Bigotry In Malaysia
MACC counsel Datuk Abdul Razak Musa then stood up to protest Karpal’s continued use of the word “murder” in pertaining to Teoh’s death.
When Karpal, who is in a wheelchair, told Abdul Razak to “sit down”, the latter replied: “I will sit down but you cannot stand up.”
The Star – January 15, 2010
Abdul Razak must have thought that his shooting from the hip was the perfect rebuttal to Karpal. Although the remark was pointed at Karpal, it has, in one fell swoop, affronted all wheelchair users. This is a blatant disregard for the dignity of disabled people.
Of all people, I would least expect a lawyer to say something as disrespectful as this. Ridiculing a disabled person’s condition is bigotry just like how making deprecating remarks along racial lines is considered racism. Let there not be a doubt regarding this.
This is also an indication of how little the government has done to promote disability equality in the country. When Parlimentarians and government officers have no qualms with throwing insults at disabled people, they set a bad precedent to society at large on how disabled people should be treated. Thankfully, people like these are a minority. Such attitudes are still disconcerting nonetheless.
If the government is serious in protecting the rights and dignity of disabled people in Malaysia, they should come out with an anti-discrimination law. The Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 does nothing to that effect. Disabled people in Malaysia still face attitudinal and environmental barriers in every aspect of their lives.
The Star Online
Published: Friday January 15, 2010 MYT 11:38:00 AM
Updated: Friday January 15, 2010 MYT 1:36:58 PMTeoh Beng Hock’s inquest takes a further turn (Update)
By WANI MUTHIAHSHAH ALAM: The inquest into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock took a further turn when a hearing on an application to cite a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer for contempt targeted its counsel instead.
Counsel for the Government Tan Hock Chuan had earlier given the court the Attorney-General’s assurance that no action would be taken against Thai forensic pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand.
He said the A-G was also of the opinion that Dr Pornthip had not leaked any information to Suara Keadilan, which had carried an article “confirming” that Teoh had been murdered.
Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas then said that given the A-G’s opinion, there was no longer any need to proceed with contempt proceedings against Raub Ghani, who had lodged a police report against Dr Pornthip alleging that she had leaked information from the results of the second post-mortem performed on Teoh to “unauthorised” parties.
Raub, 41, who is attached to the Putrajaya MACC investigation unit, had lodged the report at the Shah Alam district police headquarters on Jan 1.
However, the counsel representing Teoh’s family, Karpal Singh argued for contempt proceedings to continue against Raub as going by the A-G’s opinion, it would seem to indicate that the MACC officer had lodged a false police report and thus, should be “duly dealt with”.
MACC counsel Datuk Abdul Razak Musa then stood up to protest Karpal’s continued use of the word “murder” in pertaining to Teoh’s death.
When Karpal, who is in a wheelchair, told Abdul Razak to “sit down”, the latter replied: “I will sit down but you cannot stand up.”
The court was thrown into further chaos when at one point, Gobind Singh Deo called Abdul Razak a “scoundrel” for insulting Karpal Singh’s disability, and wanted contempt proceedings initiated against Abdul Razak.
The court has momentarily stood down for both Karpal and Gobind to refer to grounds to initiate proceedings against Abdul Razak.
Coroner Azmil Muntapha fixed Jan 22 to hear submissions in the contempt proceedings against Raub.
He agreed there were elements of contempt in Abdul Razak’s remarks against Karpal, but only cautioned him.
Tags: Abdul Razak Musa, Akta OKU 2008, Akta Orang Kurang Upaya 2008, Bung Moktar Radin, disabled people Malaysia, discrimination against disabled people, Ibrahim Ali, Karpal Singh, rights of disabled people, The Star Online
International Day Of Disabled Persons 2008
Today is the International Day of Disabled Persons. The theme for this year is “Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and justice for all of us”. This day is celebrated worldwide with disabled people coming together to show solidarity and reaffirm our rights as members of equal standing in society. In Malaysia, several event are held in parallel in conjunction with this day. I was slated to give a presentation at the National Conference on Disability 2008 at the Concorde Hotel later in the day. Unfortunately, I had to cancel that engagement as I am still recovering from the cold that I caught last week.
I am not in a celebratory mood just yet. The Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 came into force in July and has yet to show how effective it is in protecting the rights of disabled people. Malaysia is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities but have yet to ratify it and is not a party to the Optional Protocol. Where is the dignity and justice for disabled people when we do not have access to public transport and the built environment with is the crucial link other essential services such as education, employment and even medical? Where is dignity and justice when the government cannot even protect the parking spaces for disabled people from being abused? Need I say more?
Tags: Convention of the Right of Persons with Disabilities, disabled people Malaysia, International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2008, Persons with Disabilities Act 2008, rights of disabled people
2nd Malaysian Conference On Rehabilitation
In a while, I will be going to Bangi to participate in the 2nd Malaysian Conference on Rehabilitation organised by the Malaysian Council for Rehabilitation (MCR). The conference which began yesterday is being held at Pusat Latihan Perindustrian dan Pemulihan Bangi. The theme for this conference is “Towards an Inclusive, Barrier-Free and Rights-Based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Malaysia.”
I will be speaking at the panel session on “Barrier-Free Built-Environment and Universal Design.” The topic of my presentation is “Inclusive Environment in Malaysia: From the Perspective of a Wheelchair User.” I will also be presenting at the concurrent session for special interest groups on “Social Advocacy on Disability Issues” tomorrow. My topic for the con current session is titled “Rights-Based Advocacy on Disability in Malaysia: An Overview and the Way Forward.”
Tags: 2nd Malaysian Conference on Rehabilitation, Malaysian Council for Rehabilitation, MCR, PLPP Bangi, Pusat Latihan Perindustrian dan Pemulihan Bangi, rights of disabled people, rights-based model on disability