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Paralympic medallists should be rewarded the same as Olympic counterparts: AWARE and Disabled People’s Association SG
Singapore’s Paralympians should be awarded the same recognition and rewards for their successes as the country’s Olympians, said gender advocacy group AWARE on Saturday (4 Sep).
In a joint statement with the Disabled People’s Association (DPA) Singapore, AWARE congratulated Paralympic swimmer Yip Pin Xiu for winning two gold medals in the 50m and 100m backstroke swimming events at the Tokyo Paralympics recently.
They also commended the other Singapore Paralympians for representing the country at a high level.
The statement stressed that their hard work and achievements are “no less remarkable” than that of the nation’s Olympians such as Joseph Schooling and Feng Tianwei.
“However, for a gold medal, Singaporean Paralympians are rewarded $200,000 – 20% of the $1 million that Schooling received in 2016,” said AWARE.
Schooling won gold in 2016, while Feng won two bronze medals in the 2012 games and a silver in 2008.
Back in 2016, the Singapore National Olympic Council responded to the DPA’s queries on the variance in cash rewards, explaining that it is because the prize money comes from different donor-funded schemes and due to better donor awareness of the Olympics over the Paralympics, AWARE noted.
The reward for Olympians comes from the Major Games Awards Programme, previously named The Multi-Million Dollar Award Programme, while the reward for Paralympians is derived from the Athletes’ Achievement Award.
AWARE went on to say that while Ms Yip has consistently made Singapore proud with her achievements, she also had to overcome many challenges along the way that other female Paralympians around the world face as well.
“Women with disabilities face double discrimination on the basis of their gender and disability,” said the gender advocacy group.
“It is reported that up to 93% of women with disabilities do not participate in sport. Therefore, it is unsurprising that women only make up one-third of athletes with disabilities involved in international competitions, such as the Paralympics.”
The statement went on to highlight other countries that have made efforts to bridge this gap over the years, such as Malaysia awarding the same amount for both Paralympic and Olympic medallists since 2016.
Also, Tokyo 2020 is the first time that the United States (US) is awarding their Paralympic gold medallist the same cash prize amount as its Olympic counterpart, said AWARE.
Most recently, the Australian government announced that Paralympic Australia would receive additional funding so that the country’s Paralympic medallists would receive the same prize money as their Olympic counterparts.
“As we build an inclusive society, we should agree on the objective that our Paralympians be afforded the same recognition as our Olympians, and how we honour them should reflect that,” said AWARE.
It then called on relevant stakeholders, including the primary donor of the respective reward funds, Tote Board, to “come together with interested organisations to work on a road map to this shared goal”.
“In particular, it could explore whether combining the two award schemes would help get us closer to parity in how we reward our elite athletes,” the group concluded.
Community
Palestinian woman involved in disturbance at Wisma Transit Malaysia apologises
A video on social media shows Palestinians confronting security personnel at Wisma Transit, Kuala Lumpur, with some behaving aggressively by throwing slippers and damaging property. A woman later apologised in a TikTok video, attributing her actions to emotional distress from being unable to contact her children in Gaza.
MALAYSIA: A Palestinian woman involved in a disturbance at Wisma Transit, Kuala Lumpur, has issued an apology and expressed deep regret for her actions.
According to NST, the woman, identified as Aminah Muhammad Nafi’ Jamal Abd Rabah, was one of 127 Palestinians brought to Malaysia for medical treatment after sustaining injuries in the ongoing conflict with Israel.
A video that has been circulating on social media since 2 October shows a group of Palestinians involved in a confrontation with security personnel.
Some of them were seen behaving aggressively, including throwing slippers at an enforcement officer and damaging property.
According to reports, the incident was driven by frustration after the group was denied permission to stay outside the designated Wisma Transit Kuala Lumpur (WTKL) premises.
The Woman Apologizes for Disturbance, Attributes Actions to Emotional Distress from Family Separation
Speaking in a TikTok video, Aminah explained that her actions stemmed from personal distress, specifically due to her inability to contact her children, who remain in Gaza.
She emphasised that her behaviour was not intentional, and that it was a product of the difficult situation she and her fellow Palestinians were experiencing.
“I apologise and deeply regret what I did. I swear to God, I did not do it intentionally. We are going through a very difficult situation that only Allah knows,” she said in the clip.
Aminah further expressed her gratitude towards Malaysians for their generosity and respect.
She acknowledged that the treatment she and others had received from the country had been exemplary.
“I swear in the name of Allah, we are receiving the best care. What I say comes sincerely from my heart. You have treated us Palestinians with kindness, respect, and appreciation. ”
“You have fulfilled your duties responsibly, but we were the ones who wronged you,” she added.
@tahreergh Dengan segala hormat kepada ATM dan semua pihak yang terlibat dalam kes perempuan Palestin yang menjadi viral 2 hari yang lepas di Wisma Putra Malaysia.. saya nak kongsi video perempuan yang sama tapi kali ni content video dia lain sangat dari video yg viral tu .. Rasulullah SAW bersabda: كُلُّ ابْنِ آدَمَ خَطَّاءٌ وَخَيْرُ الْخَطَّائِينَ التَّوَّابُونَ. Maksud hadis ini adalah: Setiap anak Adam (yakni manusia) pasti melakukan kesalahan, sedangkan sebaik-baik orang yang melakukan kesalahan adalah orang yang bertaubat. Hadis riwayat Al-Tirmizi. Ujian besar buat manusia adalah keupayaan untuk memaafkan orang yang membuat salah kepada beliau .. semoga Allah memberi keupayaan ini kepada kami semua.. Walau menjadi apa2 pon, kami rakyat Palestin tetap sayang Malaysia dan rakyat Malaysia.. ikhlas dari hati tahu 🥹🇲🇾🇵🇸 TahreerGh Gh
The disturbance at Wisma Transit has drawn significant attention, leading to a formal apology from the Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia, Walid Abu Ali.
In a statement, he reassured Malaysians that the incident did not reflect Palestinian values.
“I apologise on behalf of all Palestinians in Malaysia and back home for what occurred. This is not our culture, ethics, or beliefs,” he stated.
Walid emphasised the deep gratitude Palestinians feel towards Malaysia for its continuous support of their cause.
Since August 2023, Malaysia has taken in 127 Palestinians, including 41 individuals injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Many of the patients were transferred to Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital for treatment, while their relatives were accommodated at various hotels.
“For their own security and safety, the patients were kept in the healthcare facility with restricted movements and limited visitors,” he said.
Many have been in Malaysia since their arrival and have had limited opportunities to leave the hospital.
Walid noted that the patients, having come from war-torn Gaza, were under significant emotional stress, which may have contributed to their behaviour.
He also highlighted that some individuals were struggling to adjust to a completely new culture and environment, exacerbating their emotional challenges.
The Palestinian Embassy in Malaysia, according to Walid, has been closely coordinating with Malaysian authorities to support the patients and their families.
Embassy staff regularly visit the patients and assist with their needs to the best of their ability.
Walid also reassured the Malaysian public that the embassy is working to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
“My message to Malaysians is that such an incident will not happen again. We love Malaysia and its people. However, please consider that these individuals have come under immense pressure due to the ongoing war. They need special care,” Walid stated.
Community
Part of Marine Parade experiences flooding after water pipe damage
Flooding occurred in Marine Parade on Friday morning (4 October) after a water pipe was damaged during lift retrofitting works near Block 67 Marine Drive. MP Dr Tan See Leng confirmed repairs are ongoing, with no disruption to water supply. Road access was restored later in the day.
SINGAPORE: On Friday (4 October), parts of Marine Parade, including Marine Drive and Still Road South, experienced flooding following the damage of a water pipe.
The incident occurred at approximately 11.40 am during lift retrofitting works at the pedestrian overhead bridge near Block 67 Marine Drive.
Videos shared on social media show floodwaters extending onto surrounding roads.
Dr Tan See Leng, Manpower Minister and also a Member of Parliament for Marine Parade GRC, in a Facebook post confirmed that a damaged pipe led to water flowing onto Still Road South and nearby HDB blocks.
Dr Tan said the damaged water pipe has been isolated, and repairs are currently underway, with no disruption to water supply for local residents.
Staff at the Marine Parade Community Centre are in the process of restoring counter services, having previously faced difficulties accessing the area due to flooding.
Dr Tan noted that contractors from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) are collaborating with the Marine Parade Town Council to clean the affected region, aiming to complete the cleanup by Friday evening.
In an update posted at 4.53 pm, Dr Tan announced that road access along Still Road South had resumed, expressing gratitude to PUB, the Marine Parade Town Council, and the dedicated workers for their swift action in clearing the area just in time for peak hour traffic.
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