Disabled to be given more job positions

From: The Star, Malaysia - 16 Mar 2003

ALOR GAJAH: The Government hopes to increase job positions for the disabled to 5,000 this year, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn said yesterday. 

He said that to achieve the target, the ministry would approach the private sector to urge it to take in more disabled workers who are willing to work if given the opportunity. 

"Our target is to improve the working environment to accommodate more disabled people. 

"I hope the number of jobs will increase for the disabled this year with the help of the Labour Department," he said. 

"The disabled may be physically weak in certain aspects, but they can still function in many other areas," he said after attending a programme with handicapped children at the Pulau Sebang clinic. 

Citing an example, Dr Fong said the blind, deaf and handicapped could work as operators or mechanics or in some jobs that suited their ability. 

He said the ministry had adopted training centres to provide different courses including industrial training.  

Many factories, especially those in electronics, had provided job opportunities for the disabled, he added.  

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