KUALA LUMPUR:There should be stricter enforcement of the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) Act 2008 to better protect the rights of the group, says Senator Ras Adiba Radzi.<br /> <br /> Ras Adiba, who is the president of OKU Sentral, a non-governmental organisation that fights for the rights of the PwD, said this included the aspect of maintaining the special facilities or amenities for the disabled.<br /> <br /> She said such demands for the disabled community were not excessive, and it should be their right as Malaysian citizens.<br /> <br /> “Right now, we need (better) enforcement…. we just want our rights upheld and our voices heard. We also have the right to be in this country…we also work and pay taxes, so what we want is equality across the board,” said Ras Adiba, who is also chairman of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama).<br /> <br /> She said this while appearing as a guest on Bernama TV’s ‘Malaysia Petang Ini’ programme, which discussed the topic 'Empowering the PwD'.<br /> <br /> A staunch activist for the PwD, Ras Adiba was appointed as chairman of Bernama on Nov 24, making her the first woman to be appointed to the post.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, she said parents who had children with disabilities and PwD themselves who had not registered with the Social Welfare Department should come forward and do so to enjoy the facilities accorded to PwD cardholders.<br /> <br /> According to her, the department had been intensifying efforts to get more individuals from the group registered.<br /> <br /> “There are many advantages (that PwD get if registered) such as health benefits, where they can get medical treatment at any government hospital free of charge. (In terms of) education, they can go to university and be given special scholarships.<br /> <br /> “I think we should also prioritise the way we approach the PwD so that we can attract the interest of many disabled people out there. One of my main missions is to call my fellow friends from the group to get registered,” she said, adding that this would make it easier for the government to help the disabled community.<br /> <br /> -- BERNAMA<gdiv id="ginger-floatingG-container" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG ginger-floatingG-closed" style="display: none;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-disabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Enable Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-offline-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip"><em>Cannot connect to Ginger</em> Check your internet connection<br /> or reload the browser</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-enabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-disable"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Disable in this text field</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-edit">Edit</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-wrap"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-close">×</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-frame"><iframe scrolling="no"></iframe></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv>