He rattled off names (which I took down,
Anthony was extremely helpful with the spelling of their names) and
listed down their accomplishments, but mostly the conversation centred
around parents of disabled people and the lives they led, where every
happy moment was amplified and the joys we abled body people took for
granted was given the attention it deserved.
“Why don't the welfare officers, for
instance, go door-to-door to seek out the disabled persons, especially
in the poor areas? The Welfare Department should work closely with the
local councils to find them and register them.”
In another piece, he reminded us that disabled people were not looking for a joyride amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The
truth is that instead of joyrides, what we really need are real jobs so
that we can plan on getting married and even raise families of our own.
So, if you guys really want to help - and appreciate our struggle - why
don’t you give us all a free pass to travel all year round?”
In
another conversation - again I cannot remember when or where - Anthony
was bemused by my polemical tone of writing and we got into a discussion
about how it was very difficult for disabled people to view things
through a racial or religious lens because their physical or mental
disabilities always reminded them of how artificial the constructs of
race and religion were.
“Commander, when you are disabled and
trying to look after yourself or an able-bodied person who supports a
disabled person, you empathise with other people who are going through
the same thing you are going through. You do not see the race or
religion but rather the effects of the human condition.”
He was
quick to point out that this does not mean disabled people are not
afflicted with the same petty prejudices that afflict us all but rather
those bonds of humanity that bind us are sometimes felt more acutely in
the community struggling to survive in an environment where their needs
and wants are discounted, patronised, or in some extreme cases, hidden
away.
I was fascinated when he held forth on dogs and other pets.
He was extremely articulate and knowledgeable about the impact of
animals, especially on disabled people. I remember reading links and
books he had mentioned over the years, and sometimes, briefly, when we
met by happenstance, he was surprised that I had followed through on his
suggestions.
Unrelenting optimism
I once jokingly told him that my problems seemed petty when it came to what the disabled community was going through.
He
said: “Don’t do that, commander. All our problems are the same, except
that disabled people have to do a lot more work to get to their
solutions. Even though we read bad things, people are basically good,
commander.”
I did not know Anthony or what he and the people who
loved and supported him went through, but I can say that the brief
interactions we had made me question my cynicism. Truth be told, not
enough to change me, but that is on me.
I have only a vague idea
of the mountain people like Anthony had to climb, especially when it
came to institutional change. I know for sure that there are people in
the community - our community - who are still climbing that mountain.
I
am sure his accomplishments would be listed and catalogued. He was an
exceptional human rights activist after all. But in time, Malaysians,
with their hopeless memories, will lose sight of how sincere activists
like Anthony actually move the needle in some small way.
I do not know where Anthony’s passing will take him but I do know that eventually, we will all go there.
This is the last rejoinder from Anthony.