KUALA LUMPUR: The words "disabled, Astro" and "aid" cannot occur in the same sentence, as far as the Welfare Department is concerned.The department bars the disabled from getting welfare aid if they have Astro or a television set at home.
The rule applies even if one lives in someone else's house, temporarily or otherwise.
S. Karupanan, 73, found this out the hard way three months ago when the department cut the RM200 aid to him as he was temporarily staying in a house which "had Astro service".
The department had paid for surgery on one knee and promised to underwrite the cost of the operation on the other knee.
Welfare officers who came to visit him saw red when they chanced upon the Astro connection and immediately withdrew the aid.
For K. Shanmugam, 51, who applied for welfare assistance in 2005 on becoming paralysed, it has been a string of "no's" from the department for aid.
His mistake, he believes, was his honest reply when asked if he had a television set and Astro at home.
"That's the first question they asked. When I said I had both, they immediately said that I was not eligible for assistance as there were others poorer than me."
The former crane driver, who was earning RM2,000 in Singapore when a motorcycle accident four years ago left him paralysed, was baffled by the department's decision.
He said that the bills of the family of six were paid by relatives who realised that he only had Astro to keep him company when the children were out of the house.
"I cannot work. The only pleasure in my life now is the Astro service," he said.
Another extreme case is that of a a disabled 40-year-old, paralysed from the neck downwards, who lives with her partly-paralysed mother.
The disabled woman, who declined to be identified, decided against applying for an Astro connection after being warned by a welfare officer that they would cut aid to them if she did so.
What she cannot understand is why they would do so as Astro was the "only" company she and her mother could have at home.
"We cannot leave our house and we live on donations and welfare aid. What's wrong if some people who sympathise want to get us an Astro connection?"
Welfare director-general Datuk Meme Zainal Rashid could not be reached for comment.
Got Astro or TV? Sorry, no welfare aid for you
Police ops extended to four states in major offensive against criminals
KUALA LUMPUR: The stepped-up offensive against crime, which began here a week ago, has been extended to four more states. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan wants more of his men and women in blue to hit the streets and get tough with the bad hats in a blitz to keep the country safe. The IGP has directed police chiefs in Selangor, Penang, Perak and Johor to follow the Kuala Lumpur police lead by increasing patrols and be in public places day and night to arrest criminals or deter those planning to commit crimes. “The order is out for all police stations in the four states and the Federal Territory to go on the offensive and to screen as many people as possible. We have identified areas where the crime rate is high or where there are many complaints of criminal activities. “We are seeking the cooperation of other agencies including the Road Transport and the Immigration departments to assist us in tackling Mat Rempits and illegal immigrants. We will zoom in on other criminals,” he said. Musa will be in constant communication with his counterparts in neighbouring countries to cooperate to nab criminals who are trying to seek refuge or go into hiding in other countries. Musa said the police have had some measure of success lately following the integrated effort among the CID, narcotics, general duty and Special Branch. More than 1,000 people and vehicles have been screened and inspected on a daily basis by city police and the results have been very encouraging as a number of wanted persons have been arrested and weapons including firearms, knives and Samurai swords confiscated. Although this massive clampdown on criminals may cause some inconvenience to the people, Musa urged the public to bear with them and to cooperate to keep the crime rate down. The additional manpower from the latest intake of policemen would be of help to beef up the force in certain crime-prone areas. “The police are doing their best but they cannot be at all the places at any one time. “Our officers and men be will moving from place to place to flush out the law-breakers besides increasing patrols and roadblocks,” Musa said. All state CID chiefs have been directed to release daily crime statistics as well as the number of arrests made to the mass media so that the public would be kept informed of the police operations. “The public should not be unduly worried with the perceived high crime figures. If possible, they should help the police by providing information and by calling the nearest police station or the police control centre.” To a question, Musa said the integrated policing operations were part of the police force’s five-year strategic action plan to keep a lid on the crime rate.
Increased street presence: Two policewomen on crime prevention rounds in Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday. — AZHAR MAHFOF / The Star
Nabbed: A suspected pimp struggling with officers during a raid at Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur, on Monday night to flush out criminals.
Baby Alert
BABY ALERT...A one-year old boy, Kee Hao Kit has gone missing from his home and his parents are on a frantic search for the toddler. His mother, Tan Lay Khiaw (left) and her husband Kee Bak Siang are worried their only child may have been smuggled out of the country as there was no ransom demand. Their gardener, has since gone missing. For more...READ HERE
