KUALA LUMPUR: Beginning tomorrow, individuals who are blind in one eye will be classified as a disabled person and can receive privileges under the Social Welfare Department.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the decision was made at a meeting of the National Council for the Disabled.
"This will enable the people who fall under this category to get the same privileges enjoyed by other disabled people when they register with the Social Welfare Department," she said at a Press conference after launching the 60th Anniversary of the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB), yesterday.
Shahrizat added local authorities throughout the nation are required to include a representative from the disabled community in their planning and development committee.
"This is part of the ministry's effort to mainstream the disabled community's issues into the development of the nation towards ensuring that Malaysia is a barrier free country."
Local authorities will be required to set up an audit access unit to ensure all public facilities are properly monitored and maintained.
Mixed reactions by disabled-friendly NGOs
THE Women, Family and Community Development Ministry's move to classify individuals who are blind in one eye under the disabled (OKU) category, requiring local authorities to elect a disabled representative to sit in their planning and development committee and to set up an audit access unit, received mixed reactions from several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) championing the cause.
Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) president Datuk Dr Abdullah Malim Baginda said categorising those blind in one eye as OKU would help them tremendously, especially if they are poor.
"They will receive OKU cards and get discounts for medical treatments and free medical check-ups," he said.
Dr Abdullah Malim said electing an OKU representative to sit in local authorities' planning and development committee would ensure the needs of their community were met.
"At the moment, we do sit in committee meetings but only informally. Sometimes, we also get called in for audit checks by several companies," he said.
One such company he cited was Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad, to which he tested their disabled-friendly facilities two weeks ago.
For Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) president Francis Siva, he opined the move should have been done 15 years ago.
"We also need to know who will monitor the committee and ensure this policy is carried out. There has to be a proper mechanism," he said.
However, Francis felt the efforts would not solve all problems faced by the disabled community unless "a disabled person is elected as a councilor in every local council.
"This would be more effective as our suggestions can be discussed at full board meetings and have a budget allocated for it."
Persatuan Kurang Upaya Anggota Melayu Malaysia (Permata) president Suhairi Abdullah, was unhappy those blind in one eye were categorised as OKU.
"Why does the government want to help people who are still able-bodied? They are not completely blind.
"If this is the case, soon, people who are deaf in one ear or people who do not have one leg will also be under the disabled category," he said.
"Currently, OKUs with a salary of RM1,200 are eligible to receive a monthly disabled worker allowance of RM300. If the partially-blind are considered OKUs, the government might have to fork out more."
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