Mapping Joy, Pleasure and Community: Peoples in Malaysia and the Philippines' Voices on Feminist Internet

Introduction

With a population of 33 million, Malaysia is multi-ethnic and multi-religious, and these factors—race, religion, and nationality—hold significant influence over policy decisions, legal frameworks, and access to rights. Governed as a constitutional monarchy with a federal parliamentary system, Malaysia recognises Islam as its official religion, while the state plays a central role in regulating matters related to public policy, including disability rights.

This positions Malaysia as a country with a unique yet complex socio-political structure. These complexities shape how Malaysians live and navigate their daily realities—and for persons with disabilities (PWDs), this extends to how they engage with their environments, whether built, digital, or social.

While the country is classified as an upper middle-income country by the World Bank, but ground reality proves that development has not been equal across all regions. We see its urban centres have expanded rapidly, while many rural and remote areas, particularly in East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), lack adequate infrastructure, public services, and economic opportunities. The East and West Malaysia, both have distinct histories, cultures, and geographic landscapes, shaping different lived experiences. These regional disparities extend to access to digital connectivity, education, healthcare, and employment. These gaps are more pronounced for marginalised and underrepresented communities such as PWDs and our indigenous people.

On the front of disability rights, Malaysia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on 19 July 2010, committing to the universal principles of non-discrimination, accessibility, and the full inclusion of PWD into the society. However, the Malaysian government entered reservations on Articles 15 (freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment) and 18 (liberty of movement and nationality), citing inconsistencies with domestic laws and policies. Despite over 13 years since ratification and at the time of this report, Malaysia has yet to submit its first state report to the CRPD Committee, reflecting a lack of commitment to implementation and accountability.

The Persons with Disabilities Act (PWD Act) 2008 was enacted to protect and promote the rights of PWD, but it lacks enforceability as it does not provide for penalties or mechanisms to ensure compliance. Although efforts to revise the PWD Act, including proposals to strengthen enforcement provisions and introduce anti-discrimination clauses, have been initiated, no significant amendments have been passed to date. Additionally, the National Plan of Action for Persons with Disabilities 2016-2022 has expired, and a renewed plan has not yet been formally introduced, leaving a policy vacuum that continues to impede progress and monitoring.

The state of rights for persons with disabilities (PWD) in Malaysia is marked by systemic challenges and limited progress, reflecting the need for stronger measures and greater inclusion. Official data indicates that only 1.6% of the population, or about 537,000 individuals in Malaysia, are registered as persons with disabilities (Source). However, it is believed these numbers are significantly understated due to barriers in outreach and societal stigma, rather than the prevalence of disabilities themselves (Source).

The PWD community in Malaysia face widespread discrimination and significant obstacles in accessing education, employment, healthcare, and public spaces, all of which prevents them from being able to participate in society on an equal basis with others. Workforce participation among PWD is critically low, with only around 4,500 employed in public and private sectors as of 2018, mainly due to inaccessible work environments and negative employer perceptions (Source). Financial support is also inadequate, with monthly disability allowances ranging between RM300 and RM400—insufficient to meet basic needs (Source)​.

Although Malaysia is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), implementation remains weak. For instance, despite policy commitments like the “OKU Act” proposed in 2023, gaps in enforcement and funding prevent meaningful improvements (Source). The absence of legal protection against discrimination means that PWD continues to face systemic exclusion in multiple aspects of life. The physical environment, public transport, and information access remain largely inaccessible for the PWD community (Source). Furthermore, while Malaysia has a comprehensive digital infrastructure, accessibility barriers persist, limiting PWDs’ full participation in online spaces.

Malaysia has one of the highest internet penetration rates in Southeast Asia, with approximately 96.8% of the population having access to the internet. While this digital infrastructure provides opportunities for autonomy and inclusion for PWDs, it also exposes gaps in accessibility. Many online platforms and digital services fail to account for diverse disabilities, including cognitive, visual, and hearing impairments. Additionally, Malaysia’s regulatory environment on digital expression, including increased state control over online content, has implications for how disabled individuals engage in digital spaces.

While the internet and digital technologies have provide greater autonomy to the PWD community by enabling access to online learning, job opportunities, and social networks, which were previously difficult due to physical barriers (Source). However, challenges still remain, particularly with ensuring universal access to technology, affordability of internet services, and accessibility of digital platforms for all types of disabilities. Despite the country’s high internet penetration rate, research on how PWDs engage and navigate with digital spaces remains limited, particularly in areas related to self-expression, identity formation and access to pleasure and joy. Disability rights discussions often focus on structural issues like employment and accessibility, leaving out crucial aspects of digital agency.

This report seeks to bridge that gap. As a way to fill this void, we interviewed three PWDs in Malaysia, capturing their lived experiences in navigating digital spaces. By centering their narratives, this report aims to provide a more holistic understanding of how digital spaces serve as both opportunities and barriers for PWDs. These case studies will serve as a foundation for future advocacy efforts, ensuring that discussions on disability rights extend beyond institutional barriers to include the full spectrum of disabled individuals’ digital experiences. 

Language Use Disclaimer

This report seeks to use respectful and dignified language when referring to persons with disabilities (PWD), ensuring that we honour the ways in which individuals identify themselves. We recognise that language is deeply personal and evolving, and we have made a conscious effort to reflect this by using terminology aligned with a rights-based and person-centred approach.

Additionally, all direct quotes and personal accounts have been preserved in their original form to maintain the integrity of the participants’ voices and lived experiences as expressed during our interviews.

For accessibility, we have incorporated plain language in the majority of this report to ensure clarity and ease of understanding for a wider audience. This report was also reviewed by a disability inclusion consultant who identifies as an autistic woman, further ensuring that its framing and language remain respectful, inclusive, and aligned with the lived experiences of PWD.

In reflecting on the case studies we conducted with PWDs, it is evident that digital spaces have the potential to not only empower but also to bring joy to the community. 

However, making the digital space more accessible for PWDs requires a multi-faceted approach.

There is a need for more participatory research and conversations around how PWDs utilise and navigate the internet and digital spaces, especially regarding their digital rights. Expanding these studies will inform for a stronger foundation strong foundation for advocacy efforts, ensuring that the voices and lived experiences of the disabled community meaningfully inform the work, guiding efforts to define what constitutes equal and fair to them and helping shape policies and practices that truly reflect the needs of the PWD community. 

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) must continue to advocate for disability rights and adopt an intersectional approach in their work. This means recognising how factors such as gender, race, and socioeconomic, geopolitical status intersect with disability, further affecting the experiences of PWDs in the digital space. More awareness campaigns on disability rights and justice are needed to foster a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of disability within the general public. Such initiatives can challenge stereotypes and misconceptions, ultimately leading to meaningful social change and a more inclusive society—one that is empathetic, respectful, and without societal barriers that hinder the PWD community from participating meaningfully. 

But most importantly, we must continue to push for meaningful policy changes. Enacting pro-disability policies at the government level is crucial, as this will lay the groundwork for a more inclusive and disability-friendly Malaysia—one where PWDs can fully participate in both the digital and physical world without facing discrimination or barriers.