She said JKMPay, which is an initiative towards digitalisation in delivering assistance to people with disabilities (OKU), had been implemented by the ministry without having sought any views from the community itself.

In a statement today, she also urged the government to reinstate the disabled employee welfare payment of RM450 from this month, because the cashless JKMPay had caused all sorts of problems to the group.

“I urge the welfare department (JKM) to bring this matter up to the National Council on behalf of the OKU community immediately. At the same time, it is hoped that JKM will hold engagement sessions with various NGOs or associations related to the OKU community for their views and feedback on the JKMPay implementation,” said Ras Adiba, who is also OKU Sentral president.

“I would like to emphasise once again the phrase ‘nothing about us without us’. If you want to do something worthy and good for the OKU community, please ask and discuss with us first. Only we OKUs will understand the needs of the OKU community,” she said.

Women, family and community development minister Rina Harun, was earlier reported to have said that the JKMPay pilot project was still at the feasibility study stage before being implemented nationwide.

Meanwhile, Ras Adiba said of late, there were several issues and problems faced by the OKU community and it was time that the ministry upgraded its OKU development unit into a full-fledged department with a director from among the group.

“This is to ensure that OKU development and empowerment can be handled properly and fairly,” she said.