PUTRAJAYA’S policy to employ 1% of the nation’s disabled community in the public sector has not been achieved despite being in place since the previous administration, said Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today.

She said the recent visit by Argentinian Vice-President Marta Gabriela Michetti, who uses a wheelchair, showed that the disabled community is able to contribute to the nation’s growth.

“We can help the differently abled, not just in terms of handouts, but give them livelihoods. Let them contribute to the country’s growth,” she said after a breaking of fast event with the disabled community in Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur.

She said the disabled community is largely unrepresented in the private sector as well, adding that there are tax incentives and rebates for those who employ them.

“We want to encourage the differently abled and give them skills training.

“The policy has been around for a while, before the current government. It just hasn’t come to pass.”

In April, she said up to January, Putrajaya had allocated RM60.6 million for 175,156 people with disabilities under the handicapped worker’s allowance, bedridden patients’ aid and unemployed aid schemes nationwide. – May 19, 2019.