Waiting for the Light

Waiting for the Light - Anthony Thanasayan

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Created on Thursday, 30 October 2014 08:42

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Written by Anthony Thanasayan

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Last week's Deepavali celebration may have been a joyous occasion for most Hindus in the country.

However, for as many as 167 employees in Semenyih in the state of Selangor, the festival of lights hasn't quite arrived yet because of an unusual problem which is confronting them.

The workers, who comprise locals and migrants from Bangladesh and Indonesia, claim they have not been paid their salaries since May this year by their company 'Recycle Energy Sdn Bhd'.

Not only that, they say the contributions deducted from their salaries towards the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) have not been submitted to EPF by the company since a year ago.

Overtime payments have also not been paid to the workers for more than 12 months.

The good news, however, is that this issue was subsequently brought to the attention of the Department of Labour in Bangi in Selangor last July.

The case was filed in court. The employees won.

The court ruled that the employer must pay all arrears of their salaries by 17 September.

However, the bad news is that until now the workers have yet to get their money.

This, despite the fact that all 167 employees had staged a picket against the company's withholding of their salaries a week before Deepavali. 

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) had helped the workers to hold a protest. The event had also been attended by labour officers.

The affected workers still turn up for work each day in the hope that their wages will be paid soon.

Life isn't at all easy for these workers.

It is especially difficult and painful because the recent festival symbolises "the victory of good over evil and light over darkness".

Here are some examples of what some of them and their families have to endure:

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Panirselvam, 36, lives in Taman Desa Semenyih with his wife and two children. One of them is five years old and the other, two. They all live in a rented house.

There was no Deepavali for them this year. How can they celebrate when they are not able to pay the rent as well as the bills for water and electricity?

The husband and wife have an added problem now of finding enough cash to buy milk for the youngest child.

The kids have since switched to Milo.

Borrowing money from friends to buy food for the family has become a way of life for Panir.

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Devaraja is 36 years old. He is from Taman Jasmin.

Devaraja is also living in a rented flat with his wife, Meena, and their six children.

The youngest is eight years old and the eldest is 16. Four of Devaraja's kids are school-going children.

What complicates matters is that Meena is a heart patient. Doctors have told her that she has only three years more to live.

Meena had a heart attack last month and was rushed to a government hospital where she was admitted to its intensive care unit (ICU).

Because he had no salary, Devaraja was not able to pay the cost of the medical treatment for his wife.

The unpaid rent, arrears in water and electricity, and the loan instalment for his motorcycle caused him and his family to be more depressed about their situation.

Like Panir, Devaraja had to resort to borrowing money to survive.

The circumstances, however, forced him to go one step further - he sought the help of money lenders in order to buy groceries for his family.

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Tamilarasan, 47, hails from Taman Tasik Kesuma. He fathers two children.

His youngest is studying in Form Four. His eldest is a year older and also in secondary school.

Tamilarasan's wife, Lucy, is a housewife. Like all the examples in this article, Tamilarasan is also facing hardship regarding payment of bills and the loan instalments for his house.

Furthermore, one of his kids is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove a swelling on the neck.

However, as important and as necessary as the operation is, Tamilarasan has had no choice but to postpone the procedure. With his pay continuing to be withheld, he is simply unable to meet the medical costs.

For now, Tamilarasan is busy concentrating on the biggest thing on his mind - to put food on the table every day for his beloved family. He, too, resorts to borrowing money from his friends and money lenders in order to make it through each day.

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PSM, on its part, is continuing with its efforts to help all 167 workers get their salaries as soon as possible.

If you can, or would like to assist in any way in this situation, please contact PSM at its headquarters.  The telephone number is as follows: 03-22747791. Contact person: Mr P Kesavan.

The aNt.

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Shining A Light On Ignorance

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Created on Thursday, 23 October 2014 07:00

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Written by Anthony Thanasayan

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HINDUS celebrated Deepavali yesterday.
The ancient annual occasion is also popularly known as 'festival of lights'.
It spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, hope over despair and, especially, knowledge over ignorance.  

No one probably knows and appreciates this better than 20-year-old Aveena Devi who resides in Subang Jaya in the state of Selangor.
Like me, she was born with spina bifida. The condition is a serious one in which part of the spine was not properly developed at birth, leaving the nerves in the back without any protection.
As a result, she uses a wheelchair to move about and is currently a student in a private school.
"I never got to understand my disability fully until I was about 10 years old," Aveena told me in an interview I had with her last week.

"All I knew as a child was that I couldn't walk like my older brother and sister. I knew I was different from the rest of my family and that something was wrong with me, but I wasn't particularly sad or depressed about it," she explained.
The credit goes clearly to her supportive parents and siblings.
"Mum, more than anyone else, was ever ready to talk to me about my disability. In fact, she always did, but I was too young to understand anything then - until I turned 10," Aveena pointed out.
"Mum told me about spina bifida, what it was and how it affects someone who has it.
"She also told me that there are no coincidences in life because everything happens for a good reason - even if we may not immediately know what that is."
Aveena noticed that, strangely enough, because she had a disability as a child, the experience made her more mature than most of her peers, so much so that her friends started calling her "old lady" in jest.
One of her greatest motivations in life is her religion. Another is her ability and freedom to practise it.
"God is my main inspiration in life. I pray every night and go to the temple at least three times a week. This is where I find strength, peace and inner healing - which I can't get anywhere else."
So it is not surprising why Aveena's world "came crashing down" - as she put it - when she was denied entry into the Sivan Temple in Bukit Gasing in Petaling Jaya, Selangor earlier this year, because of her wheelchair.
"Mum and I had just got out of our car and were heading towards the temple when a member of the temple staff stopped us. He said, 'Devotees in wheelchairs are disallowed because wheelchairs are considered dirty, just like shoes and slippers.'
"We had no choice but to leave then and there. That was the first time in my life I felt 'disabled' and was made to feel that I was the problem in society rather than the other way around, especially for its not providing for my needs.
"I was so glad that, at home that night, my dad and my mum spoke to me and helped me gain back my confidence. I realised that the problem wasn't me. It was everything to do with prejudice stemming from ignorance on the part of the able-bodied about persons with disabilities." 
Aveena also pointed out that she was deeply disappointed that the state assemblyman for Bukit Gasing, Rajiv Rishayakaran, and Petaling Jaya City Council's (MBPJ) councillor for the area, Cynthia Gabriel, had made no effort to contact her to offer their sympathy and support because of the rejection, insult and humiliation she and other disabled persons had suffered, being treated as less than human.
Not only that, but the former had refused to see the matter as one of discrimination against persons with disabilities.
"I hope that elected and appointed representatives will realise that we are people too. We have feelings, just like everyone else."
The good news, however, is that the matter was finally resolved after several dozen people in wheelchairs protested at the temple against its discriminatory policy.
The temple officials came to their senses. The offensive wordings on their signboard were removed.
Today, Aveena still actively fulfils her religious duties and vows by visiting temples with the same fervour as before.
"Sometimes, when people stare curiously at my wheelchair, I immediately offer them my best smile. If they come up to talk to me, I welcome them with open arms. When they ask me about my disability, I am ever ready to educate them about it."
Aveena says her favourite temples are those which have ramps and which allow her wheelchair unimpeded access so that she can get as close to each deity as possible - just like able-bodied devotees.
Aveena is also the author of the book 'What's Your Problem?'. She said she will continue to use her experiences in life with regards to disability to shine a light on darkness, ignorance and prejudice wherever she goes.
NOTE: All new temples and other places of worship in PJ are required to provide disabled-friendly facilities in order for building approval to be granted by the Petaling Jaya City Council.

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A crippling budget for the disabled

A crippling budget for the disabled - Anthony Thanasayan

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Created on Thursday, 16 October 2014 07:00

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Written by Anthony Thanasayan

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LAST FRIDAY's Budget 2015 for persons with disabilities was a huge letdown.

I mean, just imagine: How can a mere monthly increase of RM50 from RM300 to RM350 for disabled workers make a meaningful difference in their expenses?

And please note, the RM50 is only for employees with disabilities who earn a salary within RM1200 a month.

So not all disabled workers are being "helped".

Then, there are those without jobs. For them there is also that RM50 increment. Instead of RM150 a month, it's RM200 now.

It doesn't take a brain scientist to realise how ludicrous this is for someone with no income at all!

What is the government really trying to do? Help the disabled to become truly independent so that they can one day fend for themselves, or ensure that they remain as charity objects so that the world can control and continue to patronise them?

Budget 2015 certainly seems to be geared to the latter.  

Let's consider the following real-life stories:

CK is 65 years old, unmarried and blind. He lost his sight in an accident. A sharp point in the canopy of the stall where he was working pierced his eye and the infection from it eventually rendered his other eye blind too.

That all happened when he was a teenager. Today, he lives in a low-cost flat in Shah Alam, Selangor.

After retirement, he applied for an unemployment allowance from the Welfare Department. He had to make several trips there before some officers finally came to his home for what he described as "an assessment of his living conditions".

In the end he got a rude shock. The Welfare Department agreed to give him only RM80 instead of the full RM150. CK got so upset and insulted by their action that he decided to reject the welfare aid altogether.

"As a disabled person, no one can take my dignity away from me or try to humiliate my struggles in doing my best to lead an independent life," he said.  

CK has a heart problem which requires regular checkups in a government hospital. He uses taxis to keep his appointments with his doctor.

Sometimes he gets lucky and manages to get someone to accompany him. However, it is not uncommon for him to have to pay that person for his/her services. Apart from this, there are also the utility bills, food and other living expenses to be taken care of, and CK has to dig into whatever is left of his savings to settle these.

"Like everyone else, I would love to continue to work, but the reality is no one wants to employ an old man especially when he is blind like me," he concluded.

MD is also a blind individual living in Puchong, Selangor. At 65 years of age, she has a part-time job helping to stick donation appeal letters into envelopes for a blind society.

She travels to her workplace three times a week by taxi. She manages to earn about RM350 a month but most of her money is swallowed up by her taxi fares.

"I have to reapply for my allowance every year," MD pointed out. "But the reminders that the Welfare Department sends out are in printed form and not in Braille," she added.

As a result, MD has to find a sighted person to first read the letters to her and then help her to fill out the form.

"It would be much better if the welfare officers called up the blind on our mobile phones and then made an appointment to visit us and help us fill out the forms," said MD, "but they never visit the blind."

Wheelchair-users have been complaining that their monthly allowances have been disappearing from their bank accounts. They only get to know about this when they visit the bank to collect their allowances.

The Welfare Department (JKM) has confirmed that this sometimes happens when the recipients fail to renew them with the Department.

However, despite assurances from the top brass in JKM that the problems will be attended to promptly, disabled persons at grassroots level still complain of encountering unhelpful and sometimes rude frontline staff who don't give them the help that they require.

Finally, disabled activists who work with persons with disabilities on the ground have been lobbying for a minimum of RM500 monthly allowance for all disabled Malaysians across the board to help them cope with the rising cost of living.            

The matter was also raised directly with Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim at several meetings with the disabled.

Unfortunately, that never happened with Budget 2005, which is really the biggest disappointment of all.

It must also be pointed out that disabled senator Bathmavathi Krishnan has let the handicapped community down in the country.

This is the first budget to come out with a wheelchair senator in Parliament. As a result, the expectations were high.  

But now, many in the disabled community are left wondering if she has done the needful, in convincing the top brass of the country why a RM500 allowance for all disabled persons is the best option to take.

Bernama news agency quoted her as saying she was pushing for RM150 to RM300 monthly for the disabled who are unemployed.

This is utterly ridiculous as RM200 or RM300 wouldn't even begin to address the important issue of raising the quality of life of disabled people who are out of jobs and badly in need of financial assistance.

Disabled activists are also questioning the purpose of having  an annual grant of RM1million for the National Council for Persons with Disabilities.

They want to know why this grant has been given, not only for a group that only meets about four times a year, but also for one which hardly interacts with the disabled community.

The aNt.

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Giving a thought to the animals

Rizalman remanded in New Zealand - Saturday, 25 October 2014 08:32

Giving a thought to the animals -Anthony Thanasayan

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Created on Thursday, 09 October 2014 10:04

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Written by -Anthony Thanasayan

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PEOPLE AROUND THE GLOBE celebrated World Animal Day last Saturday.  

The first such occasion dates back all the way to 1931 in the beautiful city of Florence in Italy.

A convention of ecologists was held there then. They began to see an important and urgent need to highlight the plight of animals around the world.

They wanted to make as many people as possible become aware of the dangers animals faced in their struggle to survive and what was needed to bring about a positive change for them.

Their focus at that time was primarily on endangered species.

Today, World Animal Day has grown by leaps and bounds to reflect on ALL ANIMALS that we share our world with, and how vital it is to bring about a respectful relationship with them so that we can successfully co-exist with each other.

October 4 went on to become the special day for World Animal Day which is observed annually.

Some of the best memories which I have of this joyous occasion are the ones during the time I served as a councillor for the Petaling Jaya City Council or MBPJ.

I recall setting up a special committee of which I was the chairperson. It was within a couple of months after I joined MBPJ in 2008.

Although it was meant to deal with all animal issues in the city (except those of monkeys, which are covered by wildlife), we decided to call it the 'Canine Advisory Team meeting' or 'CAT', for short.

We loved the play of words in our unique name. It always seemed to have a particularly calming effect on those who had fears of or extreme views on dogs in our programmes.

Dogs ended up as our main focus because, let's admit it, they are the "biggest problem" for the councils.

I never realised this until I joined the meetings at the health department and came across all the complaints made by residents against canines, especially stray dogs.

I soon became aware of how tough it was to sit in the health department's director's chair and to have to sort out each problem.

These ranged from stray dogs "cleaning out" the dustbins in residential areas (and creating a mess as a result) to chasing and attacking joggers, women, the elderly and even children in the streets.

What shocked me even more were the pathetic excuses that some animal lovers and NGOs gave, at official meetings, for the dog attacks on children and the elderly.

They automatically blamed the victims for provoking the animals when no such thing happened.

I mean, do they even realise the kind of impression they are creating for themselves among the public and municipalities for their insensitive remarks?

The truth of the matter is that stray animals are made up of all kinds. There are dogs that ignore people and those that find others a threat, especially when they are marking their territory.

Of course, local councils are not without their faults as well.

One thing I've learnt over the years is that if there is one thing that local councils severely lack in their stray management programmes, it is public and personal education.

This was one of CAT's chief objectives.

Whilst we acknowledged the importance of stray population control for the good of humans and the animals concerned, councils need to go about it in a humane and kind way.

There is no place whatsoever for animal cruelty in the councils.

To bring this about, we managed to invite the rest of the 11 councils in Selangor to our MBPJ meetings. (Kuala Lumpur's City Hall's dog unit was also a regular in CAT.)

Our usual two-hour meetings often went into three hours per session.

Each council would take turns to share their problems in their respective municipalities and we would then try to come up with the best solution together.

The Klang Municipality (MPK) took a giant step forward by setting up its own CAT committee to deal specifically with its own problems.

From a local council which previously didn't have a budget for dog food for its canines on death row, MPK CAT pushed hard for one and got it.

Apparently, the previous argument by some councillors for not having a budget for food for canines in the dog pound was that there was no reason to bother about this since the dogs would be euthanised anyway!

Before the budget, MPK got eating outlets and restaurants in the vicinity to donate their leftovers for the day to feed the hungry animals.  

Like MBPJ, MPK also had several awareness forums for World Animal Day to educate pet owners to be responsible for their pets.

MBPJ took a step further to give awards for model dog and cat owners in the city.

Walking their dogs at all times on a leash, promptly picking up their pets' poo after them and disposing of it properly, were some of the prerequisites for becoming a recipient of the special animal responsibility award.

Without a doubt, the way forward for local councils entrusted with the heavy responsibility of running an effective stray management programme - and for animal NGOs with a mission to promote animal welfare in society - is for the two to come together in a meaningful and committed way to work together in creating a better world for animals everywhere.

Happy World Animal Day everybody!

The aNt.

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Home alone: Don't forget the elderly

Home alone: Don't forget the elderly -Anthony Thanasayan

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Created on Thursday, 02 October 2014 10:40

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Written by Anthony Thanasayan

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INTERNATIONAL DAY of Older Persons was observed all over the globe yesterday.

It is a day designated by the United Nations General Assembly a quarter of a century ago for Older Persons.

This year's theme was 'Leaving No One Behind: Promoting a Society for All'.

The UN points out that the guiding principle of the theme 'Leaving No-One Behind'  "necessitates the understanding that demography matters for sustainable development and population dynamics will shape the key developmental challenges for the world in confronting the 21st century.

"If our ambition is to 'Build the Future We Want', we must address the population over 60 which is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2030."

I came across some very disturbing facts on the UN's website about how the elderly are victimised around the world.

Shockingly, these are persons aged 80 years or older who suffer abuse and neglect two to three times their proportion of the older population.

Among the known perpetrators of such abuse and neglect are family members; they account for 90 percent of the cases.

Two-thirds of the perpetrators are adult children or spouses.

The offenders are most commonly close relatives, especially grown-up children, the spouse or siblings.

Less often is the abuser a son or daughter, an in-law, a grandchild, a niece or nephew, a  friend or neighbour.

The typical target is a frail, ailing woman who is more than 70 years old.

The UN report goes on to say that in most cases, the victim and the abuser live in the same household in social isolation from friends, neighbours and kin who might otherwise informally deter the wrongdoing.

When homebound parents are physically beaten or financially exploited, sons are the most likely culprits.

When daughters and daughters-in-law are abusive, their maltreatment usually takes the form of emotional and physical neglect.

Mistreatment by home health aides and nursing-home staff members is also suspected to be commonplace.

Older persons who are mistreated can suffer from severe emotional distress, especially depression, and are likely to die more quickly.

I personally know of at least two cases in my area where dementia, which experts say affects one in three persons over 80 years of age, exacerbates the problem.

Because of a lack of understanding of how the condition robs an individual of the ability to make lucid decisions, the police failed to take action against the son who was abusing his mother both physically and financially.

Even the welfare officers who, by right, should be well-versed about dementia, failed to act quickly, resulting in the elderly becoming even more vulnerable to their abusers.

On another note, there is so much that we as a society can do for the elderly citizens in our country. It doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes, the simplest of gestures can make a big difference in their lives.

These include:

• An endless supply of patience: Watch that tone of yours when speaking to an elderly person. Never sound harsh, impatient or uncaring. Allow each individual to take his/her time, bearing in mind that as one gets older, it takes extra effort to get things done. You will need that too, one day, when you are their age.
  
• Special queues for the elderly: These have been promised by the government but not all facilities provide them. A doctor's appointment may only last for a few minutes for older people but the process could take several hours, causing great discomfort for them. An express lane would definitely make a difference. Diabetics who turn up for their regular blood checks should be seen as quickly as possible. This is because they began fasting the night before and waiting to be treated in the morning can trigger dangerous low-sugar level reactions since they cannot have their breakfast before the test. Can hospitals also have attendants to accompany the elderly to the various clinics when they come alone, please?
  
• Being sensitive when dealing with the elderly: Please don't shout at those who have hearing aids. They may not have heard you fully the first time with their gizmos but they can pick up rudeness and impatience very quickly and get hurt by your attitude.
  
• Providing nursing-home care: It's not cruel to put your elderly parents in a caring nursing home. However, it is not acceptable when you decide not to visit regularly. Take along your dad or mum's favourite food when you visit each week. And don't forget that solemn advice: Be good to your children and grandchildren as they are the ones who will most likely decide what kind of nursing home to put you in when it is your turn.
  
• Kind acts by local councils: Local councils, please do up your broken pathways and pavements especially in public parks. Keep them in good condition always. Neglected public facilities are a danger to the elderly and children. Please also have a hotline for elderly and disabled people living alone so that they will be able to call the local council for help in an emergency. Having a list of senior and handicapped residents and checking up on them from time to time is a great idea and great practice.