PETALING JAYA: Seven groups representing people with disabilities (PWD) have said a firm "no" to the government’s proposed cashless monthly assistance programme, JKMPay.

       The groups said the programme will bring more burden than benefit to them, and will consider marching to Parliament to protest if no action is taken.

       “We are also opposing JKMPay because we were not involved in the discussion about such policies - policies which affect our lives,” said Malaysia Independent Living Association for Disabled (Milad) vice-president Noor Muha Aziz in a press conference held over Zoom on Saturday (Feb 26).

       Six other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were also present, including the Independent Living Centre Malaysia, Persatuan Pemulihan Orang Cacat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan, and Malaysian Spinal Cord Injury Advocacy Association.

       Other NGOs were the Boleh Space, Persatuan Orang Cacat Johor Baru and the Malaysia Spinal Injuries Association.

       The groups were also disappointed with the JKMPay engagement session held with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry on Thursday and Friday (Feb 24 and 25), saying that their grouses were not addressed.

       “The minister said she was always ready to listen, understand and study all views, ideas, suggestions and constructive criticism for the interest of improvement in her Facebook post.

       “But it is ironic because she and her deputy were not present in the session,” said Noor Muha.

       He said NGOs that attended the engagement session were only able to ask a few questions and had to keep to a short time frame, while some questions were unanswered.

       JKMPay is pilot project for welfare recipients, where 50% of the cash aid is banked into their Bank Islam account.

       The other 50% is stored in a JKMPay card that allows recipients to purchase essentials, including medication, at 250 shops registered with Bank Islam.

       However, groups have stated that this will create difficulties as it would limit PWD to certain shops which might not be nearby or convenient to them.

       Noor Muha said such a move also takes away the rights of PWD to make decisions, including how to spend their money.

       Earlier, in a statement, the ministry said the engagement session was to explain to welfare organisations about improving services for PWD and JKMPay.

       “This session is also to receive feedback from the community on how to improve the delivery of the ministry’s services to them,” the Social Welfare Department (JKM) said.

       It said matters including who is involved in the JKMPay programme, how it will be carried out and what services will be provided under this initiative was explained in detail.

       “The ministry through JKM will continue to boost the digitisation process of the public service in line with the Malaysian Digital Economy Blueprint under the 12th Malaysia Plan,” it said, adding that the aim of the blueprint is to speed up the delivery service to the public for their benefit.

       It was reported in January that the JKM will study the effectiveness of JKMPay, following protests by special interest groups over this particular method of aid disbursement.