KUCHING: The Persatuan Anak Istimewa Sarawak (Perais) hopes that the revised Budget 2023 will be exclusively for the needs of persons with disabilities (PwD), besides for women and children’s development.
Its president, Rapelson Richard Hamit, said he hoped that the budget would be specifically allocated to the needs of the PwD, increasing funding for, among other things, the development of the group and the accessibility of facilities and infrastructure.
He added that this is anticipated to produce an industry that employs people with disabilities, establish special funds to support, empower, and encourage the PwD in business, agriculture, and entrepreneurship.
As such, he said that Perais wishes the Budget 2023 of Malaysia’s new government will focus on increasing funding for developing and implementing programmes for the development, training, and empowerment of the PwD.
“To assist this group, half-price discounts should be reinstated, including discounts on water and electricity utility bills, telecommunications bills, public transportation fares, airline tickets, e-hailing costs (subsidised by the government), half-price homes as well as half-price national vehicles to aid in the mobility of disabled people, and such like,” he said in a statement.
On the same note, to ensure the welfare and well-being of the disabled, Rapelson said exclusive laws must be enacted and put into effect.
He stated that the 2008 PwD Act’s circular was only intended as a guidance, not as a law, and that violators of the PWDs’ rights were not subjected to any action, fines, or other penalties.
In addition, he said PERAIS also hopes that more PwDs will be given opportunities and highlighted in important positions in the federal and state governments.
“Among them are the positions of senators from Sabah and Sarawak, PwDs in federal and state government-linked companies (GLCs), and also in local governments.
“Similarly, one per cent placement of PwDs in the public sector should be implemented immediately,” he added.
In the meantime, he noted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as a reformist figure who once held the position of Minister of Finance to bring reforms in the administration of the country.
Rapelson also believes that Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, who has been named the new Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, would strengthen the dignity and empowerment of the disabled in all aspects.
With a total of RM1.2 billion provided to the group in the form of allowances and healthcare benefits, the requirements of PwD were considerably addressed in the Budget 2023, which was first proposed in 2022.
Meanwhile, on Friday (Feb 17), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has sent a memorandum to Anwar on behalf of PwD who are struggling to make ends meet, pleading with the government to address a number of urgent requests from the community in the upcoming revised version of Budget 2023.
