{
  "id": 14929108,
  "title": "Want OKU status? Here’s how the Welfare Dept evaluates applications",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/want-oku-status-heres-how-the-welfare-dept-evaluates-applications",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T10:18:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/16/want-oku-status-heres-how-the-welfare-dept-evaluates-applications/239367"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Social Welfare Department (JKM) in Malaysia outlines the process for registering persons with disabilities (OKU) in a recent statement. The registration process adheres to the OKU Registration Guidelines (2019 Amendment), which were developed jointly by JKM and the Health Ministry. The process involves medical specialists who sit on the OKU Registration Committee under the National Council for Persons with Disabilities. The guidelines ensure a professional, systematic, and criterion-based evaluation of an individual's functionality across seven domains, such as self-care, mobility, and dexterity. The OKU Registrar will not approve applications that fail to meet the criteria in the relevant domains. However, applicants have the right to appeal the decision under Section 24 (2) of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008. The department emphasizes that individuals requiring welfare support will receive due consideration based on their needs and existing policies, with a commitment to ensuring the well-being of vulnerable groups through appropriate aid and services tailored to individual needs.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Want OKU status? Here’s how the Welfare Dept evaluates applications",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/want-oku-status-heres-how-the-welfare-dept-evaluates-applications-14931523",
        "published": "2026-10-16T10:18:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}