Disabled senator: I'm doing my best

Malaysiakini story:

Visually impaired senator Dr Ismail Md Salleh today defended himself saying that he is doing his best in representing persons with disabilities.

However, he said certain quarters may have "different views" about this.

Ismail was responding to the Malaysians Against the Discrimination of the Disabled (MADD) who asked why the senator had kept silent on the discriminatory remarks made against wheelchair-bound DAP stalwart Karpal Singh in the Dewan Rakyat.

MADD also staged a protest in Parliament yesterday demanding an apology from Barisan Nasional MP Bung Mokhtar Radin and Independent MP Ibrahim Ali.

While Bung had challenged Karpal 'to stand up' during a heated exchange in the House, Ibrahim had criticised the DAP veteran for not seeking permission to address the House while seated.

Responding, Ismail said: "I don’t think they should make an issue about this. Karpal just happens to be disabled and it has nothing to do with the disabled."

Karpal became partially paralysed following a car accident two years ago.

'Toothless tiger'

Ismail also rebutted criticism that "nothing is happening" in relation to the Persons with Disabilities Act with regards to the rights of the disabled since the former was appointed senator.
The criticism came from Independent Living and Training Centre president G Francis Siva, who was present at yesterday’s protest.

"There are a lot of standard operation procedures to be taken," explained Ismail, adding that the Act is still in the process to be gazetted.

"We are waiting for the Ministry to get it done," he said.

The groups should wait until the 26th or 27th of this month when the Parliamentary session is over to get a decision, he added.

Ismail, who is also an adviser for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on disability issues, stressed that critics should not "question my capabilities."

However, MADD’s legal adviser N Surendran dismissed the Act, which was passed last December, as a "toothless tiger."

"It is a cosmetic attempt by the government to pretend that they are actually doing something for the disabled," he told a press conference in Parliament yesterday.

MADD also submitted a memorandum to Oppositon Leader and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for the Act to be amended to include penalties against those who breach its provisions.