KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development (KPWKM) is developing a new persons with disabilities (OKU) action plan (PT OKU) as a continuation of the previous plan, by taking into account input from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations and other related agencies.
Its Deputy Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, said the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (MKB OKU), which met on July 23, also reviewed the achievement of the existing PT OKU, with its success rate of 69.09 per cent.
“However, the MKB OKU is of the view that the success rate needs to be improved under the new PT OKU, besides making sure of every government ministry and agency responsible for implementing the programme within the stipulated period,” she said when replying to a question from Senator D.J. Isaiah during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara here today.
She said the development of the new PT OKU would also identify the suitable monitoring and reporting mechanisms for every programme, in addition to taking into consideration the existing OKU policies, previous PT OKU achievements and the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 (Act 685).
According to Noraini, the monitoring of the PT OKU implementation would be carried out inclusively through MKB OKU and the four committees under the council.
“The ministry has formulated an inclusive and structured monitoring mechanism, besides providing communication channels to obtain views and receive complaints,” she said.
She added that the monitoring would also be done through periodical evaluations, such as mid-term reviews and meetings across ministries that will be chaired by the minister.
“Of the 10 committees under the council, eight were appointed among the disabled group, in line with the government’s priority towards the well-being of persons with disabilities in Malaysia,” she said.
Meanwhile, in reply to a separate oral question from Senator Dr Wan Martina Wan Yusoff, Noraini said the ministry is finalising the framework of the Senior Citizens Bill as a comprehensive measure to protect the welfare of the group in alignment with Malaysia’s preparations towards an ageing nation by 2030.
She said the ministry has held engagement sessions with various stakeholders and will continue to have such sessions to refine the legal framework.
“The government, through the Ministry of Economy, is also developing the National Ageing Blueprint (NAP) as a strategic guideline to face the challenges of an ageing nation. It encompasses a cross-ministerial approach, including aspects of social infrastructure and related policies,” she said.
— BERNAMA
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