PETALING JAYA: Persons with Disabilities (PWD) organisations in Malaysia welcome the Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry's decision to discontinue the JKMPay scheme and return to the previous system of distributing welfare aid directly to bank accounts.
Malaysia Independent Living Association For Disabled chairman Sia Siew Chin said the decision showed the government respected the rights of disabled people to make their own choices.
"This is a positive step forward towards ensuring that welfare assistance is more inclusive and responsive to the needs of all Malaysians," she said in a statement on Friday (March 31).
According to Sia, the JKMPay system did not effectively address the needs of the disabled people.
Under JKMPay, which was introduced in April 2021, users used a cashless card and beneficiaries were limited to purchasing items at stores registered with Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad.
Sia added that her organisation along with other PWD groups in Malaysia were committed to working with the Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry to ensure any future initiatives will be more accessible and supportive for disabled people.
"We are calling on the government to consult and engage with us anytime a new initiative is in the works," she said.
