Disabled rights activists have been left feeling "insulted" by the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto launched yesterday, given that the coalition has failed to pick up on their interests or include plans to develop their potential.
"I think politicians don't see the rights of the disabled (OKU in Malay) as a big issue. Why are we sidelined? We feel insulted. In truth, I think they only care about political mileage, their only paradigm is money," said Mohd Rosli Ibrahim, chairperson of disabled rights pressure group OKU Bangkit.
Saying that the disabled community has faithfully supported Pakatan to date, he lamented that its interests have been ignored in the campaign election document.
"We joined their mega-rally Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat, and met with their MPs. Why aren’t we mentioned in their manifesto? Weird," said the activist who is visually impaired.
"Pakatan has lost its most potent weapon, the prayers of the disabled.”
OKU Bangkit, he said, will continue to campaign for a dedicated ministry for the disabled and a holistic development plan for the community.
Rosli warned that they may not support those who ignore their rights.
His views were echoed by popular cartoonist and fellow-activist Mohd Affandi Ramli (left), who is better known by his pen name ‘Ronasina’.
"We see that the manifesto touches a lot on the welfare of the rakyat, but why is there nothing about the needs of the disabled? The disabled not only require subsidies, but more importantly a level playing field."
This includes structural development to enhance the opportunities for the disabled, he said.
OKU Bangkit will hold a dialogue session with Pakatan on March 3 to address their concerns.
"Invitations have already been sent, so we will wait and see who turns up,” he said.
"I think politicians don't see the rights of the disabled (OKU in Malay) as a big issue. Why are we sidelined? We feel insulted. In truth, I think they only care about political mileage, their only paradigm is money," said Mohd Rosli Ibrahim, chairperson of disabled rights pressure group OKU Bangkit.Saying that the disabled community has faithfully supported Pakatan to date, he lamented that its interests have been ignored in the campaign election document.
"We joined their mega-rally Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat, and met with their MPs. Why aren’t we mentioned in their manifesto? Weird," said the activist who is visually impaired.
"Pakatan has lost its most potent weapon, the prayers of the disabled.”
OKU Bangkit, he said, will continue to campaign for a dedicated ministry for the disabled and a holistic development plan for the community.
Rosli warned that they may not support those who ignore their rights.
His views were echoed by popular cartoonist and fellow-activist Mohd Affandi Ramli (left), who is better known by his pen name ‘Ronasina’."We see that the manifesto touches a lot on the welfare of the rakyat, but why is there nothing about the needs of the disabled? The disabled not only require subsidies, but more importantly a level playing field."
This includes structural development to enhance the opportunities for the disabled, he said.
OKU Bangkit will hold a dialogue session with Pakatan on March 3 to address their concerns.
"Invitations have already been sent, so we will wait and see who turns up,” he said.
Ronasina also penned an illustration he described as “an open letter to Pakatan” on his feelings over the opposition pact’s alleged neglect of the disabled, showing a figure in a wheelchair being kicked around by two booted feet, one labelled BN, the other PR.
The cartoonist is an ardent supporter of disabled rights, whose two daughter suffered from cerebral palsy.
The cartoonist is an ardent supporter of disabled rights, whose two daughter suffered from cerebral palsy.
'Pakatan document is a policy framework'
In an immediate response, PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli, who sits on the Pakatan committee that drafted the election manifesto, denied that the disabled were excluded from the document.
“This is not true,” he told Malaysiakini, pointing out two specific mentions of the group in terms of free transportation and increased in monthly Welfare Department aid.
However, in the wider picture, he said that the Pakatan document is a policy framework and as such is quite general and intentionally does not zero in on specific groups to avoid the goodies handout culture as practiced by BN.
Rafizi reasoned that the Pakatan manifesto aims to fulfill the holistic development of society and the economy by addressing the structural problems that effect all groups.
More specific measures that target specific issues relating to the disabled, he said, will be detailed out in implementation programmes to improve service delivery of the Welfare Department, the public transport system and other related agencies, for example.
In an immediate response, PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli, who sits on the Pakatan committee that drafted the election manifesto, denied that the disabled were excluded from the document.
“This is not true,” he told Malaysiakini, pointing out two specific mentions of the group in terms of free transportation and increased in monthly Welfare Department aid.
However, in the wider picture, he said that the Pakatan document is a policy framework and as such is quite general and intentionally does not zero in on specific groups to avoid the goodies handout culture as practiced by BN.
Rafizi reasoned that the Pakatan manifesto aims to fulfill the holistic development of society and the economy by addressing the structural problems that effect all groups.
More specific measures that target specific issues relating to the disabled, he said, will be detailed out in implementation programmes to improve service delivery of the Welfare Department, the public transport system and other related agencies, for example.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.