(Front from left) SBEU Northern Branch secretary Sherry Lai, Ling, and Alah with others in a group photo.
MIRI: The public sector in Malaysia is still behind on the goal of 1 per cent disabled (OKU) workers set by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM).
Senator Alan Ling said up until last December, there were only 3,856 disabled workers or 0.31 per cent of the over 1.26 million vacancies.
“According to data obtained from the Public Service Department (JPA), out of the total of 18,654 Sarawak state posts, there are only 38 people with disabilities, which is 0.20 per cent and the percentage of other states’ achievements is also unsatisfactory so far and more is needed to realise the goal,” he said during a Sarawak Bank Employees’ Union (SBEU) charity programme at the Morsjaya Community-based Rehabilitation Centre on Wednesday.
He called on both the private and public sectors to support the target.
Ling also advised parents to encourage their disabled children to apply for jobs according to their respective skills and psychological levels.
“I hope that NGOs such as SBEU can help disseminate information on job opportunities to OKUs before they finish schooling or study and provide opportunities for OKU to serve in the finance sector,” he added.
Ling also handed over a federal government grant of RM5,000 to Morsjaya PDK, which was received by chairman Alah Imang, for the centre’s activities.