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#BuatBaikTogether is back for the fourth consecutive year

7-ELEVEN Malaysia returns with yet another one of its annual CSR initiatives. #BuatBaikTogether is a campaign under the “brands” Community Care

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Do not let us down, disabled tell CMs and MBs

PETALING JAYA: Representatives from the disabled today unveiled a wish list in which they said chief ministers and menteris besar

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‘OKU Citizens’ wants change in gov’t’s welfare approach

Matters related to disabled persons (Orang Kurang Upaya [OKU]) are often confined to the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry,

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4 days ago

www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2026/04/29/senior-citizens-bill-must-reflect-a-society-that-va...Senior Citizens Bill must reflect a society that values dignity and inclusionWednesday, 29 Apr 2026 | 8:18 PM MYTWE welcome the anticipated tabling of Malaysia’s Senior Citizens Bill this year. However, urgency must not come at the expense of substance.As this law will shape the lives of older persons for decades to come, it must be firmly grounded in a comprehensive, rights-based understanding of ageing and not in narrow, medicalised assumptions.Ageing is not merely a health condition to be managed. It is a lived experience shaped by social and economic realities and structural inequalities. It is closely intertwined with disability, gender, accessibility, autonomy and participation.A progressive Senior Citizens Bill should therefore move decisively beyond welfare and healthcare frameworks, and adopt a human rights and inclusion-based approach, aligned with Malaysia’s commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).In line with these principles, we outline the following key recommendations to support the development of a robust, inclusive and rights-based law.1. Recognise the ageing–disability continuum: Disability is not a marginal issue; it is central to ageing. As people grow older, many will experience disability, whether temporary, episodic or permanent. The Bill must recognise not only those who acquire disabilities as they grow older but also persons with disabilities who are already ageing, including individuals across diverse disability groups whose lived experiences are often underrepresented in policy design.Ageing and disability are deeply interconnected, hence this continuum must be reflected across all provisions of the law. Disability inclusion should be embedded throughout the Bill with alignment to CRPD principles and coordinated implementation across sectors such as health, housing, transport, digital services and local governance.2. Address gender inequality and the rights of women with disabilities: Women with disabilities face intersecting discrimination that is systemic, cumulative and frequently overlooked in ageing policy. Across their lives, they encounter barriers to economic security, healthcare, assistive support and participation while also being at greater risk of violence and neglect. These inequalities do not diminish with age; they only deepen.The Bill must explicitly address this by embedding gender-responsive and disability-inclusive measures, including targeted safeguards, accessible services and the active inclusion of women with disabilities in decision-making and oversight.3. Affirm accessibility as a legal right, not a discretionary option: Older persons cannot participate fully in society without environments, services and systems that are accessible by design. The Bill should require universal design across public infrastructure, housing, transportation and digital platforms, supported by clear compliance mechanisms, timelines and accountability measures.4. Secure the right to independent and community living: Older persons must not be institutionalised by default due to lack of alternatives. The Bill must affirm the right to live independently and within the community, supported by adequate services and infrastructure. This includes strengthening home- and community-based-care, enabling ageing in place and ensuring accessible and affordable housing options.5. Uphold autonomy through supported decision-making: The Bill should move away from paternalistic approaches that substitute the will of older persons. Instead, it should uphold autonomy through supported decision-making frameworks, enabling individuals to make their own choices with appropriate support. This includes ensuring informed consent across healthcare, financial matters and daily living while safeguarding against abuse, coercion and undue influence.6. Ensure equitable and dignified healthcare: Healthcare and long-term care systems should be accessible, affordable, equitable and responsive to the needs of older persons, including those ageing with or into disabilities. This includes strengthening home-based and community care to support ageing in place.7. Strengthen social protection and economic security: Ageing without financial security exposes individuals to systemic vulnerability. The Bill should strengthen income security and social protection systems, including pensions, universal and affordable national health insurance and crisis support. It must address lifelong inequalities that disproportionately affect women, persons with disabilities and those in informal employment.8. Support inclusive technology and digital access: As societies become increasingly digital, exclusion from technology becomes a significant barrier. The Bill should require accessibility-by-design in all digital services and platforms, including e-government and financial services. It should also support access to assistive technologies and digital literacy, ensuring that older persons are not left behind in an increasingly digital society.9. Promote inclusive participation: Nothing about older persons, including those with disabilities who are ageing, should be decided without their meaningful participation. Meaningful consultations must include organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), civil society organisations (CSOs) representing older persons, and individuals across diverse disability groups, particularly older women with disabilities.Engagement should be continuous, inclusive and grounded in lived realities. Policies that exclude lived experience will ultimately fail the very people they are meant to serve.10. Ensure meaningful and accessible public consultation: We call for accessible, nationwide public consultations in multiple languages and formats, ensuring broad and meaningful participation from diverse stakeholders, particularly organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs). Draft versions of the Bill should be made publicly available for review to ensure transparency, accountability and meaningful participation.11. Establish independent oversight and accountability: We recommend establishing an independent and effective oversight mechanism to monitor implementation of this legislation and safeguard the rights of older persons.Oversight must go beyond reporting functions to include powers to receive complaints, conduct investigations, issue binding recommendations and ensure access to remedies. This may involve strengthening existing institutions or establishing a dedicated independent body, such as a national commission.The Bill must ensure clear and accessible pathways for redress, including for those ageing with or into disabilities, when their rights are violated.We call on the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to ensure that this legislation is not only timely but also transformative.MUHAMAD NADHIR ABDUL NASIRChair of Communication, Advocacy & Human Rights CommitteeSociety of the Blind in Malaysia (SBM)CHRISTINE LEEWheelchair user, advocate and co-founderBarrier-free Environment and Accessible Transport (BEAT)NAZIATY MOHD YAACOB (PHD)OKU Director of Xiron ES Accessibility Solutions and advocate for disability-inclusive accessibilityand BEATRICE LEONGAutistic gender-disability activist and independent documentary filmmakerThis letter was endorsed by the following CSOs:1. Damai Disabled Person Association Malaysia2. Society of the Blind in Malaysia (SBM)3. Malaysian Council for Rehabilitation (MCR) ... See MoreSee Less

Senior Citizens Bill must reflect a society that values dignity and inclusion

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Letter from Muhamad Nadhir Abdul Nasir, chair of Communication, Advocacy & Human Rights Committee, Society of the Blind in Malaysia (SBM); Christine Lee, wheelchair user, advocate and co-founder of Ba...

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Damai Disabled Person Association Malaysia

4 weeks ago

Program Jabatan Pendaftaran Pertubuhan Malaysia Negeri Selangor menganjurkan Program #ros_care Bil. 2/2026 Jabatan Pendaftaran Pertubuhan Malaysia (JPPM) Negeri Selangor: Perkongsian Kesedaran Pengurusan Dana Awam "Mencegah Lebih Baik Dari Merawat" seperti ketetapan berikut;Tarikh : 08 April 2026 (Rabu)Masa : 9.00 pagi hingga 1.00 petangTempat : Dewan Orkid, Wisma PKPS, Persiaran Perbandaran, Seksyen 14, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor. ... See MoreSee Less

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Damai Disabled Person Association Malaysia updated their status.

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2 months ago

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LETTER | Accessibility a legal obligation, not a personal matter

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DBKL should set up an accessibility committee as previously proposed.

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Damai Disabled Person Association Malaysia

2 months ago

Disability rights advocates and organizations respond to Hannah Yeoh remarks (Below video) concerning accessibility challenges in FT.www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2026/03/05/accessibility-is-a-legal-obligation-not-a-welfare-m...LETTERSAccessibility is a legal obligation, not a welfare matterThursday, 05 Mar 2026 | 7:15 AM MYTsharebookmarkWE thank Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh for raising issues related to the registration of and accessibility for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in her remarks on Jan 31, 2026, as reported by a local news portal.Her comments have sparked an important public conversation, one that highlights deep-rooted misconceptions that have slowed Malaysia’s accessibility progress for decades. These misconceptions continue to shape decisions, policies and urban planning that PWDs live with every single day.As disability rights advocates and organisations working closely with the PWD community, we wish to offer clarification and context so that the public narrative on accessibility remains aligned with Malaysia’s legal framework, human-rights commitments and the lived realities of PWDs.1. Accessibility is not a welfare matter.There is a common assumption that issues about PWDs fall under social welfare. This is inaccurate. Accessibility is infrastructure covering both physical and communication.Physical accessibility covers walkways, kerb ramps, tactile blocks, slopes, pedestrian crossings and access to stations with accessible link to bus stops that ensure a continuous, safe and usable pathways for all.Communication accessibility is essential to ensure equal access to information for blind and low-vision persons, and for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons. It includes tactile wayfinding, Braille labelling, clear high-contrast signage, visual display systems, audio announcements and other communication aids required for independent navigation.STARPICKSSmartHeart debuts five Pet BuddiesThese elements are not welfare services. They are essential components of an inclusive built environment and fall under the responsibility of Kuala Lumpur City Hall, local authorities and built-environment agencies.The Social Welfare Department's (JKM) role is to provide social welfare and support services. JKM has no enforcement power over infrastructure or city planning. It is crucial that accessibility is not viewed or treated as a welfare matter as this misconception can weaken accountability, perpetuate inaction and delay meaningful progress.2. Accessibility cannot depend on PWD statistics.We understand the importance of data. However, linking infrastructure to the number of registered PWDs creates a misconception that facilities are built only when the numbers justify them. A city does not build safe walkways only when “enough” disabled people appear in a registry. Accessibility is a right, not a quota.3. Accessibility is not specialised; it is universal.Accessibility is often misunderstood as “specialised facilities only for PWDs” when it is actually about universal access for everyone. Universal design focuses on creating infrastructure, products and services that prioritise safety, usability and dignity for all people. When applied, it benefits everyone, including persons with disabilities, the elderly, parents with strollers, pregnant women, tourists, people with temporary injuries and all pedestrians.Universal access is not a niche requirement; it is the foundation of a safe, inclusive and liveable city for every resident and visitor.4. PWDs do not move within one single postcode.Accessibility discussions should not focus only on one particular location as it does not reflect the lived reality of the PWD community. We travel across the city every day, just like everyone else. A city cannot be accessible in one neighbourhood and hazardous in another. It must be consistent across the whole built environment.5. Accessibility is a legal and governance obligation.Malaysia already has strong legal and policy frameworks mandating accessibility. They include:i. Malaysian Standard on Universal Design and Accessibility (MS1184);ii. Uniform Building By-Laws 34A (UBBL34A);iii. Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 – Section 26 (Access to Public Facilities, Amenities, Services and Buildings); andiv. UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) - Article 9 (Accessibility).These obligations apply across all areas regardless of registration figures.Accessibility must be planned, constructed and enforced in full compliance with the provisions of the law. However, the real barriers are structural: persistent non-compliance with standards, weak enforcement, fragmented responsibilities and the absence of a coordinating authority and oversight committee. The challenge lies not in data but in strengthening governance and enforcement.6. Accessibility is a basic human right.It is a fundamental right that shapes every other right including education, employment, healthcare and social participation. When access is denied, safety is compromised and exclusion becomes inevitable, leading to long-term marginalisation.Accessibility is also formally recognised as a cross-cutting human-rights principle underpinning the protection and fulfilment of all other rights.For the PWD community, accessibility is about navigating safely, living independently and communicating equally. It reflects our identity, our rightful place in society and the affirmation that we are equal in dignity and humanity.For the authorities, ensuring equal access is both a moral duty and a legal obligation. It is not negotiable, not optional and not something that depends on registration to justify our worthiness.A structural solution is urgently needed.We believe Yeoh's leadership and influence can help reset long-standing misconceptions and steer Kuala Lumpur towards becoming an exemplary accessible city where equal access is seen not as a matter of numbers but as a matter of rights.We therefore reiterate our call for the establishment of a Walkability, Accessibility & Connectivity Committee under KL City Hall as previously proposed. Without a formal body empowered to coordinate, enforce and monitor standards, accessibility will remain fragmented, inconsistent and years behind global norms.CHRISTINE LEEWheelchair User, Advocate and Co-FounderBarrier-free Environment and Accessible Transport (BEAT)MURUGESWARAN VEERASAMYPresidentDamai Disabled Person Association MalaysiaPUA GHIN CHUExecutive directorBeautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabledand MUHAMMAD NADHIR ABDUL NASIRChair of Communication, Advocacy & Human Rights CommitteeSociety of the Blind in Malaysia (SBM)This letter was endorsed by the following CSOs:1. Damai Disabled Person Association Malaysia2. Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled3. Malaysian Council for Rehabilitation (MCR)4. Selangor Cheshire Home5. Dual Blessing Berhad6. Pertubuhan Advokasi dan Kesejahteraan Pekak Malaysia (DAWN)7. Asia Pacific Network on Accessible Tourism (APNAT)8. Persatuan Kebajikan Masyarakat Permata Warga Istimewa Malaysia ... See MoreSee Less

Accessibility is a legal obligation, not a welfare matter

www.thestar.com.my

From Christine Lee, Wheelchair User, Advocate and Co-Founder, Barrier-free Environment and Accessible Transport (BEAT); Murugeswaran Veerasamy, president, Damai Disabled Person Association Malaysia; P...

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