KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 — The issue of salary disparity faced by people with disabilities (PwD) needs to be addressed as they face similar problems with rising living costs and have the same commitments as able-bodied people.
Senator Isaiah Jacob said he received feedback from the disabled community that a salary of RM1,200 is not enough to cover rising household expenses.
“With RM1,200, can they really manage, especially those who are married and have children? How can they buy necessities and other items?
“I ask the government and the Finance Ministry to take this matter seriously as it is about survival,” he said on the fifth day of the debate on the Supply Bill (Budget) 2026 at Dewan Negara today.
He also urged the government to raise the wages of Community-Based Rehabilitation Facility workers so it is on a par with the minimum wage, as the workers work full time looking after children with disabilities, manage documentation, provide rehabilitation, and clean the facilities.
Such a move, he added, is in line with a previous statement by the Human Resources Ministry that supervisors and workers of these facilities are subject to the Employment Act 1955.
Meanwhile, Senator Norhasmimi Abdul Ghani proposed that the government consider implementing subsidies based on location to ensure residents in the interior have equal access to subsidised petrol without having to bear additional costs or depend on unlicensed sellers.
She noted that while targeted subsidised petrol was welcomed and managed to reduce leakages and ensure aid reached those who qualified, there were still some who were left out, especially in Orang Asli villages and Felda settlements located further away from fuel stations.
“The long distance to the nearest towns to get subsidised petrol causes them to bear additional costs and ultimately be forced to purchase unsubsidised petrol from unlicensed sellers,” she said.
She also suggested expanding the provision of community fuelling stations, including increasing the number of mobile fuel stations and working with cooperatives in villages, Felda settlements or community centres to create a controlled micro-distribution model to stop leakages.
“With this approach, rural residents gain equal access to subsidies and do not need to rely on illegal sellers. It is in line with the principle of social justice and ensures no one is left out from benefits of the national subsidy reform,” Norhasmimi added.
The Dewan Negara sitting resumes tomorrow.
