PWDS SHOULD BE EMPOWERED THROUGH AI, DIGITAL ECONOMY - ISAIAH

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) need to be given wider access to skills related to artificial intelligence (AI) and the digital economy to enable them to work flexibly, including from home, says Senator Isaiah Jacob.

He said current developments in AI and digital technology were opening up new opportunities for qualified PWDs without having to rely heavily on physical presence at the workplace.

“In the AI space, a person with disabilities can carry out tasks or work without necessarily having to go to the office. They can work from home,” he said during a press conference on issues concerning PWD at his office here today.

Isaiah said the government, through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes, had also demonstrated concern for these needs by allocating a portion of training places to PWDs.

He said efforts were currently underway to identify PWDs interested in the AI field to be matched with companies that could provide training, and members of the public could contact his office at 03-42882020 for further information.

At the same time, Isaiah welcomed the government’s recent announcement on free education for PWD students at public institutions of higher learning, polytechnics and community colleges, which would help ease the financial burden on families.

He also expressed hope that allocations across various ministries could be utilised to assist PWDs.

Meanwhile, Isaiah stressed that employment remained the most critical challenge faced by the PWD community due to the absence of legal provisions requiring employers to hire them.

In this regard, he was of the view that the one per cent PWD employment quota policy should be incorporated into the Employment Act 1955 to enable enforcement against employers who failed to comply, in addition to proposing incentives such as tax deductions to encourage more companies to employ workers from the group.

Commenting on the difficulties faced by PWDs in obtaining financing to start businesses, Isaiah proposed the establishment of a special fund to assist entrepreneurs within the community.

In another development, Isaiah, who is also the Chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) for a three-year term until 2028, expressed his intention to strengthen Malaysia’s role in championing PWD rights at the international level.

-- BERNAMA