DATUK Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been urged to update the public on the latest number of disabled persons employed in the civil service, almost one year since the prime minister announced a related policy change.
Last December, Ismail announced a new key performance indicator (KPI) for all ministries – that they must employ disabled persons in 1% of available positions in the civil service by the end of 2022.
According to news reports, disabled persons only make up 0.4% of the civil service despite such an initiative being in place for more than three decades now.
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said while such an effort deserves to be praised as equal access to the disabled, especially in the civil service, is necessary, it remains a mere statement that has yet to materialise.
“If we look at the existing facilities for the disabled, it is still not enough to help them live their daily lives,” he said in a statement.
“There are still many places that have walkway barriers, many elevators are still missing in high-rise public buildings and many places still lack ramps in place.”
The DAP Kuala Lumpur secretary noted that a lack of proper infrastructure facilities hinders disabled folk from getting employment as many would most have no choice but to reject job opportunities if the offices are not disabled-friendly.
“At the same time, we can also see that the presence of disabled folk in Government premises outside the city is almost absent,” he added.
“If you’re really serious, you’ll update us more often”
Lim, therefore, urged Ismail to show the latest statistics and number of disabled persons who have already been absorbed into the civil service and whether the 1% KPI has been met yet.
“If the Government is really serious about their promises, things like this need to be updated regularly and informed to the general public,” Lim said, adding that he would raise the matter in the Dewan Rakyat when Parliament reconvenes in October.
He also urged the Government to increase the 1% KPI to 1.5% for next year, saying period increases are necessary to show that such an effort is a serious one and not merely “tokenistic”.
Similarly, Rangkaian Solidariti Demokratik Pesakit Mental (SIUMAN) echoed Lim’s call and further asked Ismail to reveal the categories of disabled persons included in the ministries’ KPIs.
A spokesperson for the group told FocusM that only four ministries have reportedly met the 1% KPI so far – the ministries of defence; women, family and community development; entrepreneur development and cooperative, and; national unity.
“In our experience, only (disabled persons from) certain categories are hired and those with psychosocial disabilities such as mental or learning disabilities are often left out,” they said.
The spokesperson also urged Ismail to reveal the progress of upgrading Government facilities more disabled-friendly since announcing the RM30 mil allocation under Budget 2022.
In tabling the Budget in October 2021, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku also announced an RM10 mil allocation to implement training and guidance programmes for the disabled. – Sept 4, 2022
Main photo credit: Kosmo
