ON November 11, the Dewan Rakyat approved a motion to replace 10 special parliamentary select committees with nine new ones.
Why not establish a special select committee on disabled persons’ inclusion affairs?
Maybe, some issues relating to the law, for example, the review and amendment of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008, can be brought to the committee on fundamental liberty and constitutional rights, while other matters are relevant to the committee on women and children’s affairs and social development.
In theory, disabled people’s issues can be brought to any of the nine committees.
However, I am quite sceptical as to whether any of these committees will give equal attention to disabled persons’ issues relating to their respective areas of responsibility.
Plus, I do believe there are strong justifications for a committee on disabled persons’ inclusion affairs.
First, the issues surrounding and affecting persons with impairment and/or chronic illnesses are cross-ministerial and cross-sectoral.
Their issues are not limited only to welfare aid. Instead, they overlap different dimensions, such as economy and income, education, healthcare, technology, infrastructure, transportation, social services, social protection, disaster management and so on.
Second, issues such as physical accessibility across the country necessitate close cooperation between the federal government, state governments and local authorities.
Third, the agenda of disabled persons’ empowerment and inclusion in Malaysia closely ties in with the country’s commitment at the international and regional levels, such as the Incheon Strategy and the Asean Enabling Master Plan 2025.
Hence, a special select committee is expressly needed as part of the check and balance, so that the government fulfils its duties and achieves the targets stated in the international, regional and national plans.
Finally, the establishment of the committee can expand the channels for the disabled community and their organisations to raise their voices and concerns on the various issues affecting them.
This, ultimately, increases the participation of persons with impairment and/or chronic illnesses in our nation’s democratic processes. – The Vibes, November 15, 2020
Muhamad Nadhir Abdul Nasir is a doctoral candidate with visual impairment at Universiti Malaya, and engaged as an independent consultant/researcher focusing on disability issues
