The Star published our letter below - Link
Dear Editor,
With reference to the call on the 15th of November 2007, by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, for more companies to show their caring side and employ disabled people, we would like the ‘People with Disabilities Act’ to be passed by Parliament immediately to show that the Government really cares and support for equal opportunities of disabled people in Malaysian society.
We would want a more strict control and enforcement of the Streets, Drainage and Building Act (Amendment) Building By Law 34A that requires all buildings to have access for disabled people. Older buildings should be surveyed and audited to be upgraded to comply with the existing regulations. This requirement should be stressed in all government departments and policies.
We would also call upon the Malaysian Standard 1331: Access of Disabled Persons Outside Buildings (2003) to be incorporated in the Town and Country Planning Act, Highways Act and the Streets, Drainage and Building Act, so that the street environment will be accessible as well, and not just buildings.
Apart from that, we would want the Public Works Department to make sure that all government buildings are accessible, safe and usable for disabled people. There must include accessible car parking, gentle ramps, accessible toilets, tactile guide, lifts and proper handrails for all old and new government buildings.
The management and communications aspects of work places must also be inclusive for disabled people. Braille letterings, tactile guides, sign language interpreters and easily read text must be available to create ease of communication and conveying of information.
The Government must lead the way for a caring society by getting all the existing buildings accessible.
When places of work are accessible, safe and usable for disabled people who have mobility problems, sensory impairment and learning disabilities, then they are more employable as there will be no physical and communication barriers. Attitudes and prejudiced perceptions will be less when more disabled people are visible and commonly seen in public.
(Refer to article in NST by Nisha Sabayanagam)
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians, including those in the corporate sector, have been exhibiting their caring attitude towards others in many ways, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.
“We are masyarakat penyayang (a caring community) and the corporate sector demonstrates this through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda,” he said at the inaugural Prime Minister’s CSR Awards ceremony at the Sime Darby Convention Centre here yesterday.
“I hope the companies which have done well in CSR will continue their efforts in other ways as what I would like most is for more people to know that we have this culture of caring.”
The Prime Minister’s CSR Award, launched by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, is aimed at recognising companies that have made a difference in the community through their CSR programmes.
Abdullah said Malaysians were happy and enjoyed a good quality of life because of their caring attitude.
“Those who need help know that they will get help. The sick and the poor will also be helped.”
Abdullah advised the corporate sector to hire the handicapped as part of their CSR responsibility.
“The handicapped should be given a job as long as they can do something.”
He cited former TV3 newscaster Ras Adiba Radzi as an example of a handicapped person who was capable but who still faced difficulties landing a job.
Abdullah said anyone with a minor handicap could still perform with the proper training.
The prime minister was happy that more than 300 companies had vied for the CSR awards.
A total of 316 CSR projects were submitted in six categories with a special category for media reporting.
The overall winner of the Prime Minister’s CSR Award was DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd which also bagged the top prize in the best workplace practice and culture and heritage categories.
Other winners were Petronas (education), British Petroleum in Malaysia (environment), Intel Technology Sdn Bhd (community and social welfare) and Masterskill College of Nursing and Health (small company CSR).
The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd and TV3 (news and current affairs) each received an award in the media reporting category.
The NSTP submitted a body of work on CSR in Malaysia by Sunday People, the lifestyle pullout of the New Sunday Times.
Submissions were judged on the positive impact the CSR initiative had on targeted communities, the sustainability of the project and the level of commitment and involvement displayed by companies in their projects.
