Answer for Written Question PT005

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Dayang Hajah Safiah binti Sheikh Haji Abd. Salam

YANG BERHORMAT DAYANG HAJAH SAFIAH BINTI SHEIKH HAJI ABD. SALAM requested the MINISTER OF CULTURE, YOUTH AND SPORTS to state the Ministry’s policy approach and measures to expedite the implementation of the issuance of the Persons with Disabilities (OKU) Card, as well as the approach to ensure that the card is used effectively and can benefit all stakeholders?

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan

The Government of Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam has always placed emphasis and accorded priority to the welfare and well-being of persons with disabilities in the country, so that these are continuously safeguarded and preserved, in line with national policies and the initiatives of the National Council on Social Issues under the Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities, as well as the country’s commitment under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to ensure that persons with disabilities are given equal opportunities to lead inclusive lives in the country.

In conjunction with the 75th Birthday Celebration of Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam in 2021, His Majesty gave his consent for the enforcement of the Persons with Disabilities Act to commence on 1 October 2021.

Alhamdulillah, measures towards the enforcement of the OKU Act have been actively implemented by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in cooperation with relevant agencies in the Government and non-Government sectors. One of the provisions concerned is the establishment of a Register of Persons with Disabilities containing the names, addresses and other particulars of the OKU registered therein, while Chapter 12 provides for the Registrar, namely the Director of Community Development, to issue a card in the names entered in the said register. The purpose of the OKU Card is to serve as an identification card for persons with disabilities, enabling those who are registered to obtain access to services, programmes, facilities and infrastructure appropriate to their needs according to the level of their respective disabilities.

In preparation for implementing the provisions of Chapter 12 relating to the issuance of the OKU Card, several key measures have been taken, namely

i. Firstly, KKBS held consultation sessions with the Council for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities (MKOKU), which represents nine (9) associations for persons with disabilities in the country. These sessions aimed to obtain direct views from persons with disabilities, particularly regarding the card design, information details and proposals for privileges appropriate to their needs;

ii. Secondly, KKBS also conducted benchmarking against international best practices by referring to the implementation of OKU Cards in several countries, such as Malaysia, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the European Union. The comparison covered aspects such as fees, the types of privileges, and the types of assistance and services provided to cardholders;

iii. Thirdly, to ensure a comprehensive approach, KKBS obtained feedback from relevant ministries and agencies to identify services, programmes and incentives that could be offered to OKU Cardholders, while also ensuring access to more inclusive facilities and infrastructure. The outcome of this coordination indicated proposed privileges such as the provision of special lanes at service counters, exemptions from or reductions in certain fees, as well as special parking facilities and more OKU-friendly access;

iv. Fourthly, in terms of legislation, applying for this card is voluntary and not mandatory. Nevertheless, KKBS wishes to encourage persons with disabilities to apply for this card as it will add value to the statistics on persons with disabilities, and it can be used to obtain access to specialised services. Therefore, KKBS has held discussions with the Attorney General’s Chambers to examine the need for amendments to the Persons with Disabilities Act, including taking into account proposed improvements from the Ministries and MKOKU, as well as proposed fees. Insha Allah, the process of updating the legislation will be expedited in cooperation with the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Overall, these efforts form part of a phased approach to ensure that the issuance of OKU Cards is implemented in an orderly and effective manner. This initiative also reflects the continued commitment of the Government of Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam to strengthening the protection, welfare and inclusion of persons with disabilities, in accordance with the provisions under the Persons with Disabilities Act (Chapter 234), as well as the national aspiration to ensure that no group is left behind in the country’s development.