Private sector urged to absorb OKU into workforce - Tengku Adnan

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said it would be a waste of resources if the physically-disadvantaged, whose number stood at 498,906 as of February, were not absorbed into the workforce.

He said, by providing job opportunities, they would be able to assist the government in offering programmes and give OKU a purpose in life.

"I propose companies accept the OKU in the workforce and help them make a living," he said when officiating the Sentuhan Kasih ceremony organised by the Federal Territories Foundation (YWP), in collaboration with corporate companies, here today.

Tengku Adnan, who is also YWP chairman, said that based on the Social Welfare Department statistics, the number of OKU employed in the public sector increased to 1,754, as of December 2012 as compared to 1,294 in 2009.

According to Labour Department statistics, a total of 13,339 had registered with the Disabled Placement System for the private sector, with 9,074 successfully employed.

On the ceremony today, Tengku Adnan said several corporations contributed a total RM135,000 which would be channeled to outstanding and successful OKU students, athletes, entrepreneurs, special education schools, community-based rehabilitation centres and special education units of the federal territories' departments of education.

A recipient, N. Divya Darshini, 14, an OKU with hearing and speech difficulties from Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas, Jalan Peel gave the thumbs-up to show her delight.

Her father, K. Narendran, 48, told Bernama that he was honoured to receive the contribution from the foundation for the first time as it meant a lot to him in funding Divya Darshini's schooling.