The public sector has yet to fill 1% of its positions with persons with disabilities (OKU), said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
However, she told the Dewan Rakyat that there was an increasing trend in the number of OKU working in the sector from 2014 to 2023.
She said 0.23% of the public workforce was filled with OKU in 2014, followed by 0.25% (2015), 0.28% (2016), 0.29% (from 2017 to 2022) and 0.3% (2023).
“Data also shows that the number of applications from OKU for positions did not reach 1%.
“Between 2019 and 2023, there was only an increase from 0.3% to 0.64% in the number of applications,” she said yesterday.
Dr Zaliha added that a survey conducted by the Public Services Department on the satisfaction of OKU in the public sector revealed various challenges faced by the group.
These include adapting to supervisors, colleagues and surroundings.
It also included feeling pressured to provide the best services due to their limited abilities, and the acceptance of department heads to provide support and facilities needed by OKU in the public sector.
Still much to be done: Dr Zaliha said a survey conducted by the Public Services Department on the satisfaction of OKU in the public sector revealed various challenges faced by the group.
Dr Zaliha was responding to a question by Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) who asked about the number of OKU in the public sector, and the challenges faced by the group throughout their service.
In a supplementary question, Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong) asked about the number of OKU working for the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and called for OKU to be employed in Parliament itself.
To this, Dr Zaliha said OKU represented 0.5% of those working at DBKL.
She also agreed with the suggestion by Lim to increase the proportion of OKU working in Parliament.
