Malaysia needs to improve disability management: Ahmad Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia needs to look at ways to improve its disability management, especially in providing better coordination between the agencies for disabled workers.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urged the Social Security Organisation (Socso) to take the lead and work with various ministries and agencies in the country to make the proposal a reality.
"Although social security agencies have provided a comprehensive and extensive safety net, a single window of service that links all available facilities is needed to synchronise all facilities for the disabled in this country."
Ahmad Zahid was speaking at the launch of the International Forum on Disability Management (IFDM2016) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) here.
Also present were Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Anak Jaem and Socso Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Mohammed Azman Bin Aziz Mohammed.
Ahmad Zahid suggested that social security organisations must have a Centre of Excellence for Rehabilitation and Prevention to benefit all in knowledge sharing and integrate more rehabilitation services in the country.
"Besides further strengthening and enhancing social protection in the country, Malaysia will benefit by establishing various strategic partnerships and bilateral cooperations with prominent universities and practitioners of disability management around the world through research and development, knowledge transfer and innovation," he said.
Ahmad Zahid stressed that social security mechanisms were an important policy tool to ensure workers and their families are protected from socio-economic changes caused by such situations.
He also commended Socso's flagship Return to Work Programme where it has assisted 14,701 workers with injuries to return to work.
"I commend the Ministry of Human Resouces and its agencies, in particular Socso for its forward thinking in social security provision and coverage in our country by incorporating a worker centred, pro-active, and customised disability management programme for injured workers," he said.
Meanwhile, IFDM 2016 aimed to transform how disability management is perceived and implemented through a wider perspective of discussions, papers and experiences.
The forum will be held for three days (Nov 22 to Nov 24) at KLCC.
The World Report on Disability 2011, by the World Health Organisation and World Bank estimated that 15% of the world population has some form of disabilities.