'OKU Citizens' wants change in gov't's welfare approach

Matters related to disabled persons (Orang Kurang Upaya [OKU]) are often confined to the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, the key body in charge of welfare, but a group has called for a much-needed change.

Representing the disabled and coming together as ''OKU Citizens'' at the Damai Disabled Persons Association Malaysia headquarters in Petaling Jaya today, spokesperson Christine Lee said the (welfare) approach was flawed as ensuring barrier-free mobility should be a cross-agency effort at both state and federal levels.

"That's why one of our proposals today is to have a state-level OKU action council," Lee said. 

"Right now, we (persons with disabilities) are mostly (placed) under the welfare sector but a lot of our issues cannot be resolved just through the welfare angle.  

"Our needs cut across many sectors. We need education, jobs and opportunities, so we are calling for the mainstreaming of our rights," she said.

In terms of barrier-free mobility, Lee noted that despite an existing Uniform Building Bylaw 1986, enforcement was lacking to ensure compliance in terms of a universal design that took into consideration access for persons with disabilities.

One such example of non-compliance was located only a few hundred metres from the end-lot terrace house unit occupied by the Damai association.

The group, who are mostly wheelchair users, demonstrated how they were unable to access a bus stop located along a busy two-lane main road, as there was no ramp to help them up the pavement.

They said the pavement was also too high, limiting access to public buses with built-in ramps.

Also, they were unable to cross the road as there was no access to the nearest overhead bridge.

Despite that, Damai Disabled Persons Association Malaysia president V Murugeswaran said the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) remained as one the leading local authorities in terms of introducing much-needed changes.

"We can see that many things have changed, especially around the MBPJ building.

"The state government should also focus on 12 other local authorities in Selangor," he said.

"I would like to stress here is that MBPJ is in a good position today because the (then) Pakatan Rakyat government decided to appoint a disabled councillor in MBPJ.

"The outcome of that person there was good. The OKU need to be in every local council for us to address our issues," said Murugeswaran.

He further called on all local authorities and state governments to reach out to persons with disabilities in their areas to identify measures which should be taken.

National Autism Society Malaysia chairperson Feilina Feisol meanwhile, highlighted how even basic facilities, such as dedicated parking spaces for disabled persons, were often not respected.

"There is no form of redress if somebody were to park in the OKU parking bay without an OKU sticker.

"What happens to them? Nothing. And that's the sad part," she said, noting that the attitude then extended to lack of enforcement against non-compliant buildings or public amenities.

Even with a visible OKU sticker on her scooter, 62-year-old Kamala Devi (below) lamented how she would face difficulties to park at Universiti Hospital in Petaling Jaya where she routinely goes to seek treatment together with her husband who is also an OKU.

"I stay here in PJ Old Town but if our appointment is at 9am or 10am, we have to leave the house at 6am.

"We can reach there quite fast but it's difficult just to park," she told Malaysiakini.

"The security guards tell us to park at the top levels. How do they expect us to do that?" 

She said other common problems include difficulty to access various departments within the hospital itself, as they would have to meet different doctors for multiple ailments at times.

The group which gathered today also raised placards highlighting their demands addressed to the various menteri besar and chief ministers.

They also demanded that the government allocate a cross-sector budget to realise goals set out under an existing 2016-2022 OKU Action Plan.