Dewan Rakyat: Disabled to have better lives

nstonline

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Dewan Rakyat: Disabled to have better lives

By : V. Vasudevan and Eileen Ng

A NATIONAL Council for Persons with Disabilities will be set up once the Persons With Disabilities Bill 2007 is enforced.

Once in place, the council will play a pivotal role in the implementation of the national policy and national action of disabled persons and make recommendations related to their well-being, support, care, protection, rehabilitation and development.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil tabled the bill for its first reading yesterday. The bill is slated for a second reading next Monday.

"It is indeed a new era for the disabled community, their family and guardians," she said later in the lobby.

The bill seeks to provide for the registration, protection and rehabilitation, development and well-being of persons with disabilities.

In addition, the council will co-ordinate and monitor the implementation of a national policy and national action plan with relevant ministries and adopt effective measures to promote recognition of the skills, merits and abilities of the disabled.

"The council will also promote employment opportunities and career advancement for persons with disabilities in the labour market, as well as assistance in finding or obtaining employment on equal basis with persons without disabilities," the bill proposed.

Under the bill, a Register of Persons with Disabilities will be established, to be managed and administered by a Registrar General who will be appointed. The register will have all information on the disabled community and also the power to issue a "Kad OKU" (Disabled Person Card) to a person who is verified disabled.

The bill addresses some of the concerns raised by the disabled over access to public facilities, amenities, services and buildings to the disabled on equal basis as able-bodied people.

A similar provision is also provided in relation to public transport, pursuit of education, information and communications technology and cultural life.

On employment of disabled persons, the bill states that employers are to ensure that they are accorded just and favourable conditions of work and equal opportunities and equal remuneration for work of equal value as those persons without disabilities.

On health concerns of the disabled, the bill requires the government, private healthcare service providers and non-governmental organisations to make available essential health services to persons with disabilities.

It also places a duty on the private sector and NGOs providing institutional care for persons with disabilities to have in its employ speech therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists if deemed necessary by the minister.