PERSON WITH

DISABILITIES ACT
(OKU) 2008
By:

Dionata
Nadhirah
Aina
Varshini

Definition

Persons with disabilities according to Person

with Disabilities Act 2008 include those who
have long term physical, mental, intellectual or
sensory impairments which in interaction with
various barriers may hinder their full and
effective participation in society

 Disabilities

is an umbrella term, covering impairments,

activity limitations, and participation restrictions (WHO,

2015)
An

impairment is a problem in body function or structure

activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an

individual in executing a task or action

participation

restriction is a problem experienced by an

individual in involvement in life situations.

Persons with Disabilities Act 2008

Approved
Enforced

by Parliament on 24th December 2007

on 7th July 2008

Enables

the OKU to receive equal rights,

opportunities and full participation in the society
equivalent to other members in the society

Dictates

allocation pertaining to registration,

protection, preservation, development and wellbeing

Services
a. Registration of Person with Disabilities
Done

voluntarily across the country

Conducted

by Ministry of National Unity and

Social Development through Welfare
Department

Done

at the District Welfare Department

and the Social Welfare Department
Headquarters Malaysia

b. Artificial Equipment Aid

Artificial equipment like walk stick, calipers, wheelchairs,

hearing aid, specially-made spectacles

Help disabled ones to move around and help them get job

c. Disabled Employees Allowance

To encourage them to get a job

d. Unemployed Disabled Person Aid

To support disabled persons who are unemployed due to their

disabilities by obtaining certificates from Medical Officer in
government hospitals and clinics

e. Counselling and Advisory Services

For those disabled persons or their families who have issues in

terms of emotions, self-esteem and others

f. Education Facilities

Special classes for children with sight or hearing impairment or

those who suffer from learning disabilities (By Education Ministry
under Special Education Section)

Conducted in special education schools and through integration

programmes in regular schools

Government exempts registration fees for hearing impaired

children who attend vocational training in educational institutions
under the management of the Ministry of Education

A monthly allowance of RM 300 is awarded to successful students

2.4 Education Regulations

(Special Education) 2013
Section 41, Education Act 1996 (Act 550)

 Pupils

with Special Education Needs: pupils who are

certified by a medical practitioner, optician, audiologist or
psychologist in the government service to be:

Sight

impaired

Hearing
Speech

impaired
impaired

Physical
Learning
Any

impaired
disability

combination of the disabilities or difficulties listed

above

Special education
Education

for a pupil who need special education in a

special school or a school which conduct the Special
Education Integration Programme or the Inclusive
Education Programme at the level of:

Pre-school
Primary

education

education

Secondary

education

Post-secondary

education

Inclusive education programme

An educational programme where children with special need are

integrated into mainstream classes in government or government
aided schools.

Special education integrated programme

Specific classes in government or government aided

schools dedicated to children with special needs.

Individual education programme

A record of details as determined by the Head Registrar who

states the education programme for every special need pupil.

 The

need to attend probation period to

determine the suitability of a pupil needing
special education to follow Special Education
under subperaturan 5 (1). The pupil has to attend
a probation period of not more than 3 months. the
implementation of Special Education involves the
use of Special Education Curriculum, Individual
Education Programme and modification of T&L,
that is from the aspects of method, technique,
time, arrangement of activities as well as teaching
aids.

Extension

of the education period for

special need pupils is not more than 2
years in primary school, not more than 2
years in secondary school or 1 year (PS), 1
year (SS). For special education pupils who
follow vocational education in special
education secondary school can be
extended for another year.

Summary
The

OKU Act is very meaningful to

groups of people and family members
with OKU.
Improvements of the act will avoid the
OKU from being oppressed.
The act needs to be implemented so that
penalties can be enforced immediately.

Reference

World Health Organisation (2015). Health topics: Disabilities. Retrieved from

World Health Organisation: http://www.who.int/topics/disabilities/en/