right of every person irrespective of the condition one is in. For too many years this freedom has been denied us! It is high time that this basic right is given back to us unconditionally! It is high time that disabled persons be treated as part of the public who are entitled to the same facilities provided to everyone else.

One of the keys to independence for disabled persons is that they can travel where they want, when they want, and how they want. However, this remains only a dream and far from the painful reality for millions of disabled Malaysian citizens.

50 years of Merdeka, disabled citizens in this country still face discrimination in their everyday life ! We cannot move around freely due to inaccessible public transport and built environment. The recent launch of new buses by RapidKL and RapidPenang are classic examples of how disabled persons have been blatantly discriminated against !! Despite many appeals made by the disabled community, Prasarana continues to launch non-accessible buses!!

The business community, politicians, policy makers and Malaysian public at large, need to be sensitized and re educated to understand the issues of disabled persons from “welfare-based model” to “rights- based model.” Disabled citizens need to be enabled and given equal opportunity to move away from charity recipients to consumers with the same rights as others.

We urge YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, as Prime Minister of Malaysia, to include issues of disabled persons into the top national agenda of the country. Our concern must be seen as a humanitarian issue which should become a concern of every one. We also urge Pak Lah to expedite the tabling of the “Disabled Persons Bill” to protect the rights of disabled citizens and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against them.

Last but not least, we wish AirAsia all the best and may you fly higher with us along !

Thank you.

Christine Lee
BEAT Coordinator

V Murugeswaran
BEAT Assistant Coordinator

Peter Tan
BEAT Assistant Coordinator

Barrier-Free Environment and Accessible Transport Group (BEAT) comprises 18 Organisations as listed below :-
• Persatuan Damai Orang-Orang Kurang Upaya Selangor & W.P
• Malaysian Spinal Injuries Association
• Persatuan Mobiliti Selangor & Kuala Lumpur
• Persatuan Orang-Orang Cacat Anggota Malaysia
• Society of the Blind in Malaysia
• Malaysian Association for the Blind
• Society of the Chinese Disabled Persons Malaysia
• Persatuan Kristian Shuang Fu untuk orang Kurang Upaya Kuala Lumpur
• Beautiful Gate Foundation for The Disabled
• Persatuan Pemulihan Orang Cacat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan
• Selangor Cheshire Home
• Malaysian Information Network on Disabilities
• Dignity & Services
• United Voice (Self-Advocacy Society of Persons with Learning Disabilities Selangor & Kuala Lumpur)
• Selangor Council for Welfare and Social Development
• Majlis Paralimpik Malaysia
• Malaysian Council For Rehabilitation
• Lovely Disabled Home