Disabled to get 1% of civil service jobs by end 2022, says PM

 

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob speaking at the International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebration in Kuala Lumpur. He gave an assurance that the government would always have their best interests in mind. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: A policy requiring all ministries to employ disabled persons in 1% of available positions will be made a key performance indicator (KPI), and a target to be achieved by the end of 2022.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the requirement was set as a KPI as the policy had yet to achieve its target.

“In Budget 2022, opportunities were made available for young disabled persons to be hired through the MyStep (Malaysia short-term employment programme) scheme which offers 80,000 job opportunities on a contract basis – 50,000 jobs in the public sector and 30,000 in government-linked companies – starting in January 2022.

“This effort will allow us to achieve our target of 1% disabled personnel in the public sector faster,” he said as reported by Bernama at an event celebrating the International Day of the Disabled here tonight.

He said the government had always recognised the roles and importance of the disabled, especially in the Malaysian Family agenda.

The government, he said, also realised that over the past two years, the people had been burdened by the threat of Covid-19, and the disabled were among the most affected by the pandemic.

“The government will always provide help and support them to remain strong, resilient and flexible to adapt to the new norm,” he said.

“In the 12th Malaysia Plan, more economic opportunities were made available for them through various platforms, including in partnership economy and also in the digital economy,” he added.

He said the women, family and community development ministry and the relevant agencies should ensure that every ringgit allocated for the disabled under Budget 2022 would be spent optimally. - FMT