NGO raises funds as thousands of blind people out of jobs during MCO

 

Up to 5,000 blind masseurs have lost their income as the renewed movement control order (MCO) barred the sector from operating, according to the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB).

MAB chief executive officer George Thomas said that they were among 50,000 blind people who had their income affected by the MCO, and many of them live in the Klang Valley.

"Some of them working in the public and private sectors lost their jobs. Some employers asked them to quit and compensated them with up to six-month salary.

"The situation has tremendously impacted them and we are trying out best to help with an online business but it's not easy," Thomas told Malaysiakini.

RM400,000 donation target

Hence, MAB aimed to collect between RM300,000 and RM400,000 in donations for those affected. 

Since the launch of the initiative, it has collected RM70,000, and looking to reach the goal in two weeks.

However, aware that the donation will not last, Thomas appealed to the government to classify the massage service offered by people with disabilities under "alternative medicine" so that they can continue to work.

"We already applied for the change as we don't want the massage centres operated by persons with disabilities to be classified under 'entertainment'," he said.

Thomas added that the tweak can help 5,000 masseurs earn money.

He said it's possible to take necessary measures with strict standard operating procedures and protocols.

However, the application status to the Human Resources Ministry and the Welfare Department is still pending.

Other than that, Thomas proposed to the government to hand out a one-off RM500 financial aid to persons with disabilities.

"Not only do they have to think about putting food on the table, but also house and shop rentals," he added.

Under the latest assistance package announced by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin recently, persons with disabilities are only given aid in the form of food.

Thomas said this was different from the MCO last year where persons with disabilities were given a one-off aid of RM300.

The tighter measures, dubbed as MCO 2.0, were inevitable as the country recorded continuous four-digit Covid-19 cases since November last year.

MCO 2.0 initially started with six states, but has since been extended across the country except for Sarawak. Vaccines are expected to arrive next month. - Mkini