Malaysia’s Disability Milestones.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007 – Malaysia recorded two Disability achievements today: with the Persons with Disabilities Bill 2007 passed in Parliament and the appointment of the first blind senator Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh.
Datuk Dr Ismail created history as the first person with disability sworn in as Senator at the Senate (dewan Negara) at 10am this morning.
The blind father of six took the oath before Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil lauded Ismail’s appointment as not only an achievement for the disabled community but also acknowledgement of his personal achievements and contributions to the nation’s development, particularly in the economic field.
Datuk Seri Sharizat was also present to witness the People with Disabilities Bill 2007 passed that evening in parliament.
She also announced that Malaysia will be signing the UN convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in February 2008.
Dr Ismail, 60, is president of the Malaysian Association of the Blind, chairman of both the East Asia International Council for the Education of the People With Visual Impairment and the Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital.
His other roles include vice-chancellor of Twintech International University College, as well as a member of the National Implementation Task Force chaired by the prime minister for the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
Dewan Negara speaker Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh said besides having all senate documents available in Braille, steps would be taken to make the built environment more disabled-friendly.
