Helping Me Shout Louder


Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat Jalan Perak.

I was trying to get the building manager of my apartment to draw up a Contingency Plan for Fire and Emergencies and to remove all obstacles that may prevent unfettered access of fire engines into the premises. Alone, I was a solitary voice crying out for help and achieved little. Mack saw that I needed help and roared loud on my behalf. Mack has elevated this crusade into getting the people concerned to come out with a systematic building evacuation plan for the mobility impaired living in high-rise dwellings nationwide. His banner campaign has beyond doubt reached a wide spectrum of people from all over Malaysia. He has also met with people from the media with the hope of getting them to draw attention to this cause. Unfortunately, editorial policies dictated otherwise.

Nevertheless, many bloggers have come out in support of this banner campaign. To all of you who have adopted the banner campaign in your blogs, I would like to thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart. This means a lot to me because I have not met many of you but you were concerned enough for my well-being and the safety of thousands of others who are in the same predicament as mine to allow Mack and me to use your blogs to shout even louder. God bless you all.

Raja Munir Shah, despite his busy schedule, took the time to highlight my predicament to the Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Penang. With his effort, a meeting has been set up with the Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang this coming Monday. He has invited all high-rise dwellers to join us. We are certain that many residential high-rise buildings are currently facing similar problems as mine, especially regarding indiscriminate parking of vehicles and other obstructions that may hamper rescue efforts. I hope this meeting will be the first step towards the objective of getting a full-fledged evacuation plan implemented nationwide.

If there is anything that I learnt from all this is that I now know that there are more kindhearted people out there than I realised. They are ever willing to lend a helping hand whenever there is a need. Mack Zulkifli and Raja Munir Shah are glowing examples of such altruism. All I needed to do was holler and they came to assist unconditionally in any way they could. This has proven that Malaysia indeed has a community of caring people. Collectively, both of them and all the bloggers who adopted the banner campaign have made my voice louder and the silent voices heard. I can never thank you all enough. The road ahead is still long. Lets persevere till the realisation of the systematic evacuation plan. That I am absolutely certain will save lives when the need arises.

Related category:
Building Manager from Hell

Author: Peter Tan

Peter Gabriel Tan. Penangite residing in the Klang Valley. Blissfully married to Wuan. A LaSallian through and through. Slave to three cats. Wheelchair user since 1984. End-stage renal disease since 2017. Principal Facilitator at Peter Tan Training specialising in Disability Equality Training. Former columnist of Breaking Barriers with The Borneo Post. This blog chronicles my life, thoughts and opinions. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

5 thoughts on “Helping Me Shout Louder”

  1. That’s the wonderful of blogosphere. 🙂
    1) Freedom of speech,
    2) Freedom of expression, and
    3) Freedom of choice.

  2. Anybody else would have just left it to ‘fate’ but you ‘stood’ up for yourself and for everyone else affected. If there were more people like you around, the world would be a better place to live in. Bravo!

  3. peter, this meeting with MPPP, would you be able to know what time latest by sunday night? if it is after 5.00pm, i might be able to go.

  4. Hi my friend!! nice reading your blog. it brings me lots of thoughts about life. i believe you are an optimistic man. wish happiness to you!

  5. h.liew,
    I like the freedom that blogging provides but that freedom must be used wisely and for the betterment of others. I hope I am moving in that direction.

    bkworm,
    I try to do what I can. After all, I am affected too. Thank you.

    lucia,
    This reply is a late. Anyway, the meeting did not materialise as I mentioned in the next entry.

    Reffresher,
    Thank you. Appreciate life. You will value that when many years from now. Peace be with you.

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