Ras Adiba asks govt to choose another date for Malaysia Batik Day

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been asked to change the date of Malaysia Batik Day from Dec 3 as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PwD) is also celebrated on that date.

Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi, who represents the PwDs in the Senate, said the community wanted the government to pay attention and take into account the International Day of Persons with Disabilities which is celebrated each year around the world on Dec 3.

"Perhaps we forgot that according to the WHO (World Health Organisation), 15 per cent of the population of a country comprises PwD. Persons with disabilities also have the right to vote and elect the government. We are 4.8 million of the Malaysian Family," she said when debating the 2022 Supply Bill in the Dewan Negara here today.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has declared Dec 3 as the annual Malaysia Batik Day to encourage all citizens including the private sector and the multiracial community to wear the Malaysian batik.

Meanwhile, Ras Adiba, who is OKU Sentral president, asked whether the elements of accessibility and compliance with the Malaysian Standard (MS1184) was one of the mandatory criteria for every RM30 million funding provided for the repair of 738 budget hotels registered under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Apart from that, the chairman of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) thanked the government for choosing Bernama as the driving agency in providing the Malaysian Sign Language Interpreter Course (JBIM).

-- BERNAMA