The Malaysian journey towards inclusivity and equality for persons with disabilities has seen progress in recent years. However, there still exist gaps to be bridged for the more meaningful participation and empowerment of persons with disabilities. Continuous, long-term advocacy for disability rights in Malaysia is key to creating a more inclusive society of equitable access to and use of opportunities and resources for all. Drawing lessons from struggles that have yielded success in the realization of disability rights, “long term” means sustained, continuous action over many years. Indeed, over decades.
According to the Department of Social Welfare (JKM), Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, Government of Malaysia (as of 29 February 2024):
· 697,439 citizens are OKU, meaning they have completed the government formalities for OKU registration and are holders of JKM-issued OKU cards.
This number – 697,439 -- represents an underestimated and significant group of the population whose rights and needs remain to be addressed. Despite efforts to improve accessibility and support programmes, many persons with disabilities still face entrenched barriers to education, skills training and re-training, employment, healthcare social inclusion, as well as engagement in the digital and financial sectors, and decision-making at all levels.
Challenges that perpetuate inequitable access to opportunities and resources include the following:
1. Social stigmatization, discrimination and marginalization: ableist stereotypes and misconceptions about persons with disabilities perpetuate exclusion and isolation, limiting access to services, support and opportunities for persons with disabilities and our family members. With the rapid ageing of Malaysian society, ageism and sexism exacerbate the impact of ableism on persons with disabilities at the individual and collective levels. The Government of Malaysia is a party to the proclamation of the Fourth Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023 – 2032. The Fourth Decade presents an opportunity for persons with disabilities to actively seek opportunities and tap resources for collective self-empowerment and self-help.
2. Limited availability of information, knowledge and communication in formats and modalities that suit persons with disabilities: Malaysia acceded on 31 March 2022 to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled (Marrakech Treaty). The domestic implementation of the Marrakech Treaty would make a life-changing difference in enabling access to information, knowledge and communication on an equal basis among all persons, including persons with print disabilities of all ages, women and girls with disabilities, and older persons. There is a need for wide compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and provision of policy and other documentation intended for the general public to be made available in Plain Language and Malaysian Sign language formats.
3. Lack of accessibility: There is a need for access auditing, with timely remedial action, as well as access monitoring of all stages of the design, construction and renovation of infrastructure and related services. Most schools, training institutions, workplaces, government offices and decision-making venues, and public spaces do not have accessible toilets that women and girls with diverse disabilities can safely use. This absence is one clear indicator of a deep and widespread negligence that prevents equitable access to participation in all mainstream development programmes, community life and decision-making at all levels. Persons with disabilities and allies could coordinate and work together as cross-disability teams to access audit designated priority areas and services. Learning the technical terms and requirements for access auditing is a first step.
4. Inadequate support systems: parents of children with disabilities have self-organized as groups and networks to try and meet their children’s needs. Some civil society organizations of persons with disabilities, especially independent living associations and single disability organizations, provide peer support. Care partners of older persons with dementia and/or other disabilities are not yet well-organized to press for more support, although the support need at the household and community is real and growing with the rapid ageing of society. A major gap is the lack of technical know-how and good practices in many sectors on reasonable accommodation: What is reasonable accommodation? What is advocacy for reasonable accommodation? How is reasonable accommodation organized and managed as support that works for each person? How does it work in diverse settings, for example: an inclusive early intervention centre, a local community park, a vocational training institution or via the provision of transition support for young adults with disabilities to secure and retain employment opportunities? Why is there no community of practice on reasonable accommodation to encourage and support many more of such critical efforts?
5. Financial challenges: The cost of living has risen in Malaysia. Many feel that Government financial assistance does not suffice. What are the options for persons with disabilities and families? Is there justice in the taxation system? How can more resources be allocated for empowering persons with disabilities to engage in means of livelihood that generate adequate remuneration on an equitable basis?
Advocating for disability rights in Malaysia is a collective responsibility that requires commitment, collaboration and continuous effort by all sectors of society.
With stronger disability rights advocacy, we can together help create a more inclusive and equitable society – with space and opportunity for everyone to thrive.
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