Press Release by Sustainable Independent Living & Access (SILA) c/o Socio-Economic & Environmental Research Institute, Penang, Malaysia.
Website: http://www.seri.com.my SILA Penang is a coalition of NGOs and individuals working for the promotion and protection of the rights of Persons with Disabilities.
SILA would like to call upon all persons with disabilities and their families and care providers to come out in full force and vote in this coming election which will be held on the 8 March 2008 .
Disabled people in Malaysia Malaysia
It is a form of discrimination against the disabled people if they have difficulties getting information on the candidates and in accessing their places for voting if they are located in upper floors of classrooms with no lifts; when the trusted relative or friend of a blind or low vision voter is not allowed to assist him / her in casting the ballot. Therefore the request from the disabled people for assistance in this respect is not for special privileges but steps towards equalization of opportunities.
SILA would like to call upon the Election Commission to instruct and train all its officers and polling staff across the country to give all the necessary assistance to disabled persons to exercise their right to vote in secrecy.
This includes immediate steps to set up the special streams at every polling centre for senior citizens, disabled people, pregnant women and women with young children so that they do not have to queue up and wait for a long time to cast their ballots.
SILA would like to urge the Presiding officers, polling staff and police personnel at the polling stations to be aware of this provision by the Election Commission as stated in its website and to be pro-active and offer assistance to disabled people without having to be asked, for example, help provide parking lots for them, lend a helping hand to wheelchair users or those with mobility problems and to allow trusted relatives and friends selected by the disabled persons to assist the blind and others who have difficulties in holding the pencil to cast their ballots.
Further, we urge the Election Commission to provide cut-out templates with candidates’ names in Braille be made available to the blind at all polling centres.
SILA would like to urge all disabled people, their families and care providers to actively find out more about each candidate who is standing in their respective constituency and to vote only for those who support the rights of the disabled, who will speak up on our behalf and who will act to promote our rights. We must remember to vote against those who said that our disability is “punishment from God” and those with similar prejudices.
SILA urges all candidates to spell out their programs in relation to what they will do if elected to ensure that the rights and interest of all persons with disabilities and their families are protected.
Sincerely,
Tan Chin Chin (陳甄甄)
Coordinator, SILA Penang
On behalf of SILA Members and Supporting Individuals
l The Cerebral Palsy (Spastic) Children's Association of Penang
l Eden Handicap Service Centre l St.
l Asia Community Service l Y-Self Reliance Centre for the Deaf
l Penang Deaf Association l Society of Disabled Persons Penang
l Old Nicolites Association l Autism Support Association Penang
l Penang Down Syndrome Association
l Society of the Blind, Malaysia (SBM), Penang Branch
l Persatuan Orang Cacat Malaysia
l Socio-economic & Environmental Research Institute (SERI)
l Lim Kah Cheng l Tan Kuan Aw
l William Brohier
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