KUALA LUMPUR – Persons with disabilities (PwDs) are calling on the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to replace the word “cacat” (disabled) in “Elaun Pekerja Cacat” (EPC, or Allowance for Disabled Workers) with “OKU”, which stands for “orang kurang upaya”, or PwDs.
Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Mohd Radzi, who represents PwDs in the Dewan Negara, said the community finds the use of the word “cacat” when referring to them offensive.
“The term ‘cacat’ is like looking down on the PwD community, and we are firm in wanting EPC to be changed to ‘Allowance for OKU Workers’,” she told reporters after officiating at the World Down Syndrome Day at the Malaysian Down Syndrome Association here today.
Last Friday, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry reportedly issued an apology if the use of “EPC” is deemed offensive to PwDs, and said it will change the term next month, in conjunction with the Welfare Department’s 75th anniversary.
The ministry said the word “cacat” has been used since the 1970s.
Ras Adiba, who is also Bernama chairman, said she is grateful to Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun for the latter’s concern about the feelings of PwDs in relation to the matter.
“I am grateful because she herself contacted me after the ministry found that many people were not happy with the use of ‘EPC’, and I am grateful that our voice is heard and immediate action taken by the ministry.” – Bernama, March 21, 2021
