PwD COMMUNITY LAUDS INCLUSIVE PEMULIH AID
THE persons with disabilities (PwD) community has commended the government’s efforts to strengthen the inclusive agenda under the Pakej Perlindungan Rakyat dan Pemulihan Ekonomi (Pemulih) aid package.
On June 28, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, while unveiling the Pemulih aid package, said the government had agreed to provide RM500 in aid per person for three months for PwDs who are not recipients of the Disabled Workers Allowance.
A total of RM30 million has been allocated for this purpose, which is expected to benefit 20,000 PwDs.
Sekretariat Prihatin OKU Malaysia chairman Mohammad Faizal Che Yusof welcomed the cash assistance and advised the PwD community to sustain their livelihoods by using the aid prudently.
“Many of the PwDs who are unemployed or lost their jobs are no longer entitled to receive the Disabled Workers Allowance from the Social Welfare Department.
“For the first time, the government has introduced an alternative aid scheme for non-recipients of the Disabled Workers Allowance under the Pemulih aid package.
“We are living in trying times. So, the PwD community must take advantage of all government and non-governmental assistance and use it prudently.
“For instance, rather than using this RM1,500 to buy groceries, they should get the food baskets provided by the government under the Bakul Prihatin Negara programme.
“They should also seek help from agencies and non-governmental organisations which are offering assistance for people to pay their rental dues.
“These are some ways to ease their cash flow so that they can maximise the assistance they receive. Every single cent counts now,” he told the New Straits Times.
Many PwDs from the M40 ategory have lost heir source of ncome during the ngoing Movement Control Order. Therefore, this is a much-needed nitiative. MURUGESWARAN VEERASAMY Damai Disabled Persons Association Malaysia President
For the first time, the government has introduced an alternative aid scheme for non-recipients of the Disabled Workers Allowance under the Pemulih aid package.
MOHAMMAD FAIZAL CHE YUSOF Sekretariat Prihatin OKU Malaysia chairman
Faizal also hoped that the assistance would be rolled out as soon as possible.
Damai Disabled Persons Association Malaysia president Murugeswaran Veerasamy commended the move as a “timely helping hand” for the PwD community, especially for those in the M40 category.
“Many PwDs from the M40 category have lost their source of income during the ongoing Movement Control Order.
“Therefore, this is a much-needed initiative.”
In line with the government’s tagline of “No one is left behind”, Murugeswaran requested that the special aid be extended to more PwDs in subsequent financial aid packages.
“Of the 600,000 persons with disabilities registered with the Social Welfare Department, only 200,000 are eligible to get monthly aid from the government.
“So, providing special aid such as Bantuan Khas Golongan OKU will be a blessing for the remaining 400,000 people.”
Murugeswaran also lauded the government for raising the maximum salary eligibility limit for disabled workers allowance from RM1,200 to RM1,500 a month under the Strategic Programme to Empower People and the Economy (Pemerkasa).
This move, he said, would entitle more PwDs to benefit from the
incentives to weather the economic uncertainty.
Meanwhile, Muhamad Nadhir Abdul Nasir, 30, suggested that the cash aid be given to PwDs in informal sectors such as gig workers, whose income has been affected by the pandemic.
“The PwD community also benefits from the other measures doled out to the general public such as the electricity bill discount.
“This RM1,500 aid can provide additional relief if given to PwDs across all economic sectors.”
Nadhir, an independent project consultant for several PwD associations in Malaysia, also recommended that the government implement a “disaggregated inclusion” approach in the financial aid packages.
This approach, he said, allowed financial aid to be tailored based on the socio-economic background of each segment of the society.
This RM1,500 aid can provide additional relief if given to PwDs across all economic sectors. MUHAMAD NADHIR ABDUL NASIR
Independent project consultant