The move to amend the Persons with Disabilities (OKU) Act 2008 has been lauded by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which hope this will result in better support for those with disabilities.
Johor Baru Handicapped and Mentally Disabled Children Association president S. Murugaiyah welcomed the amendments.
“As mentioned by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, many malls and other public places fail to provide any facilities for the disabled.
Murugaiyah hopes the government will increase the monthly allowance for disabled cardholders.
“Even if there are such facilities, they are often poorly maintained and most of the toilets and parking bays reserved for the disabled are often used by others.
“So, it is good that the Act will be amended for the disabled’s benefit.
“I hope that there will be better enforcement to ensure the disabled have access to these facilities,” he explained.
He noted that apart from amending the Act, the government should also consider increasing the monthly allowance for those holding a disabled card because of the rising cost of living.
Johor Baru Disabled Welfare Support Association president Jamaluddin Abdul Malik said amending the Act was a good move as the country lacked in many areas with regard to supporting the disabled community.
“Despite the requirement to provide public facilities for the disabled in certain places, we hardly see these facilities as there are no real consequences for failing to provide them.
“We are falling far behind other countries that are able to provide disabled-friendly facilities in parks, malls, government offices and most other public areas.
“It is time for the government to take more drastic action to change the status quo and I hope that the amendments will be followed with strong enforcement,” he said.
He added that another way for the government to support the disabled community was to appoint at least one person with disabilities to be a councillor at each local government.
“There should be at least one representative from the community as they will be able to better highlight issues faced by them in a specific area,” he said.
Mohd Yahya says stricter action should be taken on those using facilities reserved for the disabled.
Johor Disabled Children Charitable and Cares Organisation founder and president Mohd Yahya Haidrus, who uses a wheelchair to get around, said there was a need for stricter action to be taken against those who use facilities reserved for those with disabilities.
“Although there are parking bays reserved for the disabled, we often see able-bodied people using the spaces without taking into consideration the impact such an action may have on those who need it.
“Many times, I have not been able to get a parking space as the ones reserved for people like me are already taken by others without a disabled sticker, even at hospitals.
“In comparison, when I was in Singapore, I was fined for parking at a disabled parking space as I did not have the sticker from the country’s relevant agency to prove that I am indeed wheelchair- bound,” he said.
He added that there was also a need to improve access to public transport as it was still far from disabled-friendly.
On Jan 8, Nancy said amendments to the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 were expected to be finalised by June.
She said the amendments, which would focus on enforcement and empowerment of the disabled group’s rights, were necessary because many felt that the current law was weak.
For example, she said, at shopping complexes, there were special parking spaces for the disabled, but there was no proper enforcement to ensure the spaces were not being used by other people.
“The ministry is discussing whether there should be an enforcement aspect in the amendments.
“We need stronger laws,” she told reporters at an event at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.
