
In open letter to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Harapan OKU proposes the establishment of a commission for disability inclusion and the enactment of a Disability Discrimination Act for the enforcement of the rights for persons with disabilities in Malaysia.
With all due respect and kindness we refer to the above.
First of all we would like to congratulate you on the victory of Pakatan Harapan in the 2018 general election and on your appointment as prime minister. Our prayers are for your wellbeing, for you to be given strength and health by Allah SWT in order to be able to perform all the tasks and daily affairs with great blessings and peace.
Allow us to introduce Harapan OKU. For your information, we represent persons with disabilities (OKU) and have been actively involved in various activities. We have held a series of discussions with relevant government agencies on the issues that challenge persons with disabilities in Malaysia.
Unfortunately, so far, many of these issues have not been resolved and are not properly addressed even with the establishment of the Persons with Disabilities Act in 2008. Respectfully, we wish to highlight this matter with you and the new cabinet line-up so that you can take the necessary steps to overcome these weaknesses. As individuals, former and current members of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and members of persons with disabilities organisations, we wish to initiate discussions about our key proposals outlined below in our open letter to you.
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We, the people of Malaysia, who are still marginalised and burdened by the poor implementation of various policies related to disability and development in this country, wish to seek a review of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 (Act 685) and all other laws relevant to persons with disabilities, culminating in the establishment of a commission for disability inclusion with enforcement powers, and the enactment of a Disability Discrimination Act.
Your leadership is the very driving force needed in transforming this nation forward and in achieving full equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in this country that would be fulfil Vision 2020 and beyond, when an ageing society is inevitable.
By 2040, combined, the population of persons with disabilities and older persons will make up 34% of the population and many issues need to be addressed immediately in all sectors of housing, public spaces and amenities, transport, education, employment, healthcare and other aspects of community and social life.
The Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 has been proven to be ineffective for the past decade, in not making the crucial changes in upholding the rights of persons with disabilities as stated in the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The proposed Disability Discrimination Act will complement the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008, and all other relevant laws. This new act will provide for legal action and punitive measures for non-compliance to this act and all other relevant laws affecting persons with disabilities, by establishing a commission for disability inclusion under the law that will monitor and ensure the successful implementation of policies and action plans in all areas to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities in Malaysia.
The new act and the commission should be within and under the purview of the respected Prime Minister’s Department and be answerable directly to the prime minister in order to integrate all the policies and laws across all ministries that are associated with disability, including accessibility and universal design.
Thank you very much.
Harapan OKU
Signatories to the open letter to the prime minister:
Civil Society Organisations
1. Aliran
2. Asia Community Service
3. Association for the Concerned Citizens and Parents of Handicapped Children Bintulu (Perpikat Bintulu)
4. Association of NETWORK for the Needs of Children with Disability Perak
5. Association of Women Lawyers
6. Autisme Malaysia
7. Beautiful Gate Foundation For The Disabled
8. Bold Association for Children with Special Needs Penang
9. Bukit Harapan
10. Cerebral Palsy Malaysia
11. Challenges Foundation
12. Damai Disabled Person Association Malaysia
13. Dual Blessing Bhd 双福残障自强发展协会
14. Dyslexia Association of Sarawak
15. Ecocentric Transitions
16. Eden Handicap Service Centre Bhd Penang
17. Empower
18. Gabungan Anak-Anak Palsi Serebrum (GAPS)
19. Ikatan Wanita Islam Selangor
20. Justice for Sisters
21. Kelab Sokongan Ibu Bapa Anak Autisme Perlis -Little Hiccups
22. Kitmalaya Resouces –KitMalayaGroup (kitMG)
23. Kuala Lumpur Society of the Deaf (KLSD)
24. Lovely Disabled Home
25. Majlis Kebangsaan bagi Orang Buta Malaysia
26. Malaysia Independent Living Association For Disabled
27. Malaysia Parents With Disabilities Association
28. Malaysian Advocates for Cerebral Palsy
29. Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB)
30. Malaysian Association of Rehabilitation Physicians (MARP)
31. Malaysian Association of Sign Language Interpreters (MyAsli)
32. Malaysian Association of Social Workers
33. Malaysian Association of Speech-Language and Hearing (Mash)
34. Malaysian Care
35. Malaysian Confederation of the Disabled
36. Malaysian Council for Rehabilitation
37. Malaysian Information Network on Disabilities (Mind)
38. Malaysian Paediatric Association
39. Malaysian Rare Disorders Society
40. Mental Health Association of Sarawak
41. MINDA (Malaysian Youth Mental Health Initiative)
42. National Autism Society of Malaysia
43. National Early Childhood Intervention Council (NECIC)
44. New Horizons Society Ipoh
45. Ohana Association Ipoh Perak
46. Penang Down Syndrome Association
47. Penang Heritage Trust
48. Penang Hindu Association
49. Perak Women for Women
50. Persatuan Berkerusi Roda Kota Kinabalu (Peroda)
51. Persatuan CHILD Sabah
52. Persatuan Ibubapa Anak Masalah Pendengaran (Hear Me)
53. Persatuan Ibubapa dan Penjaga Anak Pekak KL (Pesiba)
54. Persatuan Kakitangan Akademik Universiti Malaya (PKAUM)
55. Persatuan Kanak-kanak Autistik Islam Johor Bahru
56. Persatuan Kanak-kanak Istimewa Kajang Selangor
57. Persatuan Kebajikan Permata Warga Istimewa Malaysia
58. Persatuan Mobiliti Selangor dan Kuala Lumpur
59. Persatuan Orang-Orang Cacat Anggota Malaysia (Pocam)
60. Persatuan OKU Sentral
61. Persatuan Orang Kurang Upaya Kuching (House of Joy)
62. Persatuan Pemulihan Sultan Azlan Shah Ipoh
63. Persatuan Pengurusan Kediaman Insan Istimewa Kota Kinabalu Sabah (Rumahku)
64. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
65. Persatuan Sindrom Down Malaysia
66. Persatuan Sindrom Prader-Willi Malaysia
67. Persatuan Sukan Orang Pekak Sarawak
68. Persatuan Tenpin Boling Para Negeri Sarawak
69. Persatuan Warga OKU Petaling Jaya
70. Persatuan WeCareJourney
71. Persekutuan Orang Pekak Malaysia (MFD)
72. Pertubuhan Dermawan Audrey Touch
73. Pertubuhan Guru Pendidikan Khas Negeri Johor
74. Pertubuhan Hindhudharma Malaysia
75. Pertubuhan Kebajikan Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti (PKPDK) Nur Kasih Pemanis Segamat Johor
76. Pertubuhan Kebajikan Pesakit Ichthyosis Malaysia
77. Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Orang Kerdil Malaysia (PKOKM)
78. Pertubuhan Orang Cacat Sarawak (POCS)
79. Pertubuhan Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti Bukit Payong (Pusat Harian Kanak-kanak Istimewa Bukit Payong)
80. Pertubuhan Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti Rumah Payung Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi
81. Pertubuhan Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti Sri Nilam Cahaya Balok
82. Pertubuhan Penyakit Lisosomal Malaysia
83. Pertubuhan Perkhidmatan Intervensi Awal
84. Pertubuhan Pusat Penyayang Langkah Awal
85. Pertubuhan Sokongan Ibubapa Dyslexia Malaysia (PSIDM)
86. Pertubuhan Sokongan Ibubapa Kanak-kanak Autisme
87. Pertubuhan Tamilan Uthavum Karangkal Malaysia
88. Pusat Pendidekan Kanak-kanak Istimewa Harmoni Cheras (PKIH)
89. Sabah Society for the Blind
90. Sabah Women’s Action-Resource Group (Sawo)
91. Sarawak Association for the Welfare of Intellectually Disabled Children. (Perkata Sarawak)
92. Sarawak Society for the Blind
93. Sarawak Society for the Deaf
94. Sarawak Society for Parents of Children with Special Needs (Pibakat)
95. Selangor Cheshire Home
96. Seri Mengasih Centre
97. Shalom House Penang
98. Siloam House
99. Sisters in Islam
100. Smart Integrated Therapy
101. Social Welfare Council of Sarawak
102. Society of the Blind in Malaysia
103. Spinal Muscular Atrophy Malaysia (SMAM)
104. St. Nicholas’ Home, Penang
105. Starlight Children’s Society Malaysia
106. Support for Parents, Infants and Children through Early Services (Spices)
107. Temple of Fine Arts Penang
108. Tenaganita
109. The Cerebral Palsy (Spastic) Children Association of Penang
110. The Salvation Army
111. The Selangor and Federal Territory Association for the Mentally Handicaped (SAMH)
112. The Therapy Tree Kota Kinabalu (KK)
113. United Voice (Persatuan Advokasi Diri Orang Bermasalah Pembelajaran)
114. USM Cerebral Palsy Research Cluster
115. We Are Malaysian Indians (Wami)
116. Wings Melaka
117. Wishesland – Malaysia Cerebral Palsy Association, Kuching & Samarahan Division
118. Women’s Aid Organisation
119. Women’s Centre for Change (WCC)
120. Yayasan Faqeh
121. Yayasan Salam Malaysia
122. Yayasan Sultan Idris Shah Foundation for the Disabled, Perak (YSIS)
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