However, to date, I am pleased to note that one issue has been resolved with regard to the plight of the visually impaired that they were sometimes denied access to own ATM cards and internet banking. The Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM) together with its council members have worked with the NCBM (National Council of the Blind) and as a result have now reached a solution that enables access to such services by the visually impaired individuals. This is indeed a positive step to move forward. However, there are other immediate needs that have not been addressed. For the banking industry, examples of such needs are: •  lower bank counters for wheelchair-bound customers  •  “Talking ATMs” for the visually impaired  •  availability of sign language interpreters for the deaf  •  the need for OKU-friendly bank website to enhance their accessibility to e-banking services, which would augur well with the initiative by Bank Negara Malaysia to promote the usage of e-banking. Banks are encouraged to provide websites which are W3C compliance. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international body that provides standards to enhance the web accessibility, enabling people with disabilities to participate equally on the Web, such as providing alternative text for images to allow accessibility by the visually impaired, providing text transcript to allow audio information accessible to the hearing impaired, and many other services.
As the Government has initiated various efforts to integrate people with disabilities into all aspects of life, the financial industry should also continue to play a more pro-active role in providing an enabling environment to ensure that their fundamental rights to have access to the banking and insurance products and services are actively promoted. Taking into account the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008, the financial industry are expected to give appropriate consideration and take necessary measures to ensure services and facilities are accessible by all in the OKU community. Clearly, these obligations signify our accountability and responsibility towards providing the necessary access for members of the OKU community and not to deny their rights to be included in our financial system. Moving forward, under the RMK11 recently announced, the Uniform Building By-Laws, 1984 is going to be strengthened with greater mandate to include the enforcement power of the authorities. With this possible enhancement to the legislation, the financial industry need to be ready to face this changing landscape whereby there is a possibility that action could be taken against those service providers that fail to provide the enabling environment to the OKUs. Against these backdrop of higher expectation from the OKU, stronger legislation and our aspiration of more inclusive financial system, today’s program provides a platform for us to further understand the needs of the disabled, to be more preemptive and anticipatory in our approach and to collaboratively work towards ensuring that the financial industry of Malaysia becomes completely disabled-friendly and truly inclusive.