Friday December 4, 2009
More jobs for the disabled in Selangor By YIP YOKE TENG
THE Selangor state government will set aside at least one percent of the posts available in its administration for disabled people. The quota applies not only to all local councils but also contractors taking up government projects.
State executive councillor Rodziah Ismail, who is in charge of the Welfare, Women’s Affairs, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee, said the move would begin in January.
“The state wants to ensure that disabled people are given due opportunities in job placement,” she said after launching the International Day for Disabled Person celebration organised by the Petaling Jaya City Council yesterday at E@Curve, Mutiara Damansara.
Also present at the celebration were mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman as well as councillor Anthony Thanasayan and Chan Chee Kong.
At the function, prizes were presented to special children with good academic results while members from the Dyslexia Association Malaysia presented an interesting opening act. Others took part in a treasure hunt while children were taught handicraft.
“At least one per cent of government projects will also be offered to disabled people to ensure that they get a fair chance in business, too,” she added.
She said the idea had long been mooted and even practised internally but the announcement was not made yet to officially invite application from disabled peeople.
“Currently, disabled people take up only 0.3% of the posts in our administration throughout the state so we are at the same time offering education and skills training to prepare them for the posts,” she said.
Also, factories in the state have 18,000 jobs to be filled and the government had arranged for the disabled to sit for the interviews because they are skilled.
The state’s next step in improving the welfare for the disabled groups is to have a sign language interpreter at the front desk of government organisations.
“We also want the entire state to be barrier-free as we are having an increasing population of disabled people. So far, Selangor has 20,000 disabled people but many still have not registered with us.
“I would say MBPJ is the champion in making its city accessible to the disabled and it is indeed an excellent example for all other local councils to emulate,” she added.
She said the state would also form a committee made up of disabled people next year. The committee is expected to give its input in all planning discussions and the recommendations will be followed through by the local councils and relevant parties.
Roslan said the council set aside RM3.9mil to make Petaling Jaya a barrier-free city.
“However, the fact is that disabled people face not only physical barrier but also attitude barrier.
The disabled have a right to basic accessibility and the public must not abuse these facilities provided for them,” he said.
We highlighted some critical issues to the media. 
Awareness of facilities provided for the disabled is still lacking to provide special lifts, ramps and paths for the wheelchairs of disabled.
Sensitive and concerned against the plight of the disabled.
Abuse of parking lots designated for the disabled by members of the public who are physically normal.
We do not have an enforcement unit on the abuse of facilities. On facilities for the handicapped at buildings and premises, there were still many of such structures like shopping complexes and banks that failed to provide the utilities for the disabled. 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
n Malaysia, there are the Persons With Disabilities Act (PWD Act) and the Act not sufficient to protect the interest of the handicapped.
PWD Act is 'toothless' as there is no enforcement unit. The Act is good for the disabled but it does not spell out the specific penalty for those who committed abused of the facilities for the disabled.
