KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26: Malaysians with Disabilities need to know their legal rights need to know their legal rights to ensure they are not marginalised, says Malaysian Confederation of the Disabled president Datuk Mah Hassan Omar.

He said the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 could protect this group of citizens and ensure they had equal legal rights like others in society.

"Through this Act, disabled people can take to court those who misuse or fail to provide facilities for disabled people. People with disabilities should have access to the facilities provided, just like normal people.

"Every disabled person needs to know his or her rights and be proactive. They must work at getting what they want," he said when contacted, here, today.

Gazetted on Jan 24, 2008, the Act provides disabled people with rights in terms of registration, protection, rehabilitation and development. Mah Hassan cited how financial institutions which failed to provide facilities for disabled people to use the ATMs could be taken to court or referred to Bank Negara Malaysia under the provisions of the Act.

He said the Act had also changed the aim of providing facilities for the disabled from welfare to basic necessity. He, however, noted that the Act carried no penalty for those who misused facilities for the disabled as the emphasis was on educating the public and not punishing.

Mah Hassan said he was chairman of the technical committee when the Act was being formulated. "After the draft of the Act was submitted to the Attorney-General's Chambers, the proposed penalty was dropped as the Act is related to the basic rights of disabled people.

"Education will have a longer effect than meting out punishment on offenders. All quarters must recognise the rights of disabled people and give them the chance to progress like others."

Mah Hassan said educating the public on the rights of disabled people would require the involvement of all parties like government agencies, the private sector, community and the disabled themselves.

Source: http://www.thesundaily.my