KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has urged the public to help promote the registration of People With Disability (PWD) with the Welfare Department to provide better services to meet their needs.
This is because the latest number of registered PWD members nationwide stood at only 498,906, which is still far from the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated number of 15 per cent of Malaysia’s present population or 4.35 million.
“I sincerely hope each and every one of you will help promote the registration of PWD in your midst so that we can plan and provide better services to meet their needs,” said the prime minister’s wife.
She said this in her speech at the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) – The Malaysian Information Network on Disabilities (Mind) Conference VI here yesterday.
Rosmah’s speech was read by Bakti honorary treasurer Toh Puan Seri Che Kamariah Zakaria.
However, Rosmah said since the National Council for PWD was activated in 2008, the PWD registry continued to record an increasing number of the six categories of PWD, namely the Blind, Deaf, Communication Disabled, Physical Disabled, Psychiatrically Disabled, and Multiple Disabled.
She noted that part four of the PWD Act 2008 was promotion and development of the quality of life and the PWD’s well-being.
“It reflects the need for access to various essentials, including public facilities; amenities; services and buildings; publics transport facilities; education; employment; information; communication and technology; cultural life as well as access to recreation, leisure and sport,” she said.
Meanwhile, Rosmah who is also Bakti president, said that at the Bakti-Mind project, they tried very hard to keep pace with the international development of inclucive activities for PWD, notably the promotion of Alternative and Argumentative Communication and other assistive technologies, and the Universal Design Built Environment.
“At this Bakti-Mind Conference VI, our focus in on Community Base Rehabilitation (CBR) for PWD: Form and Function in the quest for an Inclusive Society.
“This conference is primarily designed to encourage active interaction of the speakers and participants and it is hoped the main thrust of discussion on the latest agenda can help pave and shape the way towards the inclusion of PWD in society,” she added.
The 6th Bakti-Mind Conference titled, ‘Form and Function of Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) in Promoting an Inclusive Society’ is held for three days, beginning yesterday. — Bernama