Make it easy for OKU registrations, say disabled

 

Disabled Malaysians have found that registering as an OKU is tedious, time consuming and costly.

PETALING JAYA: Living as a disabled person is hard enough but registering as a person with disabilities (OKU) in Malaysia presents its own challenges, as some have discovered.

The process of registering oneself to be formally recognised as an OKU is ironically not disabled friendly: it is tedious, time consuming, costly, and requires many supporting documents, say the disabled community.

Adieka Amirul, who has been diagnosed with a mental disability, cites logistics problems and the need for numerous supporting documents to apply for an OKU card as his main challenges.

“it is quite tedious and time consuming. I need time to fill up the application form, compile the supporting documents and to get confirmation from my psychiatrist, as I am considered by some as having an ‘invisible disability’,” he told FMT.

The need to go “back and forth” to the social welfare department (JKM) was also a hassle as the location was not accessible by public transport, he said.

“And although JKM introduced an online platform for OKU registrations, it’s not really usable for us, especially to those with visual and hearing disabilities,” said Adieka, adding that applications could take months.

Another person who wanted to be known as Vince, applied for an OKU card but was told his conditions were not considered as disabilities.

“As a person who has colour blindness and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), I am shocked and disappointed that neither are seen as disabilities,” he said.

The registration process for certain disabilities could also be costly, as FMT has discovered.

Twitter user @depsilon01 said he had to fork out RM1,500 for his IQ test, a requirement to confirm his learning disability.

However, a JKM personal relations officer explained that not all applicants under the learning disabilities category were required to take IQ tests.

“It depends on the condition of the applicants. The approval for learning disabilities can be obtained through a public or private medical practitioner.

“However, if you seek confirmation at private facilities, you have to bear the cost set by the hospital.”

According to the officer, JKM receives 40,000 to 55,000 applications a year. - FMT