The writer states the urgency in tabling the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008’s amendment as among eight items that the Madani government should do to show that it is walking the talk on inclusivity and sustainability.
TWO years have passed under the current Madani Government’s administration, two years since the proclamation of the Jakarta Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) 2023-2032, and two years after the end of Malaysia’s Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities 2016-2022.
However, it seems nothing substantial or meaningful has really happened concerning disabled people’s empowerment, development, and inclusion in Malaysia.
It seems that the Madani Government, particularly the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, does not really have a clear and robust agenda on PwD’s inclusion.
Therefore, it feels like things are stagnant and ambiguous. We hear no news on some important issues. We feel frustrated and disappointed in some actions taken by the government today.
Year 2025 is an imperative one for Malaysia. Malaysia is now the Chair of Asean. This year is the final term for the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
The government also engaged the public in several states to develop the next Malaysia Plan.
As such, to walk the talk, i.e., to translate inclusivity and sustainability, I posit the Madani Government should do the following items:
i. The Madani Government should publicise the evaluation report on the Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities 2016-2022. A transparent and accountable evaluation is important for meaningful civic participation, especially among the disabled community. It is also critical in nurturing consciousness and capacities for participatory inclusive nation-building. The evaluation’s report, hence, must be published in accessible formats and disseminated through accessible manners.
ii. The Madani Government should publicise the National Self-Assessment Report of the Mid-Term Review of the ‘Asean Enabling Masterplan 2025: Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’. This is important in advancing the localisation of various action points of the regional masterplan and strengthening regional integration activities. Similar to the first item, the report must be published in accessible formats and disseminated through accessible manners.
iii. The Madani Government should develop the next Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities 2023-2032. The development process must involve individuals of various categories of impairment and their representative organisations. The basis must be, among other things, the two reports mentioned above as well as the Operational Guide on the Implementation of the Jakarta Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities 2023-2032.
iv. The Madani Government should accelerate the tabling of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008’s amendment. The work has been done, various people have been consulted, and promises have been made. It is odd to not complete the endeavour.
v. The Madani Government should appoint at least seven individuals representing different categories of impairment as members of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities for the session 2025-2026. The Minister of Women, Family and Community Development should act beyond the literal legal text, embracing the supposed inclusionary spirit through meaningful engagement with disabled people’s organisations.
vi. The Madani Government should accelerate the appointment of the Commissioner representing the disabled community to the Commission of Human Rights Malaysia (Suhakam). The process must engage disabled people’s organisations meaningfully. The government should also provide adequate funding to support the operational and advocacy work, including hiring relevant officers and researchers.
vii. The Madani Government should ensure meaningful participation of the disabled community in the end-term review of the 12th Malaysia Plan and the development of the 13th Malaysia Plan. Disabled people’s affairs are multi- and cross-dimensional issues. Their affairs require multi- and cross-sectoral actions. Thus, the next nation-building agenda must not exclude disabled people’s perspectives, aspirations and leadership.
viii. The Madani Government should ensure disabled people’s participation, both in Malaysia and from other Asean member states, in all Asean-related events and activities. I also urge the government to organise and hold programmes concerning disabled people in regional development affairs, either as specific events of their own or as side events of broader conferences or meetings. To this end, the government can collaborate with disabled people’s organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
* Nadhir Nasir is a blind independent consultant and researcher, specialising in disability issues.