16 February 2012 | last updated at 11:49pm
Suhakam sets up task force for disabled
Commission seeks improvement in public services for people with disabilities
THE Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has initiated a task force to come up with a system to monitor public facilities and policies for the disabled with the aim of providing a better living and working environment for them.
Suhakam commissioner James Deva Nayagam said the task force would look into public transport services, facilities in buildings, healthcare and education to ensure that the rights of the disabled were taken care of.
"More needs to be done to raise awareness of society on the rights of the disabled community and the problems that they face in their daily lives.
"Basic facilities in buildings and other amenities are still lacking. Many still face problems in securing jobs. Some even have problem in renting and buying properties.
"This has resulted in some of them preferring to stay at home," he said after a meeting organised by Suhakam with government agencies and the disabled community here yesterday.
Nayagam said despite the establishment of the Persons with Disabilities Act in 2008, the law was still not fully enforced.
For example, he said the disabled were not entitled to insurance.
"How do we go about protecting them and their families when there is an emergency?" asked another Su-hakam commissioner Muammad Sha'ani Abdullah.
He said although there was a quota in the workforce for person with disabilities, employers were still reluctant to hire them.
Nayagam said the task force needed to get feedback from the public and also from the disabled community.
"We need their perspectives to understand their situation better."
Nayagam said the task force would come up with a report on the monitoring system, which was expected to be completed next month.
"Basic facilities in buildings and other amenities are still lacking. Many still face problems in securing jobs. Some even have problem in renting and buying properties.
"This has resulted in some of them preferring to stay at home," he said after a meeting organised by Suhakam with government agencies and the disabled community here yesterday.
Nayagam said despite the establishment of the Persons with Disabilities Act in 2008, the law was still not fully enforced.
For example, he said the disabled were not entitled to insurance.
"How do we go about protecting them and their families when there is an emergency?" asked another Su-hakam commissioner Muammad Sha'ani Abdullah.
He said although there was a quota in the workforce for person with disabilities, employers were still reluctant to hire them.
Nayagam said the task force needed to get feedback from the public and also from the disabled community.
"We need their perspectives to understand their situation better."
Nayagam said the task force would come up with a report on the monitoring system, which was expected to be completed next month.
