DISABLED MALAYSIANS AND THEIR POLITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS: A PRELIMINARY SURVEY

Abstract

This paper discusses findings on political consciousness among disabled Malaysians before the Malaysian 14th General Election. We disseminate an online questionnaire through social media platforms. 98 respondents participated in the survey. The respondents consist of 60 male (61.2%) and 38 females (38.8%). A number of Malay respondents score the highest with 78 respondents (79.6%), following by Chinese with 11 respondents (11.2%), Indian with 7 respondents (7.1%) and Kadazan-Dusun with 2 respondents (2%). Our respondents comprise of individuals from each of impairment group recognized by the Malaysian government. 11 respondents (11.2%) report that they are not registered as a voter, 2 respondents (2%) report in the application process and 1 respondent (1%) reports being not eligible to register. We find that factors exhibit by individual candidates, such as their personality and contribution are the top voting orientation as well as the manifesto. Besides that, our respondents utilize social media and news as their information outlets in following local politics. Though our respondents show political consciousness in terms of voter registration and voting in the election, we find many of our respondents do not know that each political coalition includes issues on disabled persons in their manifesto. Our respondents are also not confident of each political coalition’s ability to keep their promises related to disabled persons’ issues in their manifesto. 72 respondents (73.5%) agree and strongly agree that disabled person runs as a candidate. Finally, 88 respondents (89.8%) agree and strongly agree that disabled persons’ issues must be included as part of political manifesto. We conclude this paper by discussing further research and capacity building programs to increase the political participation of disabled persons in Malaysia.