NGOs lambasts JKMPay’s cashless project, calling it 'discriminatory'

 

Several non-governmental societies (NGOs) have criticised the JKMPay programme - otherwise known as the Social Welfare Department Cashless Assistance Payment Project - for its allegedly discriminatory nature.

The group claimed that the implementation of JKMPay purportedly neglects the views of people with disabilities.

"The unilateral decision-making without taking into account the views of the people with disabilities community and the lived realities of people with disabilities who are the major stakeholders directly impacted by this project, amounts to 'dictatorship' which is against Article 4 Clause 3 in the United Nations Convention on the Human Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

"This approach is obviously discriminatory and oppressive to people with disabilities who are already marginalised, and now they are being discriminated by the very system that is supposed to support them as a target group.

"It is even more demeaning that we are treated this way while Malaysia sits as a member in the Human Rights Council in the United Nations," said the joint group.

The statement was signed by 118 individuals and 54 organisations, including Boleh Space, Siuman, United Voice and Mindakami.

Criticisms of the programme included limiting the stores where users could shop which would burden people with disabilities, and not engaging the community before the programme was implemented.

Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Rina Harun had previously defended the Social Welfare Department's cashless assistance programme (JKMPay).

This was amid protests from the disabled community that the new system - which is meant for all welfare recipients - was burdensome to the disabled.

Several disabled rights groups submitted a memorandum to Rina's ministry on Jan 25 to protest JKMPay.

Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Rina Harun

Eliminating discrimination from pilot programme

Under the cashless programme, cash aid for welfare recipients are split into two types of payments: half into a Bank Islam ATM card and the other in a card called JKMPay.

The amount in JKMPay can only be used in selected stores registered with Bank Islam.

Rina stressed that JKMPay is a pilot programme and that only new aid recipients since February last year are involved.

The joint group also demanded that the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry set up a special committee to eliminate discrimination in implementing this pilot project.

"We also demand that the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry set up a special committee immediately comprising people with disabilities (community) leaders to review and eliminate discrimination in the implementation of this pilot project.

"Any decision-making must take into account the views of people with disabilities as important stakeholders.

"Finally, we strongly protest and reject the implementation of JKMPay, which is clearly a persecution of people with disabilities and demand that it be stopped immediately," said the group. - Mkini