KUALA LUMPUR – Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Mohd Radzi today called on the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to amend the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) Act 2008 to include people with albinism.
Such a move, which has been introduced in South Africa, paves the way for universal standards for the protection and promotion of this group’s rights, and ensures priority is accorded to their welfare and emotional well-being, she said in a statement today.
Ras Adiba, who represents PwD communities in the Dewan Negara, also urged the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to work closely with the Health Ministry on preparing a database on people with albinism in Malaysia.
“This is to ensure their welfare and well-being are better protected through detailed policy planning and implementation. A specific policy for this community should also be expedited by the government.”
Albinism is a rare genetic condition where people are born without the usual pigments, affecting their skin, hair, eye colour and vision.
Individuals with albinism are among the vulnerable groups that are often forgotten, she said.
“The world has been ignoring the plight of this group for centuries. They have been forced to continue living in a world full of discrimination, stereotypes and stigma... We even forgot that June 13 was World Albinism Awareness Day, which should be celebrated and marked with various awareness campaigns.”
She called on the public to embrace children with the condition, saying this is important so that they do not feel sidelined. – Bernama, July 9, 2021
