More meaningful help for the handicapped, please

Last Friday's Budget 2016 left no one in a strange way disappointed, I guess – judging from the fact that most of the people with disabilities whom I talked to at least a week before the event – were expecting it to be a horrible budget.

I know it is a terrible thing to say, but that is exactly what appears to have been dished out to us just before the weekend started.

Instead, we have been told a brand new RM848 million state-of-the-art women's and children's hospital in Kuala Lumpur will start running around the same time, this month next year.

Let us never forget that when we talk about women and children, they must include individuals with disabilities as well.

Not every child or mother who seeks treatment in this special hospital will be able to walk in and out like others, which is why every care must be made to ensure that the building is equipped with the very latest disabled-friendly facilities.

Some of the most hostile "wheelchair-unfriendly" buildings, I am embarrassed to say, are our government hospitals.

I had to apologise to about 20 non-disabled patients once when I asked them to move their seats which was blocking my wheelchair from accessing the "disabled friendly toilet."

But not before getting the mops and pails out of it first because it was turned into a janitor room.

And no hanky-panky stuff, please.

I could barely get my wheelchair halfway through a so-called "disabled friendly washroom" in a newly opened posh hotel.

I later discovered that the "okay" (Certificate of Fitness) for the handicapped room was "skipped" because the hotel wanted to rush ahead with its launching.

Budget 2016 also promised an allocation of almost RM2 billion that will be given to the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to assist the disabled, the elderly and poor families.

My question is, who decides how the money is spent for the various categories?

For the disabled, will it be the able-bodied who decides?

How about inviting the stakeholders - people with disabilities from the grassroots – to share their ideas on how their needs can be more effectively met?

This would not only invite fresh ideas into the way how the ministry and welfare department have been doing things all this while, but it will also make them transparent in their actions.

Some of my friends suggested that the next time our ministers and government officials participate in international conferences involving the disabled like in the United Nations or elsewhere, it would be good to sponsor a couple of local activists along of who we have quite a few.

Not only will it make a better impression of Malaysia to have people with disabilities talking about their problems – the exposure for these people will go a long way in making them even better activists.

The minister will also get a chance to interact with them and work closer together after they have returned. This will also help the government to create more leadership skills among the disabled community.

One of the biggest disappointment with Budget 2016 is that it didn't come out with a waiver for the handicapped of the goods and services tax (GST).

A simple decision the scrap GST for all purchases when the disabled produce their disability identification cards would go a very long way for them.

The handicapped have been asking for years for a RM500 monthly allowance to help meet their living and other expenses – but that never came about too.

With the 11th Malaysia Plan due to start next year, this means there’s nothing really for them to look forward to again.

Frankly, our prime minister should have listened to them much, much more. – October 26, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.