____________________________________________________________________

ANTHONY SB THANASAYAN

—–

—

Free Malaysia Today

Hindu Sangam flays Sivan temple management

PETALING JAYA: Hindu Sangam today criticised the Bukit Gasing Sivan temple management for barring the disabled from entering its ground, citing it was a ridiculous rule.

“There is no reason to bar the disabled from carrying out their prayers. I have tried contacting them (temple management) for explanation but to no success,” said its president RS Mogan Shan.

Recently, former Petaling Jaya City Council member Anthony Thanasayan hurled brickbats at the temple management for barring wheelchair bound people from praying at the temple, effective about three weeks ago.

However, Sivan temple management president T Maharathan defended the ruling, citing lack of space and safety issues.

“We are not so inhumane as to disallow those with a disability to pray. The sign is indicated because of the limited space in the temple which, as a place of prayer, should be kept clean.

“Devotees are allowed to pray at the side of the temple as well and are not limited to only conducting their prayers inside the premises,” Maharathan was reported saying.

Mogan Shan said that the temple management should give the disabled priority access and not cast them aside on grounds that ‘ they may dirty the temple floors’.

“We cannot accept this kind of reasoning,” he said.

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/04/11/hindu-sangam-flays-sivan-temple-management/

—–

Free Malaysia Today

Stop scarring the disabled further

It has been more than a week since the disabled community saw red over a Hindu temple’s signboard barring wheelchair worshipers from entering its premises.

And to add salt to the injury, the temple in Petaling Jaya had even gone to the extent of putting up a large and permanent billboard on its ruling. It blatantly displayed the following words, “Wheelchairs are not permitted within (the) temple’s premises as with the general rules of shoes and slippers.”

With a statement like that, it’s not hard to see why even the blind, deaf and other handicapped people who don’t use wheelchairs were also livid about the incident.

However, to me what is even worse is that nothing concrete has been done over the issue right up to yesterday when this article was being written.

The matter had been brought up from Day One to the state assemblyman and a couple of Petaling Jaya city councillors who are directly in charge of the area.

Nobody said anything on their social pages or dared to issue any official statement to the press.

The only exception to this rule was the Malaysian Hindu Sangam. They out-rightly criticised the ruling saying it was ridiculous and unacceptable.

Speaking to Free Malaysia Today (FMT) its president RS Mogan Shan said, “There is no reason to bar the disabled from carrying out their prayers.”

As ugly as this episode is – and as we look forward to an amicable solution as soon as possible, here are some pointers for everyone to consider which I hope will prove useful:

Click on the link for the full article:

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2014/04/16/stop-scarring-the-disabled-further/

—–

Free Malaysia Today

When I got more than just pizza

I appreciated Pizza Hut telling me that what happened had been extremely difficult and painful for them too as it was for me.
…

Click on the link below for the account of the meeting between Anthony Thanasayan and his 2 friends, and Pizza Hut Malaysia’s Senior General Manager Low Kang Moon, Deputy General Manager Lim Siew Lay and Deputy GM Group Corporate Communication Wan Esuriyanti Wan Ahmad.

When I got more than just pizza

Anthony Thanasayan ‏@wheelchairant

LOOK OUT 2mrw 4 details of my mtg w Pizza Hut exclusively on Free Malaysia Today at 12noon. pic.twitter.com/uhO9S3ykFA

—

THEY MET. Pizzahut apologized and PJ Councillor Anthony Thanasayan accepted it. They explained but he doesn’t buy their explanation.

*THE INCIDENT

All he wanted was to treat himself with a pizza. He went with his friend to the Pizza Hut outlet in MidValley shopping mall on Monday. He was told that it was against policy to allow wheelchairs inside. The restaurant manager asked him to leave his wheelchair outside and walk into the restaurant.

Thanasayan questioned the manager on how could a disabled person walk-in if he does not have both legs.

He added that during the fiasco, even the shopping mall’s customer service representative who had rushed to the incident, heard the manager asking him to walk into the restaurant.

Free Malaysia Today

Discrimination against disabled: Outlet eats humble pizza

A disabled man claims he was discriminated by a pizza outlet as they told him that it was not their policy to allow wheelchairs in.

Apology from Pizza Hut

“I met with the top management people this morning that showed their concern and they apologised unconditionally, while offered to help combat discrimination,” he said.

Thanasayan said the Pizza Hut management denied the allegations made against the outlet manager, claiming that her intention was only to offer him a better place to sit.

“Why will one make a fuss and lodge complains if we were offered a better place to sit and served better,” he ranted.

“I hold them responsible for whatever has been said by the manager as it shows that she lacks training,” Thanasayan added.

Thanasayan, who is a MBPJ is in charge of issues related to the disabled, advised Pizza Hut management to conduct training for its staff on handling the disabled.

“They must understand that we are also paying customers and not patronising the outlet for charity,” he said.

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/10/30/discrimination-against-disabled-outlet-eats-humble-pizza/

—

ALL IS FAIR IN BUSINESS!

Is Domino’s Pizza taking advantage of the situation which Pizza Hut finds itself in?

Domino’s Pizza Malaysia

Like This Page · 19 hours ago

Say no to discrimination and yes to rights for pizzas! Who’s with us?

—

(Jambang since 2009) ‏@zhafryyzynski 28 Oct

@wheelchairant last time they denied a baby stroller with a baby sleeping inside. Instead of punching him went to nandos instead.

—

Malaysiakini

Petaling Jaya city councillor Anthony Thanasayan was not barred from a Pizza Hut outlet in Kuala Lumpur.

Rather, Thanasayan was offered to be seated at a “more comfortable and spacious” area at the Mid Valley Pizza Hut restaurant, the fast food chain company has claimed.

Apologising for the “miscommunication” in a statement yesterday, Pizza Hut said Monday’s incident occured as the area in which Thanasayan (right) had requested to sit in did not have proper wheelchair access.

“Due to the set-up of the outlet, which is narrow for wheelchair access, it would be most inconvenient and uncomfortable for Mr Anthony Thanasayan to have sat in the area that he had requested.

“This was all done with good intention to ensure Mr Anthony Thanasayan would be most comfortable and would have no problems moving around in his wheelchair,” it said.

It added that it does not have a policy of barring wheelchairs from its restaurants, nor does it discriminate against “customers with special needs”.

“Our immediate action during the incident was to extend an apology and explanation of the situation from our restaurant manager to Mr Anthony Thanasayan,” Pizza Hut Malaysia senior general manager Low Kang Moon said.

Pizza Hut: Councillor was offered better seat

—

—

Star
Tuesday October 29, 2013 MYT 8:27:16 PM
Pizza Hut denies discrimination claim

by l. suganya

PETALING JAYA: A fast food chain has denied a claim that it discriminated against people with special needs, including those using the wheelchair.

Pizza Hut Malaysia said a recent incident of a wheelchair-bound customer who claimed he was turned away at the restaurant in Mid Valley Megamall was a result of a misunderstanding.

In a press release, its senior general manager Low Kang Moon said the company had apologised to the customer for the miscommunication and inconvenience that occurred between him and the staff.

He said action had been taken to investigate the incident and a meeting has been set with the customer to resolve the miscommunication.

The statement said that due to the setup of the outlet “which is narrow for wheelchair access, it would be most inconvenient and uncomfortable for the customer to have sat in the area that he had requested.”

It said the staff had offered to seat the customer in an area where it was more comfortable, spacious and easy for him to enjoy his meal and have his meeting.

This was all done with good intentions to ensure that the customer would be most comfortable and would have no problems moving around in his wheelchair, it said.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/10/29/Pizza-hut-denial.aspx …

—

ANTHONY THANASAYAN TO MEET WITH PIZZA HUT MALAYSIA!

Anthony Siva Balan Thanasayan

Follow · 4 hours ago

PETPOSITIVE NEWSFLASH!PET-NEWSFLASH!DATELINE PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR:…See More
..

—

PETPOSITIVE NEWSFLASH!

DATELINE PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR:

THE PRESS CONFERENCE on Pizza Hut and Anthony Thanasayan scheduled for tomorrow has been POSTPONED!

As Pizza Hut Malaysia has requested a meeting with Thanasayan in order to investigate the matter, Anthony says it will be in the best interest for him to meet up with them first – and then hold a PC later, if necessary.

Those meeting Thanasayan will be the Deputy Head of Pizza Hut, the top PR person and others.

A meeting has been set for 10.30am in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow – which is why the PC had to be changed.

Thanasayan, who has been using a wheelchair since he was a boy says he is deeply indebted to the hundreds of people who supported him on Facebook and Twitter during his ordeal.

Today alone PET+BLOGSPOT registered more than 4500 hits.

—

Malaysiakini

Pizza Hut Malaysia has expressed “concern” for an incident where wheelchair-bound Petaling Jaya councillor Anthony Thanasayan was purportedly barred from dining at its Mid Valley branch yesterday.

Without going into detail over what happened, it said that Pizza Hut “does not discriminate (against) customers with special needs”.

In a statement on its official Facebook page, it said that it will investigate the matter and is waiting for Anthony (right) to respond to Pizza Hut’s invitation for a meeting to resolve the “miscommunication”.

“We can’t stress enough that we take all matters in regards to customer experience with us very seriously,” it said.

Pizza Hut to probe PJ councillor’s wheelchair issue

—

—

—

Astro Awani

Disabled man cries foul over eatery’s alleged discrimination

Astro Awani | Updated: October 29, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR: A disabled Petaling Jaya Councillor claimed he was discriminated against when he wanted to dine at an eatery in Mid Valley Megamall.

Upon visiting the eatery yesterday, an activist for the disabled Anthony Thanasayan, claimed that he had intended to sit at a particular corner but instead was denied by a staff. Anthony, who is wheelchair bound said, he was concerned his wheelchair would cause a hindrance to other patrons if he was seated at the area directed to him.

He then requested for a different area but was denied by a manager.

Anthony claimed that the staff said this to him:

“‘Yes, we have a policy at Pizza Hut not to allow people in wheelchairs inside. In fact you should park your wheelchair outside and walk in if you want service.”

http://english.astroawani.com/news/show/disabled-man-cries-foul-over-eaterys-alleged-discrimination-24737

————————————————————————————————————-