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First Taska for disabled kids launched BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

First Taska for disabled kids launched

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 11:03 AM PST

by Mariah Doksil, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 19, 2014, Sunday

KOTA KINABALU: Taska Mesra Cheshire (Taska), the first care centre for children with disabilities (OKU) in Malaysia, was officially launched yesterday by Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun.

Located at Likas Chesire Home, the Taska which started its operation since November 2013, currently has seven children below four years old and five staff.

"The capacity of Taska Mesra Cheshire is 30 children below four years old, and it is open from Mondays to Saturdays, except public holidays. Fees are RM250 for half day and RM350 for full day services. There are a lot of space for new children who need special attention.

"However, those parents who are having problem with payment would not have to worry because they can discuss with the management of Taska Mesra Cheshire to allow them to get financial assistance," said Azizah in a press conference after launching of the building.

Azizah also said the government had allocated RM240,000 for operational cost of Taska Mesra Cheshire this year.

With the financial aid from federal government, Azizah said Taska Mesra Cheshire would be able to arrange some amount for parents who cannot afford to register their disabled children.

"This Taska not only focuses on physical therapy but also encourages children to improve their speaking skills, to ensure they will have a better special pre-schooling experience.

"We are hoping this Taska will promote, support and protect the rights of children with disabilities, besides empowering them with the level of awareness on all disability issues in education, employment, rehabilitation, access to healthcare, equality and non-discrimination," she added.

Earlier in her speech, Azizah said the ministry wanted to see equal opportunities and full participation of people with disabilities in the community and to include 'disability' as a theme in all development works of the government, civil society and humanitarian agencies.

She was also confident that the Taska's establishment would facilitate growth and development of children with disabilities through proper guidance and early education.

Apart from Sabah Cheshire Home, five other establishments were also given mandate to run the programme nationwide, namely Malaysia Down's Syndrome Association, Society for the Deaf Malaysia, Society for People With Intellectual Disability Perak, Sibu Autistic Association Sarawak and St Nicholas Home Penang.

Also present yesterday was the president cum advisor of Taska, Datuk Rowland Chin.

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‘Kangkung’ issue is not funny – Jainab

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 11:01 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU:  Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid yesterday stressed that the 'kangkung' issue is not funny.

"We should not look at 'kangkung' as a petty thing … there is more to the vegetable because I believe everyone of us has tasted it. Who has not eaten kangkung cooked with 'belacan' (shrimp paste)? I grew up eating kangkung, so it is not a bad thing," she said, addressing 250 graduates of the Zone 4 (Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Gaya, Sepanggar, Tuaran) GiatMara Training Centre, yesterday.

She said it was not right for people to ridicule Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for using the kangkung, or water spinach, as an example to reflect the increase and decrease of prices of goods.

"This shows that the Prime Minister and government are concerned about the people's needs, including things being favoured by the people, like kangkung. I think it is time for us to stop playing on the issue and instead focus on more important things such as assistance and aid for those in need, especially those affected by floods," she said.

Jainab said the opposition had never failed to criticise the government on many issues, but failed to realise that they were not doing anything either to lighten the people's burden.

"They can talk all they want, but it should also come with action, meaning while they criticise the government for failure to provide aid for flood victims, they should do something to help the needy. But I do not see them doing anything … all they do is to find the government's faults and weaknesses," said jainab.

She said people should judge some people by the deeds they have done, and avoid anyone who only lives to look at other people's faults.

"Nobody is perfect. I, myself, is not perfect, but I focus on what I am good at. I do not care what people say about me but I know that I am doing my best to help whatever I can. We must first learn our strengths and identify our weaknesses before passing any judgments on others.

"And that is the recipe to success," she said.

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SESB should explain recent statewide blackout – Rosnah

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 11:00 AM PST

PAPAR: Deputy Works Minister Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin has called on the Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) to provide a back-up plan to ensure the recent incident of massive power blackout will not recur in the future.

The massive power blackout has caused huge loses and problems to consumers, so it is hoped that such incident would not happen again, she said.

Rosnah, who is Papar Member of Parliament, floated the suggestion at the Papar-level Maulidur Rasul celebration here which was officiated at by Pantai Manis assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail.

Abdul Rahim, meanwhile, urged the utility company to give a detailed explanation to consumers about factors that led to the massive power blackout that had affected some 500,000 people in the state including the Federal Territory of Labuan.

It is important for the utility company to give an explanation so that the people would not be easily influenced by those who would take advantage of the incident by putting the blame on the  government, he said.

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‘SAPP will never give up’

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 09:20 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: One day when Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has a Yang Berhormat (YB), be it four or 10 years later, it will prove that SAPP is a Sabah-based party that never gives up.

SAPP president Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee said people had predicted that SAPP would "gulung tikar" (come to an end) after the 13th General Election (GE13).

"Let us all be patient. One day, be it four or 10 years later, when SAPP wins a YB (a constituency), we will be revived," he said, while urging party members to continue SAPP's struggle.

"And the people will say that this party, SAPP, is a party that never gives up."

Yong said this during a Chinese New Year reunion dinner with members and supporters organized by SAPP Luyang Central Liaison Committee (CLC) headed by SAPP vice president cum Wanita chief Melanie Chia on Friday.

Although none of SAPP's candidates won in the last General Election, he said, this did not dampen the spirits of CLC members in every constituency.

On the other hand, Yong pointed out that some political parties have won in the GE13 but ended up in chaos, with some members even jumping ship.

"The General Election results last year were not pretty, but we saw the party members' passionate support and that gave Sabahans hope."

Meanwhile, he said SAPP will be taking a break from holding their Chinese New Year event this year, an event the party had continuously organised for over 20 years.

"SAPP has been holding cultural events in Foh Sang for the past 20 years. When we organized these events, other parties followed suit, and when we stopped organising, they did not do it as well," Yong said.

He also stressed that Luyang was the heart of politics for the Chinese in Sabah.

"In the past 50 years, many Chinese from the outskirts moved to Kota Kinabalu. A majority of them settled in Luyang while a few went to Kepayan and Likas.

"Every Chinese person in Sabah has friends or relatives in Luyang," Yong said, adding that winning the Luyang constituency would be a big victory.

He added he had once warned the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that Hiew King Cheu would jump ship once he won, but still the Pakatan Rakyat coalition decided to let Hiew stand in the Luyang state constituency.

Yong said while SAPP has became more low key after GE13, he was hoping that other opposition YBs could play a more effective roles in the State Legislative Assembly sitting.

However, in the first State Assembly sitting after the general election, he pointed out that the opposition leaders had instead fought amongst themselves on the matter of whether Klias assemblyman Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin or Tamparuli assemblyman Datuk Wilfred Bumburing would be the opposition chief in the State Legislative Assembly.

On the kangkung (water spinach) issue, Yong said the jokes surrounding kangkung were not created by political parties, but by ordinary people who were suffering from inflation.

"This year's Chinese New Year will not be like before. Ever since the schools reopened, there have been floods, power failure, glass shattering and everything else has become more expensive."

Federal and state committees were set up to address the rising cost of goods because the issue was a challenge for the government of the day, he said.

"What we (SAPP) have said turned out to be true," Yong said, referring to inflation, security, livelihood issues and PR candidates jumping ship.

"We once said that Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) should be managed by Sabah. The power disruption in Sabah and Labuan (on Friday) was certainly the first."

Yong also stressed on the importance for a government administration to be trustworthy and accountable to the people.

Aside from that, he said the Selangor Islamic Religious Department's (Jais) raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) and seizure of Bibles containing the word 'Allah' without informing the state executive council (exco) prior to the raid was boiled down to "miscommunication".

Furthermore, Yong said, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Azmin Ali was then removed from the board of Selangor State Economic Development Corporation (PKNS).

"If Anwar says Azmin has to be reinstated as board member of PKNS, he can also ask for the Bibles to be returned.

"Government administration is vital, it has to be trustworthy and accountable to the people," he pointed out.

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Power outage: Could be sabotage?

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 09:17 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: MCA Sabah State Liaison Committee Advisor, Datuk Paul Kong Sing Chu, hopes Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) will consider compensating its consumers who were badly affected by the unexpected power outage on Friday.

The MCA Penampang chief was also of the opinion that Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, who hails from Sabah, must explain to the rakyat why such a disaster could have happened barely two months after he had promised to reduce power outages in Sabah.

"His (Maximus') request to TNB and the Energy Commission to investigate the causes, though is welcomed, has done nothing to alleviate the sufferings of the people of Sabah," Kong said adding, "I wish to condemn the power outage which had struck the whole of Sabah, affecting half a million consumers statewide for several hours Friday.

Kong pointed out that SESB's engineer, revealed that the blackout should not have occurred.

"Then, what actually happened? Could it be due to sabotage by certain people outside or by SESB's own staff? I wish to urge the SESB to improve services to their clients and must ensure that the same blackout will not occur again. I also hope that they will look into the possibility of paying compensation to the affected parties, especially businesses and those in the manufacturing and production industries.

"Meanwhile, I urge the state government under the able leadership of Chief Minister YAB Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman to reassess the possibility of taking back control of the SESB, and put under the state government in order to better manage the company, thereby providing better services to the rakyat of Sabah," stressed Kong, who is also MCA elected Central Committee member and MCA Presidential Council member.

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Blackout a let-down – Upko

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 09:17 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: A Barisan Nasional component party feels that once again the Sabah Electricity Sdn Berhad (SESB) has letdown the people of Sabah with the statewide power blackout yesterday.

United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) secretary general Datuk Donald Mojuntin said, such "inefficiency cannot be tolerated," and that stern action must be taken against those in authority and those involved.

"The SESB may give so many reasons, but for the simple people on the street, there was a statewide blackout for more than six hours. They are disappointed and disgusted, to say the least. To make things worse, this came after the tariff rate increase.

"Even those with no power supply yet at their houses were affected because, the telecommunication lines were not functioning, traffic jams were everywhere, people cannot withdraw cash from automatic teller machine, eateries were closed and petrol stations were congested and unable to dispense fuel. The list goes on. Daily routines as a whole were badly affected," he added.

Mojuntin, who is also Penampang Upko chief, noted that the Federal government had allocated some RM1.4 billion over the next five years, among others, to replace hundreds of kilometres of cables, and to complete the loop from Tawau to Keningau.

"We appreciate that. But it cannot be just that. How long more does the rakyat have to wait before we see an end to the frequent, not only daily but in some places a few times a day, of blackouts?" he said.

Mojuntin appreciated the "round the clock efforts by the SESB technicians and all, not only yesterday, but on a daily basis, to ensure power supply, but there must be something really wrong if blackout persists."

"It also begs the question whether the IPPs engaged by SESB are performing as expected. There have been allegations that some of the equipmens used by these IPPs are obsolete and outdated. This should be seriously looked into.

"My understanding is that whether these IPPs are in operation or not (due to breakdown), contractually SESB is still required to pay them. Surely these IPPs should use state of the art equipment as SESB and subsequently the consumers rely on them.

"Upko urges the authorities to continue engaging the consumers across the board. This is a matter of demand and supply, thus surely the consumers too have their roles," he added.

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