Malaysia plans to appoint disabled person to replace blind senator who died

From Bernama:

KUALA LUMPUR -- The government proposes to appoint a senator from among the disabled to fill the chair vacated by senator Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh (pictured), who died of a heart attack on Aug 27.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil told the Dewan Negara on Wednesday that the list of candidates would be submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for consideration.

She was replying to a supplementary question from senator Datuk Saripah Aminah Syed Mohamed who wanted to know whether the government would recommend another disabled person to fill the vacancy created by the death of Ismail, 61, who was the first disabled person to be appointed a senator.

Dr Ismail, a economist, was the first blind person to be awarded a doctorate.