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OPENING SPEECH

BY

YBHG. DR. ROSE LENA BINTI LAZEMI SECRETARY GENERAL MINISTRY OF WOMEN,

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

FOR

“INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR PERSON WITH DISABILITIES”

3RD DECEMBER 2016

GRAND DORSETT HOTEL, SUBANG

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Bismillahir Rahman Nirrahim

"In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Compassionate".

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh and a very good morning

to all of you.

YBhg. Datin Paduka Khatijah Sulaiman

President

Selangor Cheshire Home

YBhg. Datuk Rowland Chin Kok Fah

President

Malaysian Council of Cheshire Homes and Services (MCCHS)

YBrs. Dr. Sulaiman Abd. Mutalib

Deputy President

Malaysian Council for Rehabilitation

YH. Dato’ Setia Amar Segara Dato Sri Hj. Halim b. Hj. Ibrahim

President

Majlis Kebajikan & Pembangunan Masyarakat Kebangsaan Malaysia

(MAKPEM)

Ms. Karen Song

Vice Consular of British High Commissioner Kuala Lumpur

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Ms. Florence Mayol-Dupont

Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of France in Malaysia

YBhg. Dato’ Hj. Zulkiply b. Ramli

Ketua Pengarah

Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat

His Excellency Mr. Veali Vagi

High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea

Ms. Camelai Narcis Todose

Secretary & Deputy Head of Mission of Embassy of Romania

His Excellency Mr. Herman Prayitno

Duta Besar Republik Indonesia

Tan Sri – Tan Sri, Puan Sri – Puan Sri, Datuk – Datuk, Datin – Datin,

distinguish guests, ladies and gentlemen

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INTRODUCTION

1. First and foremost, may all praises be to the Almighty, by whose

Grace and Blessings, we are gathered here today to celebrate the

International Day for Person with Disabilities. As we all know, this

celebration has been marked and celebrated yearly on 3rd December

around the world. Today’s celebration is a sign that our country is and

will always deliver its best for the well-being for all Persons with

Disabilities. It gives me great pleasure and indeed an honour for the

Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to be

invited as a guest to partake in the celebration of Persons with

Disabilities. With that, I wish to take this opportunity to thank the

Malaysian Council of Cheshire Home and Services, Selangor

Cheshire Homes and Malaysian Council for Rehabilitation in

organising this wonderful event.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

THE ELEVENTH MALAYSIA PLAN AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

2. The theme of today’s celebration namely “Achieving 17 Goals for

Future We Want: Access for Persons with Disabilities in Education,

Employment and All Rights” reminds me of the Eleventh Malaysia

Plan and the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The adoption of SDG is aligned with the Eleventh Malaysia Plan

where the goals in both documents are emphasising that no one should be left behind.

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3. As we all know, Malaysia is now embarking on its five-year

development plan - the Eleventh Malaysia Plan, from 2016 to 2020.

In many aspects, the plan mirrors the multi-dimensional nature of the SDGs, and has been formulated with the people at the centre of all development efforts. These plans lays the foundation for a

future of greater inclusion for all, including Persons with Disabilities.

4. In the Eleventh Malaysia Plan, the Government will continue to focus

on enhancing inclusiveness and equitable opportunities for all

Malaysians, including Persons with Disabilities. The focus of the

Eleventh Plan is to provide a more conducive and persons with disabilities friendly environment for active, productive and independent living. This will be done through creating a friendly

physical environment for persons with disabilities and expanding

training and skills development to increase employability.

5. Barrier-free access to public places is an important element of independent living. To this end, the enforcement of the Uniform

Building By-Laws for Universal Access 1984 will be strengthened to

ensure compliance to universal design and creating a disabled-

friendly physical environment. Existing government buildings will also

be upgraded in compliance with the By-Laws. To further encourage

independent living of persons with disabilities, community-based Independent Living Centres will be established with the

participation of NGOs. Through this Plan, the Government with the

cooperation of the private sector aims to add 7 new Independent

Living Centres throughout the country, which will benefit almost 11

thousand Persons with Disabilities.

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6. During the 11th Malaysia Plan, more programmes will be implemented

to empower productive Persons with Disabilities. More accessibility to basic education and skills training will be provided, including entrepreneurship, to build relevant skills among Persons with

Disabilities so that they are employable by the private sector and the

government. This is in line with the target to employ at least 1% persons with disabilities among civil servants. Currently, there

are almost 4 thousand persons with disabilities serving in the public

sector.

7. In the recent 2017 Budget announcement, the government has

allocated a sum of RM535 million to the Persons with Disabilities

including employee allowance, disabled children training allowance

and assistance for Persons with Disabilities who are unable to work.

This assistance programme will benefit nearly 150,000 people.

Additionally, the government has also announced the Good &

Services Tax relief for the purchase of aid equipment for registered

Persons with Disabilities without going through Private Charitable

Entities.

MINISTRY OF WOMEN, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT’S EFFORTS

Ladies and Gentlemen,

8. In ensuring Persons with Disabilities enjoy equal opportunities, full

participation in the society and be mainstreamed into the national

agenda, Malaysia has ratified the Convention on the Rights of

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Persons with Disabilities on 19 July 2010, thus joining the global

community in affirming the human rights of persons with disabilities.

9. Prior to that, the government had formulated the Policy and Plan of

Action for the Persons with Disabilities in 2007, and enacted the

Persons with Disabilities Act 2008. In addition, the government had

established the National Council for Persons with Disabilities in

August 2008 which is chaired by the Minister of Women, Family and

Community Development. In March 2016 the government has

approved a new Plan of Action for Persons with Disabilities (2016-2022) which is based on the general principles and obligations

stipulated in The Incheon Strategy.

10. All these are evidences that the government is fully committed to the

well-being and welfare of its disabled citizens and will continue to give

the necessary support on ensuring a meaningful and beneficial

service, not only for the disabled but for the community, as a whole.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

11. I am sure you would agree with me that our primary concern is to

focus on enhancing inclusiveness and equitable opportunities for all

Persons with Disabilities. Achieving that goal requires a concerted

effort and unwavering commitment from every segment of society,

encompassing among others the government sector, academia,

NGOs and members of the community.

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12. We must always bear in mind that future challenges that will confront

nations will only get increasingly difficult and complex as time goes

by. Therefore, we need to design and develop programmes as well

as mechanisms in order to equip the Person with Disabilities on the

possible complexities of tomorrow.

13. On that note it is with great pleasure that I now officiate the

International Day for Person with Disabilities with the theme

"Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We Want: Access for Person with

Disabilities in Education, Employment and All Rights.".

14. Wabillahitaufik Walhidayah Wasallam Mualaikum W.B.T. Thank you.