The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has been told to provide details of complaints that disabled patients were mistreated in government clinics and hospitals to the Health Ministry.

It said this was necessary so that investigations could be conducted to ascertain whether there is any basis to the complaints.

The ministry was responding to one of the issues brought up by Suhakam in its Annual Report 2004 based on complaints received from the disabled.

The ministry clarified that "since 1996, it had started service rehabilitation at health clinics in stages for children, those with special needs, elderly and mental patients. "

It also highlighted that the ministry has always taken steps to enhance the awareness of disabled's rights among its staff.

On providing job opportunities for the disabled, the Public Services Commission (PSC) queried over the definition of one percent job intake for the disabled - the one percent comprised of the number of public services under PSC or for every job application intake conducted - as stated in the government policy.

Cash incentive

The government has announced in the circular services no. 10/1988 that one percent of job opportunities in the public sector will be allocated to the disabled.

Also responding to this issue, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has organised for disabled with mobility difficulties two government protected workshops and 16 protected workshops managed by non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The Welfare Department under the ministry will consider to give every disabled person working and earning less than RM750 in a month - an extra RM200 per month - as an incentive.

The department will also consider giving RM2,700 as capital to disabled person who are keen in starting their own businesses.

Responding on the same matter, the Human Resources Ministry stated that it has been encouraging the private sector to give equal opportunities to the disabled.

Education and housing

Another matter brought up by Suhakam is the right to access education for the disabled.

In the appendix, it claimed that the government did not provide pre-school education to the disabled. As a result, disabled children are enrolled in pre-schools managed by NGOs and the private sector.

Responding to this, the Education Ministry said that it has set up pre-school programmes for students with special needs at 28 special schools in 2004 and 32 additional integration programmes for students with difficulties in 2005.

On disabled-friendly buildings and facilities , the Housing and Local Government Ministry said that new buildings have complied with the Guidelines on Building Requirements for Disabled Persons. The local enforcement authorities will also be reminded to ensure that old and new buildings are equipped with facilities for the disabled.

The ministry also emphasised that providing parking facilities for the disabled are left to the responsibility of the parking management.

On access to proper housing, the ministry has allocated housing loan to lower income group which gives priority to the disabled who earns between RM500 to RM1,200 a month.

On top of that, the government has allocated public housing programme (program perumahan rakyat) - a house is sold at RM35,000 or rented at RM124 a month - to the disabled.