WHICH is more surprising? That there are an estimated 4.5 million disabled Malaysians or that less than eight per cent of that 4.5 million are registered as disabled persons with the Welfare Department? Every year, the department releases the latest figures of registered disabled citizens, with exhortations for more to come forward and be counted. Yet, every year, the figure remains deceptively low ” official statistics give the impression that persons with disabilities (PWD) make up only one per cent of the population, instead of the more significant 15 per cent. Disability groups cite the lack of tangible benefits as a disincentive for registering. Why bother trying to fulfil the various bureaucratic criteria just to satisfy statisticians?
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