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Opinion
Tuesday October 17, 2006
Have a big heart for the disabled
WE welcome the call by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to operators of shopping centres to offer discounts to the disabled during festive seasons, “Disabled deserve special discounts” (The Star, Oct 14).
The Deputy Prime Minister’s wife and acting president of the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) was right in making such a timely call as such gestures of kindness from the corporate world will greatly help to bring cheer to the disabled so that they too can enjoy the festivity.
It is interesting to note that in countries like Britain a few hours of a certain day of the week are open to elderly and disabled shoppers to shop at special discounts.
According to the United Nations, people with disabilities all over the world are categorised as the poorest among the poor – whether or not they live in rich or poor countries.
In most cases they are in such a predicament not because they are lazy or because of their handicaps but because societies have yet to provide for their basic needs and rights as citizens.
The disabled are often caught in a vicious cycle which severely impairs their chances to be financially independent, like most everyone else.
They have no jobs because they have no qualifications. They are never able to go to school like others because schools do not provide facilities for them or there is no transport to get them educated.
Rosmah’s call will help to balance the uneven scale for people with disabilities. It is not sympathy but rather an affirmative action plan.
The Government can also do its part by getting more public and private companies to offer their goods or services at reduced rates to disabled Malaysians who produce Government-issued identity cards to confirm their disabilities.
Such privileges will encourage more disabled people to register themselves as handicapped citizens.
ANTHONY THANASAYAN,
PresidenT, Malaysian
Animal-Assisted Therapy
for the Disabled and
Elderly Association,
Kuala Lumpur.
More News:
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