It is high time that developers and building management companies in
the State give appropriate consideration to ensure that their premises
are more accessible to disabled people, said Community Development and
Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad.
"Under the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008, the disabled have the
right to access and use public facilities, amenities, services and
buildings open or provided to the public.
"However, if we look at the current situation today, not many buildings especially older buildings were built in accordance to the Act, including, sadly government buildings.
"We are glad some developers are working hard to comply with the guidelines, but it is still not enough. More needs to be done in this regard," she said.
Jainab was speaking at a press conference after the Convocation of 2nd Batch of Basic Pastry Skills at the Sabah Council of Social Service here, Friday.
"Facilities such as ramp, toilet and car park for the disabled, voice and Braille-operated elevators, pedestrian crossings using traffic lights with Red Man, Green Man animation and signboards using disabled icons, these are aplenty but still insufficient.
"I recently went to Shenzen (China) and I saw a weird-looking overbridge with ramp.
After a while I saw a group of people on wheelchair boarding it. I realised that over here, we do not have it.
We need that so our disabled neighbours would be able to cross roads safely," she said.
Jainab also pleaded to parents and guardians of disabled children to register their children under the Persons with Disabilities Act.
"They are required to do this, but for some reasons, they don't. Our number of registered disabled people is only 26,171 which is really low compared to WHO's estimation of 15 per cent out of the total population," she said.
She added that registered persons with disabilities will be given a Kad OKU which is similar to identification card and would qualify them to enjoy various privilege provided for them by the government.
"Among them are Early Education Intervention, Rehabilitation in Community, RM300 allowance for disabled persons who are working but with income less than RM1,200 a month and more.
"Additionally, the Ministry of Education also provides RM150 a month to disabled primary and secondary students and RM300 for students in higher institute of learning.
"Government departments and agencies such as Human Resource Ministry, Road Transport Department, Inland Revenue Board and Telekom also came up with special packages for the disabled," she said.
Meanwhile, Jainab congratulated the graduates who successfully completed their course under the tutelage of two pastry chefs from Asian Tourism International College (ATI).
"I hope that this certificate which is recognised by the hotel industry in the country, will help you to secure jobs or start your own business. I also urge bakery owners in the State to consider giving these graduates the employment that they need," she said.
Source : Daily Express , 23rd June 2013
No comments:
Post a Comment