Isak (seated left) with SBM treasurer Azohari Jamil (seated right) and SBM committee members at the dialogue with government agencies.
KUCHING: Agencies from government and the private sector in the state are encouraged to allocate at least one per cent of their employment to people with disabilities (OKU).
According to Society for the Blind Malaysia (Sarawak branch) (SBM) chairman Isak Ngau, OKUs, who are often an overlooked pool of potential employees, deserved an equal chance of employment.
“Though disabled, the OKUs just need to be given an opportunity to work and once given the chance, they can make excellent employees,” he said when met after a dialogue between SBM and government agencies on implementing an employment policy for OKU here on Monday.
Isak, who is visually impaired himself, also proposed that employment from these agencies could also be on a part-time basis.
“For instance, if an agency is to organise its Family Day, the committee could open up employment opportunity for OKUs who can provide their service such as reflexology,” he suggested.
“This would thus ensure that OKUs have the opportunity to work and prove that they can also contribute to the country’s development,” he added.
On the dialogue, Isak said that this was the association’s first step towards getting government agencies on board with their vision of one per cent employment for OKUs at each agency in the state.
“Most of our SBM members are job seekers and through the dialogue, this would provide the chance for them to personally hear from the horse’s mouth on what requirements they would need in order to apply for a job at government agencies,” he explained.
He also disclosed that the association would organise more dialogue sessions this year specifically with the Public Services Commission of Malaysia (SPA).
Seven government agencies participated in the recent dialogue, namely the State Welfare Department (JKM), Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), Tabung Baitumal Sarawak, Kuching North City Commission (DBKU), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Malaysia Pepper Board (Sarawak) and Malaysian Cocoa Board (Sarawak).
Established in 1986, SBM currently has more than 260 members throughout the state.