Reinstate cash allowance, end JKMPay, say disabled groups

 

The women, family and community development ministry has been urged to consider the views of the disabled community on the JKMPay project.

KUALA LUMPUR: Organisations that support the disabled today urged the government to do away with its JKMPay cashless payment scheme and to reinstate the cash incentive allowance for disabled workers (Epoku) in the interest of the community.

In a statement, 54 organisations and 118 individuals expressed disappointment with the cashless assistance payment pilot project (or JKMPay), launched by the women, family and community development ministry on April 9, 2021.

It said recipients involved in the JKMPay pilot programme were now being paid half of their allowance in cash. The other half was credited to their JKMPay cashless card.

Previously, the allowance was fully paid in cash or credited into the accounts of the disabled persons through the Epoku.

The groups said the new scheme had created difficulties, especially for the disabled in rural areas where there were barely any JKM panel shops or shops registered with Bank Islam.

“Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) with mobility impairments, wheelchair users and those without their own vehicles face additional burden and challenges.

“There is no certainty that the registered shops under JKMPay have the necessary facilities for PwDs,” they said.

Women, family and community development minister Rina Harun last month said the JKMPay pilot project, which had been initiated in Perlis, Kedah and Melaka, was still at the feasibility study stage before it is implemented nationwide. - FMT