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Monday July 6, 2009

Expose sparks off aid for disabled folk

Reports by LESTER KONG, YUEN MEIKENG, ZALINAH NOORDIN and DESIREE TRESA GASPER


PETALING JAYA: Government officers have moved in to improve the conditions of the ‘House of Horror’.

Taman Sinar Harapan shelter has come under scrunity following Sunday Star’s front-page report yesterday on its sorry state.

Officers from the Social Welfare Department, Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, volunteers and hoardes of media personnel descended on the home yesterday.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who has ordered his officers to check on the residents of the home in Kuala Kubu Baru, wants those confirmed to have mental problems to be transferred to government psychiatric wards for treatment.

There was a marked improvement in the home, which has 200 residents, yesterday. The floors were cleaner, the stench was almost gone and nearly all the inmates were clothed. Previously, some of the home’s residents were naked, chained up, caged and covered in their faeces and urine.

Related Stories:
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Residents clothed and stench almost gone
Niosh: Do more to promote mental health
Private funding a great help for charitable bodies, says Chew
Negligence in how shelter is managed
Need to remove stigma on patients

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