I was shocked when I read this a moment ago:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/7/5/nation/4260041&sec=nation
I extract some info from that site:
Taman Sinar Harapan is an institution for the disabled or orang kurang upaya with learning difficulties and require care, training, rehabilitation and shelter.
As at December 2008, there are a total of 776 residents living in the seven Taman Sinar Harapan institutions in Malaysia.
Objective:
1. To provide care, shelter and rehabilitation for abandoned disabled people with learning difficulties, orphans and those in need of rehabilitation.
2. To provide training on self-management and daily living skills so that they would be able to be independent.
3. To give pre-vocational training.
4. To offer the residents a chance to interact with friends and the general public through social activities.
5. To provide social skills training and cooperate with volunteer groups to help integrate the residents back to society.
Some more extracts from the report:
- Half of the men were locked behind bars like animals in a zoo while the others were able to move about in the front portion of the room. Those in the “jail cells” were segregated so that they would not harm their non-violent roommates.
- Most of them looked no older than 50 but they were just skin and bones and some looked extremely frail. One resident was lying on his stomach on a wooden bench and had passed motion; we almost gagged at its stench.
- Fans were installed inside the room for better ventilation but that was the only luxury the men had. There were no beds, no toilets and not even blankets to keep them warm on cold rainy nights.
- We asked the volunteers what would happen to the residents on weekdays when the group was not there to offer their help.
“The caretakers don’t do much. There are only two of them while there are 50 residents. If it’s time to feed them, they would just walk one round with a bowl and feed whoever wants to eat. Those who don’t are left alone,” answered a volunteer.
She divulged that another charitable organisation had brought food for the residents but it was thrown away. “When the group asked why they did such a thing, the caretakers said that the residents would create a bigger mess if there was more food because they would defecate more often,” she said.
- The women’s wing looked cleaner and did not smell as bad but a handful of the women were seen walking about in the nude.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/7/5/nation/4260041&sec=nation
I extract some info from that site:
Taman Sinar Harapan is an institution for the disabled or orang kurang upaya with learning difficulties and require care, training, rehabilitation and shelter.
As at December 2008, there are a total of 776 residents living in the seven Taman Sinar Harapan institutions in Malaysia.
Objective:
1. To provide care, shelter and rehabilitation for abandoned disabled people with learning difficulties, orphans and those in need of rehabilitation.
2. To provide training on self-management and daily living skills so that they would be able to be independent.
3. To give pre-vocational training.
4. To offer the residents a chance to interact with friends and the general public through social activities.
5. To provide social skills training and cooperate with volunteer groups to help integrate the residents back to society.
Some more extracts from the report:
- Half of the men were locked behind bars like animals in a zoo while the others were able to move about in the front portion of the room. Those in the “jail cells” were segregated so that they would not harm their non-violent roommates.
- Most of them looked no older than 50 but they were just skin and bones and some looked extremely frail. One resident was lying on his stomach on a wooden bench and had passed motion; we almost gagged at its stench.
- Fans were installed inside the room for better ventilation but that was the only luxury the men had. There were no beds, no toilets and not even blankets to keep them warm on cold rainy nights.
- We asked the volunteers what would happen to the residents on weekdays when the group was not there to offer their help.
“The caretakers don’t do much. There are only two of them while there are 50 residents. If it’s time to feed them, they would just walk one round with a bowl and feed whoever wants to eat. Those who don’t are left alone,” answered a volunteer.
She divulged that another charitable organisation had brought food for the residents but it was thrown away. “When the group asked why they did such a thing, the caretakers said that the residents would create a bigger mess if there was more food because they would defecate more often,” she said.
- The women’s wing looked cleaner and did not smell as bad but a handful of the women were seen walking about in the nude.
The two caretakers stationed at the block were seen watching TV and chatting.
We noticed that the women’s clothes were laid out to dry on a dirty floor caked with fungus.
We walked over to the children’s block which seemed to be the best kept part of the home. It was decorated and there were proper beds. But the children were curiously quiet.
A volunteer claimed that the children were fed with cough syrup so that they would be sleepy and docile.
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First, this happened in Malaysia. Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor.
Secondly, I can understand la kalau some of them tak boleh diberikan pakaian kerana ada suicidal nature..takut dia jerut diri dia sendiri ke etc. Tapi kenapa SEMUANYA dibiarkan tak berpakaian? Sedih sangat tengok.. sudahlah setengahnya dirantai... kesian betul.
Thirdly, kalau cuaca sejuk, kasihan la, sakit, menggigil. Sudahlah semuanya frail and skinny.
Paling geram dengar part caretakers tu buang makanan donated by sebuah badan amal. Alasan sebab nanti lagi banyak makanan lagi kotor, sebab mereka banyak buang air. Amboi, nak menyenangkan kerja sendiri... dah nama caretakers tu, kerja la betul-betul. Tau nak senang aje. Stupid! Orang susah-susah dermakan untuk kebajikan penghuni, kau senang-senang buang sebab your asses are too heavy to clean up eh? Totally stupid. I hope you would be replaced instantly!
Finally, the sentence highlighted in red. DIA PUNYA PEMALAS NAK JAGA BUDAK-BUDAK KURANG UPAYA TU, DIBAGINYA UBAT BATUK BIAR NGANTUK DAN TIDUR.
I seriously think this matter should be investigated and IMMEDIATE actions should be taken. Otherwise, it will defeat the entire purpose of Taman Sinar Harapan.