Kedah Welfare Dept to meet disabled group after snub

The Kedah Welfare Department (JKM) has set a meeting with a group of people with disabilities (PWD), whose leader was forced to drag himself up a flight of stairs to hand over a memorandum to its Kulim office on Oct 6.

Kedah JKM deputy director I Ahmad Rashid said the meeting will take place next Sunday, to address the grouses raised in the memorandum.

“They have asked for a letter of confirmation and I will issue it today. We will meet at a time and a venue to be confirmed, and I will also bring my officer from Kulim,” Ahmad told Malaysiakini.

Last Sunday, Persatuan OKU Setia Daerah Kulim committee member Gnana Pragasan (right), who cannot walk, went up the staircase to the first floor on his hands and knees to hand over the memorandum to Kulim JKM officer Rohana Yusof, who had refused to go downstairs to accept it.

Gnana reportedly did so after the group had waited for an hour under the hot sun to hand over the memorandum on their grouses over welfare benefits and amenities for PWD.

Ahmad said among issues raised was the registration of NGOs for PWD affairs and walkways, but added that this was out of the department's jurisdiction.

However, he said, the department would endeavour to raise these issues with the relevant authorities.

He said he had also spoken to and offered to meet with Padang Serai MP N Surendran, who had accompanied the group.

“He is a people's representative, elected by the people. To us, it does not matter if the complaint comes from an opposition leader, NGOs or individuals. We will address them accordingly,” Ahmad said.

He conceded that the incident has “damaged” the department’s image, but that there was a silver lining - the department is now aware of problems at its branches and will address them.