(Petaling Jaya, Thursday): I
have today sent a fax to the Rector of Universiti Islam Antarabangsa, Professor
M. Kamal Hassan, commending UIA for
agreeing to re-admit Nik Nor Ermiza Rozana Mustaffa, 20, who was earlier forced
to reject the offer of a place at UIA to continue her higher studies.
Ermiza,
who stands at only 94 cm, and who was born with other physical disabilities, had
earlier been told by the UIA authorities that they
could not assure her that she could have the environment to study well as there
are no facilities or personnel in
the UIA to assist her with her disabilities.
DAP
MP for Batu Gajah, Fong Po Kuan, a
graduate from UIA, was one of the first to champion Ermiza’s right to a place
in UIA despite her physical disabilities. Ermiza obtained five principals in
last year's Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) and was offered a place by
UIA earlier to read Syariah law.
In my
fax to the UIA Rector, I urged all universities
to have an affirmative action plan or programme in line with the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons adopted
by the United Nations General Assembly at its 37th regular session on 3 December
1982 to equalize educational opportunities for the disabled in full recognition
of their human rights and to ensure their
full participation in social life and national development through the provision
of active intervention and specialized services.
I
said Fong Po Kuan and the DAP leaders are prepared to help out in any way not
only with regard to Ermiza’s case but the whole question of creating greater
public awareness about the need for affirmative action programmes for persons
with disabilities to achieve equalization of educational opportunities
particularly in the public universities.
(11/7/2002)