No More Talk; Action Please!

PETPOSITIVE Wishes Everyone Happy International Disabled Day Today On December 3, 2007!

Thirty disabled Malaysians gathered at the Bangsar LRT Station yesterday morning to make their voices heard about issues that affect them on International Disabled Day.

Here is the press release that the disabled presented to the media on the eve of their special occasion:

PRESS RELEASE


Disabled Malaysians ignored and marginalised

The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons, on 3rd December 2007, aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

The theme is based on the goal of full and equal enjoyment of human rights and participation in society by persons with disabilities, established by the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by United Nations General Assembly in 1982.

Very few Malaysians with disabilities are gainfully employed. Many are dependent upon begging, petty trading, hawking, receiving hand-outs, and the very small amount of Government welfare which is sometimes available in Malaysia, for their livelihood. It is a stark and undeniable fact that meaningful employment is denied to disabled Malaysians.

This is largely caused by lack of universally accessible public transport, non-accessible pavements and road crossings, the denial of equal employment opportunities and negative attitudes. Little effort is made by employers both in the public and private sector to make reasonable adjustments to facilitate the employment of the disabled.

The recently adopted UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognizes in Article 27 the rights of persons with disabilities to work and employment on an equal basis with others. It stresses the right of persons with disabilities to earn a living from freely chosen work, and to work in an environment that is both accessible and accepting.

Malaysia is yet to pass legislation to promote and protect the rights of workers with disabilities. This is a shocking and shameful failure on the part of the Malaysian Government. This deficit makes discrimination on the grounds of disability legitimate, thus hindering persons with disabilities from entering the labour market.

Discrimination, however, often begins a lot earlier in life, when persons with disabilities are denied opportunities that would facilitate their inclusion into the workforce, for instance, proper education or training in employable skills, accessible transportation to get to work, and accessible workplaces.

In this regard, Malaysia has done little to ensure the availability of adequate resources, materials and methods in schools to prepare the disabled for full participation in society and to foster their sense of dignity.

In addition there is only poor and patchy healthcare support for the special needs of the disabled resulting in them being less healthy that the general population.

In fact, empirical evidence shows that persons with disabilities have high performance ratings and retention rates, as well as better attendance records than their colleagues without disabilities.

In addition, the cost of providing suitable facilities for employees with disabilities can be minimal, with most requiring no special facilities at all. Studies have shown that there are other benefits to employers of persons with disabilities, such as improved workforce morale and increased customer goodwill.

To ensure decent work for persons with disabilities- businesses, Governments, and persons with disabilities have to work closely together to address both the lack of opportunities that prevent persons with disabilities from entering the workforce and the attitudes found among employers.

For self employed persons with disabilities in Malaysia, the Government should consider ways that will help them, such as their inclusion in schemes such as micro-credit and micro-finance.

Persons with disabilities experience high rates of unemployment in Malaysia; there is, therefore an urgent and vital need to close the employment and income gap between persons with disabilities and those without disabilities.

Empty promises and unproductive meetings and conferences, such as has experienced in the past, are not an effective way forwards.

We the undersigned call upon the Malaysian Government to:

1) Recognise the inalienable human right of persons with disabilities for equal participation in all spheres of the life of the nation;

2) Urgently pass legislation comprehensively providing and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities in the main areas of Employment, Education, Health, Transport and Accessibility;

3) Create a Disability Rights Commission to oversee the operation of disability legislation and to periodically make the necessary recommendations for implementation to government;

4) Become a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol.

Issued by,

Malaysian Coalition Against Discrimination of the Disabled (MADD)

The above organisation includes The Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive), The Independent Living and Training Centre in Rawang, Selangor and The Support Group Society of the Blind of Malaysia (Supporteam), among others.

The press statement was prepared by:

Captain Abdul Karim Stuart Russell, Petpositive Adviser and Secretary of Supporteam and N Surendran, Legal Adviser to Petpositive.