Disappointed with recent developments in the nation, disabled activist Isaiah Jacob today announced the OKU (disabled people) community will kick-start a ‘Save Malaysia’ hunger strike at midnight this Thursday till July 5, at an open spot near next to Dataran Merdeka.

At the press conference in MP Tian Chua’s service centre along Jalan Sentul, KL, Isaiah, who is also a PKR member, said: “We have sent letters last Wednesday to the OCPD of the Dang Wangi Police, and the Kuala Lumpur Mayor, seeking permission to use Dataran Merdeka as the venue.”

“The next day, the OCPD called me and advised us to not proceed with the event, for it had not received approval from Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL).

“As an administrator, the mayor should have settled this issue within 48 hours. When he saw that the date of the event is near, he should have made a quick decision. But until today, I have not received an approval from the mayor,” said Isaiah, who plans to not consume food and survive by drinking water during the strike.

The hunger protest, Isaiah explained, aims to highlight the plight of the disabled community, and to urge the government to assist in various matters that afflict the disabled and non-disabled alike such as:

  • The provision of interest-free loans for the disabled’s first home and car;

  • Business facilities for the disabled at LRT and bus stations, shopping malls and tourist spots (akin to how the government has allocated spaces for foreigners in places like Sogo); and

  • A review of the monthly allowance provided to the OKU (to better handle the burdens of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and rising cost of living).

In addition, Isaiah said the hunger strike campaign also calls for:

  • The release of Anwar Ibrahim, who Isaiah alleges is a political prisoner (he appealed to the Agong and other state rulers to release Anwar, in the spirit of the Ramadan month);

  • The abolishment of GST (which Isaiah said is a burden to Malaysians, both disabled and non-disabled alike); and

  • A call to hold the 14th general election within 90 days, because with scandals like 1MDB occurring, Isaiah claimed Malaysians have lost faith in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s government.

'Many dialogues, no viable outcome'

Also present at the press conference were sight-impaired OKU activists: Sahmar Saat, the treasurer of Persatuan Kebajikan OKU Penglihatan Bekerja Sendiri KL (PKB), and Persatuan OKU Sentul chairman Mohamad Arof Abdul Majid, who expressed support in participating in the hunger strike despite them fasting during the Ramadan month.

“There have been many dialogues about the OKU plight between us and the relevant authorities, but there had been no viable outcome. After 60 years of merdeka, the disabled are still among the poor within the community," Sahmar said, explaining the reason he was joining the hunger strike.

Arof concurred, adding: “God willing, I will join this event. We have planned this for a long time.”

According to Isaiah, the hunger strike has attracted the interests of 16 NGOs, and he hoped more would take part.

When asked if any politician would lead the hunger strike, Isaiah said: “I only asked (Tian Chua) to use his place (for this press conference) [...] I don’t want people to say we are sponsored. Until today, all the expenses are our own, like the photostating and printing of (press materials).

Isaiah concluded the conference by calling all Malaysians to join them in Thursday’s hunger strike.

“If the OKU (disabled) can rise (against the wrongs afflicting the nation today), what more, the able-bodied?” Isaiah asked.