Foul!

As published in Malay Mail today.     HARESH SAYS by Haresh Deol SHAMAR SAAT calls himself a penjaja bebas. What he does is go table to table, selling tissues and calenders.  Blind since birth, Shamar, from Bandar Baru Sentul, explores many places in the city with his cane as a guide, warning him of potholes and kerbs.    “I have a schedule. I’ll be in Chow Kit every Monday, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman on Tuesdays, Cheras every Wednesday and it goes on,” said the 46-year-old.   “It’s not easy but it pays the bills.”   But Shamar will take on a different role next Wednesday. He is expected to join at least 100 other visually impaired people as they gather in front of the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) office in Brickfields to voice their grievances against the association.   Called Solidarity Orang Buta Malaysia — Selamatkan MAB, they have been organising sessions ahead of the gathering. They held one la...

The Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) is in the dark over claims it was supposed to obtain a portion of the ticket sales from the series of Richard Clayderman concerts last month. The concert organisers said in a press statement in October: “Universal Music Malaysia is working with organisers Mojo Resources to donate a portion of the ticket sales to the Malaysian Association for the Blind to help blind musicians in the country.” It remains unclear as to the total number of tickets sold and the percentage from the revenue the organisers had intended to donate to MAB. MAB chief executive officer cum secretary Datuk S. Ganesan was clueless over the matter. “I’ve checked with my officers and we have not heard from any party claiming to represent any concert or giving us any donations from any concerts,” said Ganesan. “I will vet all collaborations and I can confirm we have not heard from anyone. In fact, we were unaware of such a statement being made by the ...