‘Budget 2017 brings no relief to the disabled’
Last Updated 21st October, 2016, 7:54 PM
Disabled people in Malaysia were looking forward to a monthly allowance of RM500 to cope with GST and the rising cost of living, but were let down
KUALA LUMPUR: Next year is going to be another struggle for us, lamented president of The Independent Living and Training Centre Malaysia (ILTC Malaysia), G Francis Siva, when commenting on the Budget 2017 tabled by Prime Minister Najib Razak today.
Francis was disappointed with the Budget proposal as he felt that more should be done for the disabled.
In his Budget speech, Najib said the goods and services tax (GST) relief for purchase of aid equipment for the disabled will be expanded.
“GST relief for the purchase of aid equipment for registered PWDs (person with disability) without going through Private Charitable Entities. The list of equipment eligible for tax relief will be expanded,” Najib said.
Currently, the monthly allowance for employed PWD is RM350; RM200 for unemployed PWD; and assistance of RM300 for those taking care of bedridden PWD.
“For PWD giving GST waive for aid equipment and apart from that nothing, honestly very disappointed with the budget. Aid equipment like wheelchairs, bed, artificial leg and all these we are using for a few years, not every month, every day we are changing.
“I don’t know why they never focus to help for long term. They should increase allowance because daily things like food, diapers, medicines, these are the things we are struggling to buy,” said Francis.
He said that the government has yet again neglected the disabled while every other section of the community got “good news”.
“I saw others all they increased — taxi, Rela, but neglected us. Very sad. They mentioned Paralympic, how many disabled only are in that category.. basic help not given, how many got opportunity to go that level? That’s why we see it is not a caring budget for us.
“We are honestly very disappointed with our ministry (Women and Family Development) because I don’t think our requests reached the Ministry of Finance. Because they (MOF) also never called us for dialogue. When Mahathir (Mohamad) was there he’d call us to get some ideas on giving quality care for the disabled.
“But I see after Mahathir, nothing is happening in our lives,” said Francis.
”Even our Women and Family Ministry when headed by Shahrizat was better — every year we could get something,” he added.
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