Page 4 - Mainstreamer e-Magazine 01 June 2022 - Final (4)

BARRIER FREE SOCIETY
Addressing Challenges Faced by Blind And Visually Impaired Persons in

Using Bank Services and Banknotes

Nghiem
Dinh Dat

t is evident that blind and visually impaired For example, some commercial banks are willing
persons are facing several challenges in using to allow blind persons to use fingerprints when
Ibank services and banknotes. In Malaysia, opening bank accounts and give flexibility if blind
commercial banks do not understand the capability clients have any problems with their accounts.
and ability of blind and visually impaired clients. On the flip side, some other banks force blind
This eventually leads to their right to use bank persons to verify their accounts with a handwritten
services being denied. These banks automatically signature instead of a fingerprint. A handwritten
assume that blind people are a burden on family signature is very complicated if blind users have to
and society, and are incapable of earning money, repeat it when they face any problems with their
so there is no need for them to use banking accounts. There is a need of having a standard
services. procedure for the entire system of commercial
banks to serve blind customers.
Moreover, commercial bank managers and
staff believe that the blind community cannot
verify their accounts through a signature and take
responsibility for ensuring safe transactions. Since “
then, blind persons have been supposed to be a Section 26 and Section 30 of
risky group, not potential clients. Secondly, there is the Persons with Disabilities Act
a lack of facilities to support blind communities to 2008 also state that persons with
manage their banking transactions independently. disabilities equally have access to
For example, every automated teller machine service and information technology
(ATM) system in Malaysia has no audio support for in the proper format. However,
blind users to decide on transaction commands, so the law does not instruct what the
they have to ask for support from other customers
or the person accompanying them. appropriate format is, nor the level
of accessibility and the type of
Meanwhile, The Central Bank Act 2009 service that persons with disability
mentions nothing about accessibility features can access.”
for blind persons, including service provision
and currency design. For example, Sections 61- According to Section 13 of the Persons with
66 talk about banknote designs just considering Disabilities Act 2008, the National Council for
denominations, sizes, weights, designs, patterns, Persons with Disabilities can recommend changes
and other characteristics. However, there is no in a policy to meet the specific needs of persons
statement supporting blind users. Furthermore, with disabilities. However, does the National
the Central Bank has not issued any guidance or Council for Persons with Disabilities make any
circulation for commercial banks to work with recommendation in this particular matter? If
blind customers, causing different procedures in so, do relevant parties acknowledge such a
providing services to blind and visually impaired recommendation?
persons among commercial banks.
Section 26 and Section 30 of the Persons with

3 3 Vol. 01, Issue 1 | June 2022