Special dept for disabled, kids and senior citizens

The Star

SUBANG JAYA: The government plans to set up a department to look into the welfare of disabled, children and senior citizens.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said that such a department would help ensure that services were delivered efficiently.

To be named Department for the Disabled Development, she said that certain procedures had to be implemented such as the drawing up of the Bills that needed to be tabled and passed in Parliament.

“It is expected to be drawn up and tabled in Parliament by the year's end,” she said while launching the National Disabled Day 2007 at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre here yesterday.

The ministry has also submitted proposals to the Housing and Local Government and Transport ministries concerning matters pertaining to access for disabled persons, she said.

She later presented awards in various categories.

The special award for the most excellent disabled person went to Dr Ng Chee Kyun, 32, who overcame cerebral palsy to obtain a PhD in Communications and Networking from UPM and is now working at Mimos Bhd.

Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort in Kota Kinabalu won the award for the most disabled-accessible hotel, while 1-Utama in Petaling Jaya won the award for the most accessible shopping complex.