Kota Kinabalu: Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai on Wednesday said there is no policy that says the physically and mentally handicapped have the privilege over other folk in securing employment.He was asked to comment on Women, Family and Community Development Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun's statement earlier this month.
Chew had said that the number of disabled people in the public sector throughout Malaysia is only 0.2 per cent compared to the quota of one per cent stated in the Government's Circular No. 10 in 1988.
She stressed that the Government must do something to achieve the quota.
Dr Yee, however, said the Government is mindful of providing training to the disabled and help them gain employment.
"But there isn't any assertive policy to say that if they are mentally or physically handicapped, they will have a privilege over the normal people to get jobs," said Yee.
He said this after distributing "ang pow" (red packet) to 350 senior citizens in conjunction with Sports Toto's Chinese New Year donation campaign at Dewan Foochow, here.
He stressed that the Government has to be fair to everyone including the disabled, adding that while being handicapped is not a problem to hire them "they must satisfy the requirement of the job".
He added that the Government has been trying its best to accommodate the disabled by providing them with training and subsequently arranging for potential employers to offer them employment.
The Human Resource Development Department (JPSM) under the Ministry in Papar, he said, has such arrangements to train the blind in reflexology.
After completing the reflexology course, Dr Yee said they could put their skills into practice and earn.
"Certain schools like Seri Mengasih also have arrangements with KFC whereby some of the inmates who are not severely handicapped got placements in the fast food franchise outlets," he said.
Nevertheless, Dr Yee said there is still a lot more that can be done for the disabled.
"This is the time that we are emphasising the importance of taking care of the weaker part of the societyÉnot only the mentally and physically handicapped but also the elderly," he said.
He said the disabled also have a chance to work in the public sector, citing as example, several employees on wheelchairs working in certain government departments.
The blind, he said, are also found working with various institutions and organisations under the Government.
Chew had said lack of information concerning infrastructure facilities needed by the disabled to gain employment is causing many of them to be unable to secure jobs either with the public or private sector.
As of April last year, of the 160,000 disabled registered with the Community Welfare Department, only slightly more than one per cent have been employed by the public and private sectors.
She said 1,600 disabled are employed with the private sector and 325 with the public sector.
Currently, she said the Ministry is collaborating with the Malaysian Disabled Association to produce a guidebook on hiring the disabled to enable the employers understand the need, facility and expertise that the disabled need to commence working.
