Cover Senator Ras Adiba in her office. (Photo: Daniel Adams)
Senator Ras Adiba in her office. (Photo: Daniel Adams)
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When we consider how we treat the disabled, do we truly wish to be treated in the same manner? If the answer isn’t an immediate, resounding “yes”, then there is an issue long overdue for a solution
Our bodies serve as a poignant reminder: with the passage of time, regardless of our choices, the potential for disability looms. Imagine a future where your mobility diminishes, and reliance on assistance becomes integral. The simple act of moving becomes tethered to mobility aids, and even basic trips to the washroom can infringe upon your privacy—whether it’s requiring assistance or finding an able-bodied person occupying your designated stall without consideration.
The above scenario highlights just a fraction of the challenges faced by the disabled community. They endure not only infrastructural issues but also systemic ableism, leading to ostracism, stigma, and persecution.
In the spirit of inclusivity and diversity as our nation celebrates its 66th year of independence, Tatler sits down with International Women of Courage 2023 awardee Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi. A former veteran news presenter, record-breaking Paralympian, chairman of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), and influential voice in Parliament, Ras Adiba champions the rights of disabled individuals and is a paraplegic herself. During our conversation, she sheds light on the challenges faced by persons with disabilities (PWDs), also known in Malaysia as orang kurang upaya (OKUs), and what we need to create a more inclusive society.
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Above Senator Ras Adiba (Photo: Daniel Adams)
Senator Ras Adiba (Photo: Daniel Adams)
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First things first: instead of treating the disabled as the problem, it’s the system that shapes society’s negative perception towards the disabled that needs fixing, according to Ras Adiba.
“It isn’t so much the disability that hinders our quality of life as persons with disabilities, nor is it just the way our environments are designed, but it’s also how people react to PWDs that obstructs any kind of positive development for disabled communities,” says Ras Adiba.
“People put us on a pedestal of awe and pity. It’s as if we possess extraordinary powers simply because we are disabled, and others cannot fathom how we manage to live our lives. Sure, we do things differently, but we are just as human as anyone else. We are no different from someone who needs prescription glasses due to conventional visual impairments.”
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Above Our infrastructure has been exclusionary from the start—and it's an uphill battle for disabled communities across the globe (Image: Unsplash/woozhx 张学欢)
Our infrastructure has been exclusionary from the start—and it's an uphill battle for disabled communities across the globe (Image: Unsplash/woozhx 张学欢)
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According to the Department of Social Welfare, the officially declared disabled population comprises approximately 1.9 per cent of the Malaysian population as of January 31, 2023, totalling 63,7537 people.
However, a Sinar Harian article in April 2019 estimated the actual number of disabled citizens to be 4.86 million, revealing that the registered percentage eligible for welfare assistance is disproportionately small.
And despite Malaysia’s ratification of the 2008 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2010 and the implementation of the Disabled Persons Act in 2008 (OKU Act 2008), the aforementioned statistics reflect how Malaysian society treats its disabled community today.
Above All we need is to take everyone into account whenever we do anything—take architecture, interior design, or furniture design that accommodates for disabled persons (Image: Unsplash/Centres for Disease Control and Prevention)
Above What if we made things more accessible? Would the disabled be encouraged to participate then? (Image: Unsplash/Centres for Disease Control and Prevention)
All we need is to take everyone into account whenever we do anything—take architecture, interior design, or furniture design that accommodates for disabled persons (Image: Unsplash/Centres for Disease Control and Prevention)
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There are a number of reasons as to why the numbers don’t add up, the major one being the disabled community’s own reluctance to register themselves for welfare assistance:
- Firstly, the OKU application process is ironically not disabled-friendly. A January 2022 Free Malaysia Today article reported that the registration procedure for the disabled community is described as “tedious, time-consuming, costly, and required many supporting documents.” Additionally, visiting the social welfare department is not accessible via public transport. Although online OKU registrations have been introduced, individuals with visual or hearing disabilities have a difficult time using it.
- Secondly, the ableism and disregard for OKU communities. Colour blindness and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are considered as non-issues, and the hefty fees some individuals must pay for an IQ test just to confirm their learning disabilities, also contribute to the disabled community’s reluctance to go through the registration process.
Above Disabled communities are people as well, and like any individual, they do things differently (Image: Unsplash/Audi Nissen)
Disabled communities are people as well, and like any individual, they do things differently (Image: Unsplash/Audi Nissen)
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This indifference and stigmatising perception towards disabled persons then becomes an internal one, causing them or their caregivers to avoid registering for an OKU card for fear of being ostracised in social and professional settings.
Ras Adiba, who earned herself a place in the Malaysian Book of Records for wheeling 420 kilometres in 13 days from Johor Bahru to Putrajaya with her wheelchair and is a fellow Paralympic shooter, is evidence that the disabled community can indeed be productive members of our society. Having experienced six years of unemployment due to her disability after the harrowing sequence of events that began from her paralysing car accident in 1995, the attempted robbery in 2001 that worsened her injury, and then her accident at home in 2002 that ultimately robbed her of her ability to walk, Ras Adiba is determined to turn things around for the local disabled community.
“The disabled are more than capable of being active contributors to society—which is why it baffles me when people make their own assumptions about the disabled, like we’re people who just sit around at home and do nothing,” says Ras Adiba. “The reason why we can’t do anything in the first place is because people don’t give us a chance at life. They assume that we need handouts or want special treatment, but that’s not it.
“We can excel in sports, do businesses, conduct seminars and talks, create art, and be adept in academia as well. From writers, speakers, business owners, Paralympians to artists, there isn’t anything that we cannot do; we just do it differently.”
To date, based on The Sun’s article in November 2021, under the senator’s leadership, Bernama has trained a total of 18 sign language interpreters to bridge the gaps in communication. Their eponymous TV programme, Bernama TV, is lauded as the second domestic television broadcasting station to feature a sign language interpreter for their Bernama Bulletin news broadcast.
Another initiative that Ras Adiba intends to introduce, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Unity, is the teaching of sign language as a third language in schools. By impressing upon children the need for inclusivity and empathy from an early age, they can support disabled children and adults without compromising their independence and dignity.
Furthermore, the senator has collaborated closely with the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development’s welfare department, along with the Harapan OKU Law Reform team—comprising legal experts from the bar council—to redefine the OKU Act 2008. Their collective effort aims to establish more stringent regulations, fostering an environment that actively discourages all forms of discriminatory behaviour, whether deliberate or inadvertent.
“If you’re unsure of what’s needed for a disabled-friendly environment, just ask us,” says Ras Adiba. “It’s like the Malay proverb: ‘kalau tidak bertanya, kita akan sesat jalan.’ We are right here, and we aren’t an afterthought.”
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Usually found at home and one with her couch, Koy Yi would either crack open a good book or game in her spare time to wind down after a long day. She also loves to scour art conventions and book fairs alike when she's able, collecting art books of all regions to gain inspiration for her own illustrations. With a keen interest in people and the stories they tell, she enjoys a good talk and a good laugh (preferably over food). Follow her on her Instagram @peiyi57.
