In times that are tough for any consumer, none find it more difficult than the disabled who are deprived of easy access to banking facilities and services.

Damai Disabled Persons Association of Selangor and Federal Territory president, V Murugeswaran said disabled-friendly banks would enable those concerned to be independent.

disabled chew mei fun bus protest 250906 v murugeswaran “Banks do not have ramps. When we go to the banks we have to conduct our business on the street, not inside. We are not third-class citizens, so why are there double standards against the disabled?” he said at a press conference in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

“Even if we get to the banks, there is no privacy to conduct our businesses. The ATMs are so high that the person (standing) at the back would see (us entering) our personal identification number.”

Murugeswaran said the disabled also have difficulty withdrawing the Elaun Pekerja Cacat at Bank Simpanan Nasional and Agro Bank.

“They require us to see them in person. If the money is not claimed within two weeks it is forfeited. It is difficult for us. This is a big amount to us,” he said.

The monthly allowance of RM200 is given by the government to disabled workers earning below RM1,200.

“There are laws such as Persons with Disabilities Act 2007. The Uniform Building By-laws provide for access for the disabled, but unfortunately the implementation is yet to be seen.

“The UN Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities entitles disabled people to inclusion and participation in society on an equal basis.”

'Conned by friend'

Murugeswaran said the association would take up their problems with Bank Negara.

damai disabled people pc 230309 06 During the press conference, Mohamed Shaffuan Al Faruqi Md Ali, a 24-year-old information technology analyst, said he had been conned by a close friend on whom he had relied to withdraw RM4,250 from the ATM.

“I would not need to rely on anyone to withdraw my money if the banking facilities are disabled- friendly. The reason I am speaking to you today is because I do not want this to happen to other disabled people out there, although I was lucky to have recovered the money,” he said.

“The banks need to provide us with appropriate facilities. It is not fair that we have to do banking transactions outside the premises. We have a right to use the facilities.”