Need to improve disability management
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia needs to improve its disability management, especially relating to coordination between agencies for disabled workers.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urged the Social Security Organisation (Socso) to take the lead and work with the various ministries and agencies on the matter.
“Although social security agencies have provided a comprehensive and extensive safety net, a single (platform) of service that links all available facilities is needed to synchronise all facilities for the disabled.”
Ahmad Zahid was speaking at the launch of the International Forum on Disability Management at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Also present were Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot and Socso chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed.
Ahmad Zahid suggested social security organisations have a “Centre of Excellence for Rehabilitation and Prevention” to benefit all in knowledgesharing and integrate more rehabilitation services in the country.
“Besides strengthening and enhancing social protection in the country, Malaysia will benefit by establishing various strategic partnerships and bilateral cooperation with prominent universities and practitioners of disability management around the world through research and development, knowledge transfer and innovation,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid stressed that social security mechanisms were an important policy tool to ensure workers and their families are protected from socioeconomic changes.
He also commended Socso’s “Return to Work Programme” that had assisted 14,701 workers with injuries to return to work.