The Pakatan Rakyat state government has issued directives to all local councils, relevant government departments and agencies, statutory bodies to include views, recommendations, proposals and suggestions from the state welfare authorities before drawing up new project plans and approving project applications.
A representative from the state or district welfare departments will sit in all decision-making process of local authorities, relevant departments and agencies when perusing and approving project plans.
State exco member Phee Boon Poh (right), who is in charge of the state health, welfare and caring society portfolios, said it was timely to incorporate inputs from the welfare departments based on views and recommendations from the civil society into future Penang development projects."The new policy is imperative to develop Penang as a caring state catering for the needs and demands for all," he told Malaysiakini.
The new policy would effectively mean that future construction of houses, government buildings, amenities and facilities, and private development catering for public such as shopping complexes and offices will include features to cater the needs and demands of this group of people.
If implemented, the new policy would give the much needed facelift to Penang which currently lacked infrastructural system, facilities and amenities for these people, particularly the disabled community.
Even Komtar, which houses the officers of the Chief Minister, executive councillors, Penang Island Municipal Council and most government department offices lacked facilities to cater the needs of disabled community.
People with different abilities
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is also determined not to leave out this group of people in the state's development.In his speech at St Nicholas Home `Wellness Centre' official opening recently, he announced that the DAP-led Pakatan Rakyat state government would work closely with organisations representing people of various disabilities and needs to carry out constructive and progressive policies to provide them improved facilities.
For a start, he suggested that the disabled group of people shall be addressed as "people with different abilities not as people with disabilities."
"It's a timely and appropriate term," he said.
The state government will also forge close working ties with various groups to train and develop disabled people into a skilful human resource group.
Many disabled people are indulged in massage therapy sector, especially in Shiatsu and reflexology, besides being factory workers, teachers, musicians, painters and artists.
In line with the state government intention to promote Penang as a medical-tourism hub in the region, Lim said the massage therapy business had the potential to be an integral part of the policy.
"It would surely benefit the disable society," he said.
In an effort to demonstrate the government's sincerity to assist the disabled people, the Pakatan Rakyat administration has appointed a disabled person, Lim Kah Cheng, as the a councillor in the Penang island municipal council.
Courtesy: Malaysiakini
