Interesting Letters in the Press

How To Save Your Computer From Drink Spills

2007-11-03T02:07:00.000-07:00

Saving Your Laptop after a Spill
Adapted From: Upgrading & Fixing Laptops for Dummies:
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This article was excerpted from: Upgrading & Fixing Laptops for Dummies:
Water, coffee, and soda are among your laptop's worst enemies. Just a little bit of such a liquid on your laptop keyboard can damage or destroy your machine or cause you to lose data.

Some laptops are more vulnerable to damage from a spill on the keyboard than others, and it doesn't always have anything to do with the price tag. Some keyboards have a thin rubber membrane beneath the keys with electrical contacts molded right into little domes under each letter; that design may feel squishy and cheap to some users, but it stands up better to a splash or a flood than a more traditional design with springs and exposed contacts. How do you know which type of design you have? Take a look for yourself by prying off a keytop; if you're shopping, you may be able to get the information from the manufacturer or a dealer.
The best way to prevent damage from a mix of liquid and electronics is to keep them as far apart as possible. Keep your laptop far away from cups of coffee, glasses of water, and cans of soda.
But in the real world, stuff happens. If you have a choice of poisons, take the water spill. A hot cup of coffee, a cold glass of soda, or a glass of wine are each bad news; all of them are slightly acidic. Acidic liquids are nastier than nearly neutral water because the acid can corrode metal contacts. And both coffee and soda can become gummy and sticky as they dry.

Here's the drill for an emergency recovery from a spill:
1. If you have your machine plugged into wall current, turn off the power at the circuit breaker in your home or office.
You don't want to touch a wet wire carrying 110 volts or so.
If you're running the machine on battery power, it's still operating, and you don't see sparks, hear odd noises, or smell burnt electrical components, shut your laptop down through the normal Windows process.
If something is obviously wrong with the machine, turn it off immediately by depressing the Off switch or by removing the battery.
2. Ground yourself by touching the center screw on the faceplate of a dry electrical outlet or by touching some other metal object that reaches to ground.
3. If you haven't done so in emergency mode, remove the AC adapter and the battery, and set them aside.
4. Disconnect any external devices (such as a mouse) attached to the USB, FireWire, serial, or other ports.
5. If you find any liquid on the battery or AC adapter, wipe them carefully and set them aside.
If your spill has thoroughly soaked the AC adapter or the battery, you probably need to consider it a loss. You can get replacement AC adapters and batteries from various sources, including the original equipment manufacturer, laptop accessory companies, and the used market.
6. Remove any cards installed in the PC Card slot.
If they're wet, carefully dry them off. If any water has gotten into the narrow slot, dry out the area with a cotton swab, taking care not to leave any threads of cotton in the internal connector.
7. Wipe off any liquid on the display.
Use a clean cloth dampened with water to remove any sticky residue.
8. Remove the hard drive and the CD/DVD drives if you have them installed in plug-in bays.
Dry them off if they're wet. Set them aside.
9. Open the memory module container; remove and dry the memory modules.
Make notes on the placement of the modules. Set them aside.
10. Hand-dry the keyboard surface with a lint-free cloth.

If you spill soda or coffee, consult the instruction manual for your computer and learn how to carefully remove each of the keycaps for the affected area. If the instruction manual includes a picture of the keyboard, make sure that you can see the names of all the keys and their locations; otherwise, make a drawing of the board, paying special attention to the location of some of the specialized keys, including cursor keys, Page Up, Page Down, Scroll Lock, and the like. Or you can use a digital camera to take a picture of the keyboard.
11. Clean the exposed membrane or switch cover and the keys themselves.
Leave the keys to dry before replacing them.
12. Leaving the display open, place the computer on a sturdy surface supported by two books or small boxes.

This setup lets air circulate all around the computer. Leave the computer and all of its separate parts to air dry for at least 24 hours. Don't use a fan or (horrors) a hair dryer to attempt to fast-forward the drying process.
13. Reassemble the pieces that you removed.
Do this step a day or more after doing Step 1 through Step 12, and make sure that everything is dry and that you don't have any dried puddles of sticky acid left anywhere on the machine. Remember to ground yourself before touching any circuitry or modules, and begin the power-up process with the battery first and the AC adapter second.
If in doubt about the safety of any part, you should go ahead and replace it instead of using it. Replacing a battery, an AC adapter, or even a hard disk drive always costs a lot less than replacing a motherboard.

IN Malaysiakini

2007-01-18T01:44:00.000-08:00

Have a heart for the disabled, KLCC told
Andrew Ong
Jan 18, 07 11:40am Adjust font size:

Mohd Firdaus Azizan suffers from cerebral palsy. The condition prevents the 24-year-old from being able to feed, dress or clean himself.

He suffers from speech impediment and cannot use his limbs. He has limited use of his fingers, but still manages to manuever a motorised wheelchair.

Despite this, Firdaus is determined to live as independently as possible.

The youth sells souvenir items such as key-chains and postcards along the pedestrian tunnel linking the KLCC Putra LRT station and Suria KLCC shopping complex.

"I enjoy selling these things and making an honest living," said Firdaus with the help of an interpreter during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

But now, his livelihood is at stake because KLCC Urus Harta managing director Mustafa Awang said that 'beggars' along the tunnel portray a negative image about Malaysia.

KLCC Urus Harta took over the tunnel from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on Jan 1 and has given its ‘squatters’ till Jan 18 to vacate.

Failing which, Mustafa reportedly warned that enforcement officers from the DBKL and Welfare Services Department would be summoned to remove them.

'Be proud of him'

Are petty traders with physical and mental disabilities seen as ‘damaging’ to the country’s reputation?

This was the question raised at the press conference called by the newly formed Malaysians Against Discrimination of the Disabled (Madd) coalition.

“Being able to sell things gives Firdaus some purpose and joy in his life,” said the coalition’s legal adviser N Surendran (right).

While acknowledging that KLCC has full rights over the tunnel, he said the company could have handled the situation better.

“We would think that KLCC would use their discretion and allow them to continue trading, or at least propose an alternative for them to earn a living,” he added.

KLCC should help the disabled as part of their corporate social responsibility, stressed the lawyer.

Meanwhile, wheelchair-bound activist Anthony Thanasayan also expressed disappointment over the issue.

“Why should we see people like Firdaus as a shame to the country? KLCC should be proud of him,” he told the press conference.

He said inaccessibility of public transport and buildings hinder many talented disabled people from seeking meaningful employment.

Contacted today, Mustafa declined to comment on the criticisms. He referred malaysiakini to a public relations officer who could not offer immediate comments.

Copyright © 1999-2006 Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd. All rights reserved.

Disabled Protest the MPS, The Star

2007-01-10T18:23:00.000-08:00

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Nation
Thursday January 11, 2007

Group protests against treatment

By STUART MICHAEL

KUALA LUMPUR: About 50 disabled people gathered at the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) building at Bandar Baru Selayang yesterday to submit a memorandum expressing their dissatisfaction over the manner some MPS staff were treating disabled people.

The group mostly in wheelchairs, who alleged that MPS acted unfairly against the physically-challenged community, were frustrated when they did not get a chance to hand over the memorandum personally to MPS president Zainal Abidin Azim.

“I told them to meet me in a meeting room three times but they refused,” said Zainal.

The group of disabled persons was accompanied by lawyer N. Surendran.

The memorandum cited the alleged harsh treatment faced by disabled trader Murugan Rajoo last Thursday when MPS enforcement officers seized his motorcycle when he was nabbed for selling titbits outside a school in Rawang without a trading licence.

Murugan’s motorcycle was kept at the MPS branch office in Rawang.

A few hours later, with the assistance of MPS councillor M.B. Raja, the motorcycle was returned to Murugan.

Among those who turned up at the protest was Support Group Society for the Blind of Malaysia master mariner Capt A. Karim Stuart Russell, Police Watch & Human Rights Committee (Malaysia) secretary S. Manikavasagam, Support Group Society for the Blind of Malaysia Kuala Lumpur vice-president Anthony Thanasayan, Independent Living and Training Centre president Francis Siva and former TV3 newscaster Ras Adiba Radzi.

Anthony said the disabled people merely wanted justice.

“Why can’t Zainal come down to see us? We just wanted to give him the memorandum, that’s all. It shows that the council is not sympathetic to the needs of the disabled,” said Anthony.

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ROS fraud

2006-12-21T19:44:00.000-08:00

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Opinion
Thursday December 21, 2006

ROS online service should come free

I support the move by the Registrar of Societies to start an online screening system next year that will enable the public to know who are eligible and who are not fit to hold posts in associations, societies and clubs,” ROS to screen office bearers” (Sunday Star, Dec 17)

I certainly hope such a service will be available at no cost to us.

In addition to exposing office bearers who illegally hold posts, such as bankrupts, fraudsters and people facing court action, I am also concerned about groups appearing in public and the media that give the impression that they are registered associations.

I know of one or two “organisations” which give out statements claiming to represent the people but are actually one-man shows.

What is worse is when they resort to collecting funds. This is deemed illegal by the ROS even for pro-tem organisations (groups whose submissions have yet to be approved by the ROS).

Some of them even find devious ways like using their personal businesses and private bank accounts to receive money from the unwary public.

In such cases, there is no place for accountability as these individuals rake in the profits from their seemingly worthy causes.

Even issues of caring and rescuing animals (which is a very good thing) have become the latest “victims” of such fraud.

The ROS must ensure the online service includes a section where the public can provide details of such activities so that they can be stopped.

JEFF BALAN,
Kuala Lumpur.

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Statement on blind on IDD 2006, Nov 25, 2006

2006-11-25T04:18:00.000-08:00

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Opinion
Saturday November 25, 2006

Software to help the blind

THE United Nation’s International Day of Disabled Persons which falls on Dec 3 provides a platform to promote understanding and to increase awareness of disability issues, and to rally support for the independence, integration, dignity, equal rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

With sound education, which should, in essence, be no different from that of any other person, the disabled can and should be integrated into and participate in every aspect of social, economic, political and cultural life.

To achieve a thorough education, the blind need “E- Accessibility” through special computer screen reading and other software and specialised computer hardware

There are many screen readers on the market. In Malaysia the popular one is called “JAWS ©” but it is very expensive with prices starting from about RM3,500, which is far beyond the reach of all but the fortunate few.

Even those who could perhaps afford to buy a basic computer may well be unable to afford a screen reader programme without which they are unable to use the computer.

Braille translator software, which provides translation and formatting facilities to automate the process of conversion from regular print to Braille (and vice-versa), is also a vital asset for the blind. Again, this type of software is very expensive.

A useful piece of computer hardware is a refreshable Braille display which provides Braille output from a computer, but these displays cost RM20,000 upwards, so almost every blind Malaysian is unable to buy and use them.

The blind must be given the opportunities to do more than make baskets, give massages, and beg for money by playing music, or selling tissues, by the roadside.

As the world celebrates the International Day of Disabled Persons, let every Malaysian help to open up opportunities for the disabled so that they can be integrated into society, be fully and independently able to participate in every aspect of life, go to work, raise a family, and be happy and contented citizens.

KATHLEEN MUNA OTHMAN,

President,

Support Group Society for the

Blind of Malaysia.

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Don't Cut Screening UMNO assembly proceedings, Nov 22, 2006

2006-11-22T07:30:00.000-08:00

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Opinion
Wednesday November 22, 2006

A mistake to stop airing Umno assemblies

IT was reported that Malaysians may, in future, not be able to watch the Umno general assembly proceedings live on air again following criticisms the party received over the latest meeting, “Rethink on live telecast” (The Star, Nov 21).

I sincerely hope there is a rethink over the “rethink” because to cut Malaysians viewers off would be a big mistake.

There are hundreds – no, thousands – of us who love politics, especially with what goes on in the country.

Although I am not an Umno member, whatever is decided at the assembly affects me and all of Malaysia.

Naturally I would want to know everything that goes on there.

And although I do not have the time to catch all the speeches, I do make it a point to hear what I am interested in.

Let's face it, the print media and radio can only tell so much of what transpires at the assembly.

But on TV, we see virtually everything, including what our leaders wear, who they smile or whisper to. We get the facial and body expressions of the speakers.

TV also gives us an uncut version of the speeches made rather than a condensed one the next day in the print media.

Airing the Umno assembly will also inspire our younger generation to show interest in what is happening in our country, who the decision-makers are and how to engage in healthy and productive discussions and debates with those in power on issues that concern us all.

I think that if some people are concerned over things that are said in poor taste or are not fit for consumption – then those who say them should be careful not to utter them in the first place or behave properly in front of the camera.

I think it is also every Malaysian's right to have access to the proceedings.

TV NUT,
Kuala Lumpur.

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AID Letter in NST September 4, 2006

2006-09-04T02:54:00.000-07:00

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Letters

We have a long way to go
04 Sep 2006
ANTHONY THANASAYAN, for Access & Inclusion for the Disabled (AID)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE lack of suitable public transport for disabled citizens affects many thousands of handicapped Malaysians.

Access and Inclusion for the Disabled (AID), a protem group representing disability organisations in Malaysia, is gravely concerned whether the new monorail, soon to be built in Penang, Johor and elsewhere — as well as the new LRT service between Kota Damansara and Cheras to be built in four years — will be fully accessible to Malaysians with disabilities.

Our concern is based on the condition of the present Kuala Lumpur monorail. It is not accessible to the disabled.

We fear the situation will repeat itself in future monorail projects. Therefore, we wish to find out from the authorities if the needs of the disabled will be considered in the plans for such systems, as well as in the planning and design of the proposed Bullet Train from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.

The 2005 Budget included 200 new buses for the general public. However, the list did not include disabled-friendly buses. Malaysians with disabilities would like to insist that the new buses be wheelchair-accessible, and that they start running as soon as possible.

Incidentally, disabled-friendly buses are in use not only in developed countries, but also closer to home — in China, India, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore.

It is a shame that Malaysians with disabilities still do not have the freedom to travel independently.

Many are stuck at home, without jobs, and thus are a burden to society.

The recent fuel price hikes have affected the disabled much more than others. The "luckier ones" with modified cars have had to significantly cut down on their driving.

We suggest that the Government help disabled drivers by waiving toll fees.

Furthermore, giving all Malaysian disabled persons (there are more than 160,000 registered handicapped) a monthly allowance of RM500 will help them to meet their basic expenses.

Airlines should also offer greatly reduced fares to the disabled and ensure that wheelchairs and other assistance are provided at no cost. (Disabled and elderly passengers on AirAsia have to pay for wheelchair services). Further improvements are also needed at train and bus stations, taxi stands and airports.

KTM Komuter, as well as the main line trains, are still generally inaccessible to wheelchair users, as there are many flights of steps to be negotiated and wide gaps between the carriages and the platforms in certain areas.

We urge the Ministry of Transport to set up an action committee immediately to identify all the problems, and to ensure that all forms of transport and transport infrastructure are 100 per cent disabled-friendly.

People with disabilities should also sit on such a committee as the disabled are in the best position to advise such a group about their needs.
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Marpo letter on pet adoption, Metro Star, Aug 19, 2006

2006-08-19T05:18:00.000-07:00

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Central
Saturday August 19, 2006

‘Pets need lots of care’

WE refer to the recent reports on pet adoption efforts by animal lovers.

The Malaysian Association for Responsible Pet Ownership (Marpo) applauds every Malaysian who decides to open their homes to unwanted animals.

However, we would like to caution each would-be pet owner to consider the heavy responsibilities involved in keeping a pet. Puppies and kittens may look and behave nice and cute but when they are grown, it may be another kettle of fish altogether – opening up challenges that pet owners may not be quite ready for.

Not everyone can and should own a dog or cat. Animals should never be given out free, to prevent abuse and no one should decide to “try out” a pet.

Owning a dog, for instance, is a 10- to 15-year commitment.

Never buy a puppy or dog as a present for someone unless they have agreed to take on the responsibility of looking after it. Dogs, like children, require a great deal of time and care and can be expensive.

People thinking of adopting pets should always make an informed choice: Consider their homes and their lifestyles. Local by-laws on keeping dogs should also be observed. Pets need plenty of tender loving care and should never be neglected. Regular check-ups with the veterinarian and neutering pets are a must. Be considerate to others, never allow pets to roam in the neighbourhood without a leash and always pick up after your dog.

Giving a home to an unwanted pet may not be as straightforward and easy as you think.

DR JON S. SATYAMOORTHY,

Pro-tem president, Malaysian

Association for Responsible

Pet Ownership, Selangor

Source:

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Letter To New Straits Times, Controversy over Zoos, June 27, 2006

2006-06-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

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Set up animal sanctuaries instead
22 Jun 2006
RAIHANA SOUKET ALI Petaling Jaya

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RECENTLY, I visited the National Zoo in Ampang. It is in a deplorable state. The animals are a sad lot, skinny (the lion was, seriously, a bag of bones) and looking depressed.

There was one section, with birds, snakes and ponies, where visitors can touch and play with animals. Sadly, there was no one to monitor the activities of visitors. Children and adults were abusing the animals, pulling them or trying to hold them.

I saw one man pull the feathers of a parrot to make it scream while another tugged hard at the rope attached to a pony to take some photos. Zoo staff should have been there to control the crowd.

The hostility shown by some visitors towards animals is surely the result of a lack of education on animal welfare.

Mahatma Gandhi said that the greatness of a nation is seen in how it treats its animals. In Malaysia, even the authorities entrusted with looking after animals and protecting them seem to lack the most basic knowledge on how to care for them.

Many of the enclosures are cramped and unkempt. Any caring human being can easily see that the enclosures for the giraffes and lions are too small. It is better to put them down then condemn these poor animals to life imprisonment in these places.

A zoo is not a natural environment for animals.

An animal sanctuary is more humane. The animals get to live in surroundings similar to their natural habitats and roam free over a larger territory.

I hope our zoo officials will seriously consider shutting down these animal-torture chambers and set up animal sanctuaries instead. I urge them to train all staff on how to look after the animals.

The Malaysian Nature Society has a better track record in education than government departments such as the Department of Veterinary Services and the Wildlife Departments.

I suggest the Government make it compulsory for all its civil servants dealing with animals to undergo training under the Malaysian Nature Society education programmes.

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Shutdown is not a solution
27 Jun 2006
A.S. Petaling Jaya

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I REFER to the letter by Raihana Souket Ali ("Set up animal sanctuaries instead" — NST, June 22).

While I agree that much more needs to be done for animals at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, I don’t think the solution lies in shutting down zoological parks and creating animal sanctuaries instead.

The problem with Zoo Negara appears to be one of management rather than the existence of the zoo itself.

The keepers must strictly ensure that none of the zoo animals suffers abuse from any visitor.

Children must be carefully supervised and zoo keepers must not hesitate to reprimand visitors who abuse any animal. I am also curious about a particular observation made by the writer about the lion as "looking skinny and depressed".

Is the writer suggesting that Zoo Negara officials are underfeeding the lion to the point of starvation?

I find this rather incredible as the zoo has its own vet team to take care of the animals.

I would also like to know how the writer was able to understand the psyche of an animal to say it was "depressed"? What if the animal was merely tired or resting?

After all, lions sleep for most of the day unless it is time to hunt for game. And a lion is able to go without food for a few days once it has had its fill.

The writer must realise that if the lion was in the wild, it may not even have survived this long for lack of food or even have succumbed to diseases as we have seen in animal documentaries.

Life in the wild isn’t about freedom but more about survival of the fittest.

In a zoo setting, the animal has the privilege of having its food served on time and its medical requirements met.

I don’t know the answer myself, but did the writer do a study to find out how long that particular lion has been living in Zoo Negara before making her severe criticisms?
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StarMetro Mail, April 24, 2006 on compulsory vet care

2006-04-24T00:49:00.000-07:00

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Central
Monday April 24, 2006

Ensure adequate vets before enforcing rule

The Housing and Local Government Ministry is reported to be considering making it a must for dog owners to have their pet dogs undergo veterinary checks each year before they can renew their licences.

There is no doubt that the need for health checks are vital.

In fact, health checks shouldn’t only be for dogs but for cats as well.

But the answer is not as simplistic as one might be tempted to think.

The problem is when it is made mandatory.

It raises a host of serious and unanswered questions such as:

Are there sufficient vet services in the country for such an undertaking? Are they nearby or accessible to pet owners? Is it fair to impose further burdens on pet owners which will only affect responsible pet owners?

What about pet owners who have no transport to ferry their animals to the vet? Should they be barred from having dogs? Will it be okay then for us to cart our dogs in the bus or taxi in such situations? Or should one with dogs decide to abandon their animals for fear of the law? What about those who use motorcycles? Should they totally forget the idea about getting a dog?

What about dogs that are difficult to manage and don’t leave the owners’ premises?

What about unethical vets who because of poor business or whatever, try and exploit the situation by prescribing unnecessary treatments to the doting pet owner?

Will a mandatory health check motivate irresponsible pet owners to care more for their dogs now that they are being “forced” to? Or will it alienate them further and make them refuse to get licence for their pets?
In the end, an arbitrary health check law will only hurt good dog owners who make it a habit to bring in their dogs several times a year.

The answer, therefore, lies not in legislation but in education of pet owners.

EDUCATED DOG,

Petaling Jaya.

Source:

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StarMetro Mail, April 24, 2006 on compulsory vet care

2006-04-24T00:31:00.000-07:00

N E W S Go elsewhere ----------------------- News Business Market Watch Sports Lifestyle Entertainment Technology Education Mind Our English Columnists Photos Video Clips Last 7 Days 30-Day Archive RSS Mobile Edition What's Hot Write to Us ----------------------- MyStar AllMalaysia.info Global Malaysians Kuali.com Citizen's Blog Podcast ----------------------- Classifieds Motoring Property Jobs ----------------------- AudioFile Clove Maritime Youth2 Horoscope Comics Directory Site Map The Web News Classifieds Stock

Central
Monday April 24, 2006

Ensure adequate vets before enforcing rule

The Housing and Local Government Ministry is reported to be considering making it a must for dog owners to have their pet dogs undergo veterinary checks each year before they can renew their licences.

There is no doubt that the need for health checks are vital.

In fact, health checks shouldn’t only be for dogs but for cats as well.

But the answer is not as simplistic as one might be tempted to think.

The problem is when it is made mandatory.

It raises a host of serious and unanswered questions such as:

Are there sufficient vet services in the country for such an undertaking? Are they nearby or accessible to pet owners? Is it fair to impose further burdens on pet owners which will only affect responsible pet owners?

What about pet owners who have no transport to ferry their animals to the vet? Should they be barred from having dogs? Will it be okay then for us to cart our dogs in the bus or taxi in such situations? Or should one with dogs decide to abandon their animals for fear of the law? What about those who use motorcycles? Should they totally forget the idea about getting a dog?

What about dogs that are difficult to manage and don’t leave the owners’ premises?

What about unethical vets who because of poor business or whatever, try and exploit the situation by prescribing unnecessary treatments to the doting pet owner?

Will a mandatory health check motivate irresponsible pet owners to care more for their dogs now that they are being “forced” to? Or will it alienate them further and make them refuse to get licence for their pets?
In the end, an arbitrary health check law will only hurt good dog owners who make it a habit to bring in their dogs several times a year.

The answer, therefore, lies not in legislation but in education of pet owners.

EDUCATED DOG,

Petaling Jaya.

Source:

More News:
Central Headlines New bridge for city folk and shoppers Short notice, lukewarm response to session Good planning helps 20 find the right spirit Preventive steps needed to curb workplace accidents Safety fears at dark bus stop Treaty to help cut smoking Council yet to receive reply from Health ministry Project to light up highway Fine Kashmiri crafts for an added touch of elegance Take good care of teeth, artistes urge Getting a taste of Songkran Art teacher wins SUV Special promotions at KL Photo Fair A restaurant that is simple by nature A drink a day Added appeal to race Keeping alive a tradition Move to find fresh talent Paintings by amateurs on exhibit City watch Thieves chipping away vacant home Ensure adequate vets before enforcing rule Probe earth works atop hill in Cheras

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New Straits times Press April 13, 2006

2006-04-14T00:13:00.000-07:00

Malaysiakini: Disabled Parking 12 April, 2006

2006-04-12T10:16:00.000-07:00

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Disabled parking needs proper planning
G Francis Siva
Apr 12, 06 3:31pm

Disabled people welcome the announcement in the media by Klang Municipal Council president Abdul Bakir Zin that the MPK is seriously looking into providing parking lots for the disabled in Klang.

However, in order to make such an effort effective and fruitful, the MPK must invite the participation of disabled people in their committee in order to provide their expertise and feedback as to how this can be best achieved.

A disabled friendly parking lot should have the following requirements:

Handicapped people car parks must be placed next or nearest to entrances of buildings with priority given to clinics, grocery shops, banks, post offices, government buildings, places of worship, etc. Where there are steps into buildings or walkways, ramps should also be provided.

The size should approximately be that of two car-park spaces normally given for the able- bodied. This is to allow drivers with wheelchairs sufficient space to get in and out of their vehicles without being obstructed by other parked cars on the left and right.

For those using three of four-wheeled motorcycles, space for wheelchairs should also be considered as many carry these on their bikes.

Wheelchair standup signs and logos should be clearly marked and visible from a distance and from the entrances of parking areas. It is important to come up with a standardised logo which doesn’t confuse handicapped drivers.

All disabled parking slots must come with a roof to protect the handicapped from the elements. A hot seat under the scorching sun can cause life-threatening blisters and wounds for paralysed drivers who can’t feel them. Umbrellas are no good for wheelchair users who may require at least 15 minutes to get in and out of a car whereas an able-bodied driver can accomplish it in 15 seconds.

Assistance from parking attendants, security guards, etc, should also be provided for those who require help in unloading/loading their wheelchairs from the car boot. An intercom service (such as the ones used to call for help if the parking barrier malfunctions) should also be devised for disabled people. Security cameras are also helpful not only to tell when a handicapped driver arrives but also to serve as an warning system in an emergency or danger.

Prompt action must be taken against non-disabled drivers who pinch disabled parking bays by continuos monitoring, the imposing of hefty fines or by clamping their vehicles. Without strict enforcement, all the efforts to provide the disabled with proper facilities will be futile.
Until all these requirements are fulfilled, all handicapped drivers should be exempted from all parking fees.

This letter is on behalf of the Independent Living and Training Centre, Rawang, Kelab Kecacatan Fizikal Klang, Persatuan Orang Cacat Anggota Melayu Malaysia (Permata), Persatuan Warga Istimewa & Rehabilitasi Anggota K9, Perkhimatan Keluarga Interaksi Orang Kurang Upaya (Kioku) Kuala Lumpur, the Selangor Cheshire Home, Persatuan Orang Cacat Anggota Malaysia, and Bivai Special Dogs for the Handicapped.

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The Star, April 04 2006

2006-04-03T19:37:00.000-07:00

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Parliament
Tuesday April 4, 2006

Shahrizat blasts councils

WOMEN, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil lambasted local authorities for not providing sufficient facilities to the disabled.

Attributing the situation in the country to poor implementation, she said the Government had established policies on the matter.

“I am extremely disappointed with them. It is as if they are sambil lewa (indifferent) over this matter,” she said at the Parliament lobby.

She was asked to comment on reports that a physically disabled woman, Guldip Kaur @ Rina, had received a letter from the Klang Municipal Council threatening court action for failing to pay for parking.

Rina claimed that she could not pay the parking fees because the bay she had used was not a special bay for the disabled and she could not reach the ticket machines.

Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (BN – Johor Baru) had asked Housing and Local Government Ministry parliamentary secretary Dr S. Subramaniam about this incident earlier during question time.

Shahrizat said this would not have happened if there were special facilities for the disabled.

“This is not difficult. Local authorities must include these things in their planning,” she said, adding that such facilities were the norm in other countries.

During question time, Shahrir, who pointed out Rina’s case, asked whether the Government was planning to audit every local authority to see if it provided good facilities and whether its officers were friendly towards the disabled.

Dr Subramaniam said the Government carried out a survey on local authorities last year and found that 72% of the buildings under the control of local authorities were disabled-friendly.

“The others are old buildings which are quite difficult to renovate due to space constraints,” he said, adding that the survey was conducted on 50 of 96 local authorities.

He said the old buildings were built before the Guidelines On Building Requirements For Disabled Persons were implemented in 1990.

“Some local authorities also do not have enough money to renovate the buildings,” he noted.

Dr Subramaniam said the ministry was responsible for ensuring that buildings were disabled-people friendly.

He said the Government also required the private sector to submit their building plans for approval.

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The Sun part 2 of 2, April 3, 2006

2006-04-03T19:28:00.000-07:00

Groups want council to cancel court action, apologise to Gurdip
by S. Tamarai Chelvi and V. Magessan

PETALING JAYA: The Klang Municipal Council (MPK) should cancel the notice of court action and arrest warrant issued against Gurdip Kaur Pritam Singh immediately, disabled groups and political parties urged.
Anthony Thanasayan, adviser to Independent Living and Training Centre, said the incident reflected the council's total lack of understanding and awareness of the plight of the disabled.

He said disabled people are afraid to go out.

Anthony said when there is no understanding and appreciation to the struggle they go through, it is no wonder many disabled persons refuse to venture out.

He said it is morally wrong to charge a disabled person for parking when the council do not provide disabled-friendly car parks.

He said the council should instead apologise to Gurdip Kaur for putting her through this.

Chong Tuck Meng, an adviser and founder of Perwira K9, a support group for people with spinal cord injuries (K9 is the name of the spinal ward of Hospital Kuala Lumpur), said MPK should withdraw the summons after knowing that the vehicle belongs to a disabled person.

He said the public should encourage disabled people to go out.

He said his members have their own cars but find parking a major problem.

He said it is difficult to get a taxi as most cabbies find it troublesome to ferry a disabled person and they charge extra.

In a statement to the press, Gerakan youth secretary general Hoo Saw Ho urged the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to work out an effective plan to resolve parking problems faced by the disabled.

The statement also asked the ministry to provide more allocation under 9th Malaysian Plan to upgrade the parking facilities.

He called for more special parking lots and for disabled person to be issued parking stickers.

theSun went with Gurdip yesterday to check out the parking bay in front of the Mariamman Temple in Klang which she had used.

We found that the parking ticket machine was built on an elevated concrete base. It was clear Gurdip Kaur could never reach the coin slot.

MPK public relations officer Norfiza Mahfiz said Gurdip Kaur should see them personally and speak to the legal adviser or the council president for a discount on the fines.

MPK legal advisee Fadzilah Abdul Aziz said they will look into the case and will consider cancelling the summons if the owner of the car is genuinely disabled.

EMAIL
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
epaper solution by BODHTREE
PETALING JAYA: The Klang Municipal Council (MPK) should cancel the notice of court action and arrest warrant issued against Gurdip Kaur Pritam Singh immediately, disabled groups and political parties urged. Anthony Thanasayan, adviser to Independent Living and Training Centre, said the incident reflected the council's total lack of understanding and awareness of the plight of the disabled. He said disabled people are afraid to go out. Anthony said when there is no understanding and appreciation to the struggle they go through, it is no wonder many disabled persons refuse to venture out. He said it is morally wrong to charge a disabled person for parking when the council do not provide disabled-friendly car parks. He said the council should instead apologise to Gurdip Kaur for putting her through this. Chong Tuck Meng, an adviser and founder of Perwira K9, a support group for people with spinal cord injuries (K9 is the name of the spinal ward of Hospital Kuala Lumpur), said MPK should withdraw the summons after knowing that the vehicle belongs to a disabled person. He said the public should encourage disabled people to go out. He said his members have their own cars but find parking a major problem. He said it is difficult to get a taxi as most cabbies find it troublesome to ferry a disabled person and they charge extra. In a statement to the press, Gerakan youth secretary general Hoo Saw Ho urged the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to work out an effective plan to resolve parking problems faced by the disabled. The statement also asked the ministry to provide more allocation under 9th Malaysian Plan to upgrade the parking facilities. He called for more special parking lots and for disabled person to be issued parking stickers. theSun went with Gurdip yesterday to check out the parking bay in front of the Mariamman Temple in Klang which she had used. We found that the parking ticket machine was built on an elevated concrete base. It was clear Gurdip Kaur could never reach the coin slot. MPK public relations officer Norfiza Mahfiz said Gurdip Kaur should see them personally and speak to the legal adviser or the council president for a discount on the fines. MPK legal advisee Fadzilah Abdul Aziz said they will look into the case and will consider cancelling the summons if the owner of the car is genuinely disabled.

The Sun part 1 of 2, April 3, 2006

2006-04-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

MPs: Do more for disabled persons
They should be treated with more dignity.' Shahrizat
by B. Suresh Ram

KUALA LUMPUR: Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil yesterday took to task local authorities for failing to provide proper and adequate facilities for disabled persons.
Commenting on the plight of wheelchair-bound paraplegic Gurdip Kaur Pritam Singh who faces arrest for not paying her parking tickets, Shahrizat said she was extremely disappointed with such a situation.

She said this could have been prevented if more bays for the disabled were provided as was the norm overseas.

"The local authorities must make this part and parcel of their development programmes," she told reporters at parliament lobby.

She said the country lacks in the area of providing more amenities to the disabled.

"They should be treated with more dignity."

Earlier, in the Dewan Rakyat, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister S. Subramaniam agreed the treatment of disabled persons by the staff of local authorities left much to be desired.

Coincidentally, the ministry's efforts in facilitating the disabled and low- income groups in paying their bills was scheduled for discussion in parliament yesterday.

The disabled persons are not the only ones facing such a problem, he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (BN-Johor Baru).

Shahrir wanted to know what steps were being taken by the ministry to ensure that local authorities treat disabled persons in a more respectable and humane manner.

He also wanted to know how they were addressing Gurdip's plight.

Subramaniam said the ministry holds seminars and courses to ensure council employees are more aware of the facilities and ways of dealing with ratepayers.

He said among the 50 local authorities that responded to a survey last year, 72% out of the 217 buildings in their holdings are disabled friendly.

The rest were not disabledfriendly and were old buildings built before the guidelines on disabled persons were gazetted.

Subramaniam said under the 9th Malaysia Plan, the ministry has sought allocation to provide more facilities for the disabled.

To the original question from Juslie Ajirol (BNLibaran), Subramaniam said in 1990, the ministry had amended the Uniform Building By-laws by incorporating provision for disabled persons such as barrier-free paths, special parking lots and counters for the disabled to pay bills.

"The department had also issued the Guideline on Building Requirements For Disabled Persons to require all quarters involved to follow and implement the by-laws."

Subramaniam said most government agencies including, local authorities, have prepared special counters and barrier free paths for the disabled.

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KUALA LUMPUR: Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil yesterday took to task local authorities for failing to provide proper and adequate facilities for disabled persons. Commenting on the plight of wheelchair-bound paraplegic Gurdip Kaur Pritam Singh who faces arrest for not paying her parking tickets, Shahrizat said she was extremely disappointed with such a situation. She said this could have been prevented if more bays for the disabled were provided as was the norm overseas. "The local authorities must make this part and parcel of their development programmes," she told reporters at parliament lobby. She said the country lacks in the area of providing more amenities to the disabled. "They should be treated with more dignity." Earlier, in the Dewan Rakyat, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister S. Subramaniam agreed the treatment of disabled persons by the staff of local authorities left much to be desired. Coincidentally, the ministry's efforts in facilitating the disabled and low- income groups in paying their bills was scheduled for discussion in parliament yesterday. The disabled persons are not the only ones facing such a problem, he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (BN-Johor Baru). Shahrir wanted to know what steps were being taken by the ministry to ensure that local authorities treat disabled persons in a more respectable and humane manner. He also wanted to know how they were addressing Gurdip's plight. Subramaniam said the ministry holds seminars and courses to ensure council employees are more aware of the facilities and ways of dealing with ratepayers. He said among the 50 local authorities that responded to a survey last year, 72% out of the 217 buildings in their holdings are disabled friendly. The rest were not disabled- friendly and were old buildings built before the guidelines on disabled persons were gazetted. Subramaniam said under the 9th Malaysia Plan, the ministry has sought allocation to provide more facilities for the disabled. To the original question from Juslie Ajirol (BN- Libaran), Subramaniam said in 1990, the ministry had amended the Uniform Building By-laws by incorporating provision for disabled persons such as barrier-free paths, special parking lots and counters for the disabled to pay bills. "The department had also issued the Guideline on Building Requirements For Disabled Persons to require all quarters involved to follow and implement the by-laws." Subramaniam said most government agencies including, local authorities, have prepared special counters and barrier free paths for the disabled.

New Straits Times Press today

2006-04-03T19:12:00.000-07:00

Malay Mail April 3, 2006

2006-04-03T19:08:00.000-07:00

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MPK criticised for its insensitive action

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KUALA LUMPUR: The Klang Municipal Council’s (MPK) actions in obtaining an arrest warrant for a disabled person for not paying her summons, was criticised by other physically-disabled citizens.

They were present at a Press conference organised by Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) yesterday to protest MPK’s actions.

Last Friday, quadriplegic Gurdip Kaur was slapped with an arrest warrant for not paying a summons.

Most said the council’s action was discriminatory towards the handicapped.

"We feel that we are being stereotyped. This is not the way to treat us. Are they trying to tell us to stay at home and not go out at all?" said ILTC adviser Anthony Thanasayan.

"Although we are disabled, we want to do what normal people do in our daily activities. But action like this often leaves us feeling discriminated against," he said.

Thanasayan, 46, has been paralysed since birth due to a spinal disorder.

Another member, Dixon David, 26, a quadriplegic following an accident five years ago, said he often faced problems when he goes out with his friends or family.

"In many cases, although there are disabled-parking spaces provided, we are not allowed to park our vehicles there if we go out with friends or family.

"Often the security guards will question us for parking at the disabled parking spot. They said since I am not the one driving, we are not allowed to park there," said David.

David said this kind of treatment becomes a hindrance for disabled people who enjoy meeting up with friends or going out with family members.

Roxanna Lim, 53, from Rawang, also faced the same problem whenever she brings her 21-year-old daughter out.

Her adopted daughter, Wong Lee Fong suffers from spastic cerebral palsy.

"Although I am not a disabled person, I have often come across unpleasant encounters when I bring her out with me.

"The councils should not only provide more parking spaces for the disabled, it should also be spacious enough so that it is easier for them to enter and exit their vehicle," said Lim.

Nur Azlan Alias, 41, from Petaling Jaya, said MPK officials should be more considerate while doing their job.

"Since there are no facilities for the disabled, we have no choice but to park anywhere," said Nur Azlan, who also suffers from spastic cerebral palsy.

"Their actions have caused unnecessary distress for Gurdip. They should exercise their discretion when coming across such cases.

"Had they done so, this would not have happened," he said.

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The Star, April 3, 2006

2006-04-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

N E W S

Nation
Monday April 3, 2006

Council taking disabled woman to court over parking fees

By THO XIN YI

KUALA LUMPUR: It can be difficult to find disabled-friendly parking space in Klang, yet the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) is prepared to take a disabled woman to court for failure to pay parking-related compounds.

Independent Living & Training Centre secretary Gurdip Kaur @ Rina was taken aback to receive a notice dated March 30 from the council informing her that court action “will be initiated at any time” against her.

NOTICE OF ACTION: Rina holding up the notice from the Klang Municipal Council during press conference in Kuala Lumpur.
The letter was headed “Notice of Court Action and Warrant of Arrest”.

Rina, 45, made frequent visits to Klang in mid-2004 as the centre was organising an event there and received about 10 compounds then for not paying parking fees.

“There were no parking lots for the disabled and the ticket machines were inaccessible for wheelchair-bound people as there were poles in front of them,” she said yesterday at a press conference.

According to her, when she called the council to explain the situation, its legal adviser Fadzilah Abd Aziz said: “Whether you are disabled or not, you have to pay the parking fees. Rules are rules.”

Rina, who has been paralysed from the waist downwards after a fall in 1993, then wrote a letter of appeal to the council on Feb 22 last year, enclosing a copy of her disabled person's identification card.

However, she received the council’s notice last Friday.

Rina – who said she did not get help from passers-by to pay her parking fee because she “wanted to be independent” – felt that the council should not penalise disabled people when it did not provide adequate parking facilities for them.

“I don’t want to see the same thing happening to other disabled people,” she said.

Centre adviser Anthony Thanasayan said local authorities of places like Seremban and Kajang would cancel such compounds once the situation had been explained to them.

“Why can’t MPK do the same?

“Malaysia is a caring society but this incident shows that some people are insensitive. It’s as if these people are sending out a strong message: ‘Don’t come out. Stay at home'. But we are just like anyone else,” he said.

Anthony said the centre hoped to meet with Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting to discuss this issue.

“The ministry should educate local councils on how to treat us right,” he said, urging local authorities to work more closely with disabled groups.

When contacted, MPK public relations officer Norfiza Mahfiz said Rina should see her at the council office to sort out the matter.

However, she added: “Whether you are disabled or not, parking without paying the parking fees is wrong.

“She can be granted a discount, but we are not going to cancel the compounds.”

Norfiza also advised the public to follow the rules strictly.

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New Straits Times, Malaysia April 3, 2006

2006-04-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

Tackle root cause of irresponsible pet ownership, April 2, 2006

2006-04-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

N E W S

Opinion
Sunday April 2, 2006

Tackle root cause of pet problem

IT has been reported that the Housing and Local Government Ministry is mulling over the idea of introducing differential dog licence fees for pet owners in the country.

A one-year licence fee would be RM10 per dog. For a second dog: RM20. For the third and subsequent dogs, it will be RM30 each.

Such a ruling will only discriminate against the poor and average income owners and make owning dogs a luxury only the rich can afford.

Furthermore, forcing people to cough up extra money for their pets will do absolutely nothing to make them become more responsible for their pets.

The affluent will have no problems adding pets to their homes while continuing to neglect them.

The ruling itself is flawed because it sees dogs as the problem and tries to reduce the dog population instead of tackling the root cause of the issue, which is irresponsible pet ownership.

It is tantamount to trying to stop or reduce the population of human beings because of crime.

In the end, it is not how many pets one has that leads to irresponsibility.

All it takes is for only one owner who refuses to take responsibility for his animal to create a sea of problems for everyone.

DON DAVE BENJAMIN

Kuala Lumpur

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Letters To The Editor, The Star, Thursday, March 30, 2006

2006-03-29T18:22:00.000-08:00

N E W S

Opinion
Thursday March 30, 2006

Educate pet owners first

I FULLY sympathise with Disgusted Resident and other residents of Island Park, Penang, where dog owners have converted the children’s playground into a nasty poo-ground,“Dog owners turn playground into poo-ground” (The Star, March 29).

The same thing occurs in a playground in Section 17 of Petaling Jaya.

As a dog owner, I am ashamed that some dog owners have absolutely no respect or consideration for others or the environment.

There are many ways in which dog poop can be properly managed.

Since canines are creatures of habit, they can be easily taught to go to their owners’ bathrooms, toilets or gardens before they are taken out for walks.

Owners of pets that poo outside their homes should promptly pick up after their animals and dispose of the matter properly.

It was reported recently that the Housing and Local Government Ministry is drawing up a law that will require dog owners to promptly pick up after their pets or be penalised,“By-law puts tight leash on dog owners” (The Star, March 22).

The move has been long awaited by many responsible dog owners who are equally peeved by the actions of some irresponsible pet owners who give dogs a bad name.

However, let us not forget that no amount of laws and legislation can replace the role of pet education among members of the public.

I would, therefore, like to urge the ministry to ensure that it comes up with a comprehensive plan on pet education, which should be conducted by local councils together with animal NGOs in the country.

ANTHONY SIVA BALAN,

Petaling Jaya.

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2006-03-16T05:40:00.000-08:00

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Dogs: Scrap ‘neighbours views’ rule, MBSA
Responsible Pet Ownership
Mar 16, 06 4:31pm

Congratulations are in order for the mayor of Shah Alam for announcing last week that most of MBSA’s new regulations on dog ruling which local dog owners had vehemently objected to as harsh and unreasonable will be modified or scrapped with immediate effect.

However, there is still one more issue that needs a serious rethink: the requirement of views of immediate neighbours on the right and left before a new pet owner is allowed to have a dog. The MBSA may have well-intentioned reasons for their decision in wanting to prevent an unpleasant situation before it happens.

However, the negatives for such a move far outweighs the positive. They are as extreme as banning all bikers in the city in order to prevent snatch thefts on motorcycles. Checking with neighbours first before deciding to grant a wannabe dog owner a licence not only goes against the grain of his basic right as a Malaysian citizen to be able to own a pet of his liking but it also grants his neighbours an unfair advantage and privilege over him in being able to dictate the kind of pets the owner should or should not possess.

This leaves potential new dog owners in Shah Alam feeling vulnerable and discriminated against when it comes to them wanting to have a dog. Such an exercise will only invite prejudiced remarks by neighbours who might have stereotyped thinking or personal phobias about dogs.

Besides, obtaining neighbours’ views about dogs - especially about a dog they have never seen or an owner who has never had the chance to prove himself - will not be able to say anything about responsible pet ownership. Imagine forcing new cat owners to do this also!

Non-feline owners are likely to also say no to their neighbours because they wouldn’t want cats jumping over walls and defecating in their garden or making love cries all night long. Thus the MBSA should totally scrap the ‘neighbours views requirement’ at once and concentrate more on the root causes of irresponsible pet ownership which can be best done through long-term education.

As a progressive and forward-thinking city that Shah Alam aspires to be, the council should be seen as trying to encourage more people to have pets for healthy living and a better life - not appear as if they are trying to deprive or curb its constituents from having a right to own dogs.

Palestinians below dogs and cats?
04:15pm Thu Feb 09, 2006
Pitbulls for now. Next?
04:34pm Wed Jan 25, 2006
Don’t tease the dogs, please
03:08pm Tue Jan 24, 2006
Banning Rottweilers a waste of time
03:18pm Mon Jan 23, 2006
Dog issue: Vets should remove their muzzle
05:53pm Wed Jan 18, 2006
Dog issue: MBSA shouldn’t exclude disabled
03:26pm Tue Jan 17, 2006
Dog-control rules will aid criminals
03:57pm Mon Jan 16, 2006
Unreasonable MBSA regulations on dogs
07:33pm Wed Dec 28, 2005
MBSA shouldn’t bite dog owners
01:58pm Thu Dec 22, 2005
Have responsible cat owners, too
12:42pm Thu Jul 14, 2005
Let’s have ‘responsible care’ from dog owners
12:46pm Tue Jul 05, 2005
Anti-woof remarks deserve muzzle
01:42pm Thu Jun 30, 2005
Argument against dogs lacks bite
12:47pm Wed Jun 29, 2005
Pets play important role in civilised society
01:33pm Wed May 11, 2005
Have animal behaviour education in schools
12:47pm Tue May 10, 2005
Rottweiler ban a savage attack
01:33pm Thu May 05, 2005
Spare a thought for our pets
01:30pm Wed May 04, 2005
Round up the owners, not the dogs
01:46pm Fri Mar 25, 2005

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