Dr Noraishah Mydin Abdul Aziz, a spina bifida researcher at Universiti Malaya, is likely to be the first-ever person with disabilities (PwD) to contest in the country’s upcoming general election under Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), a party component of Pakatan Harapan.
The 47-year-old was born with spina bifida, a condition that affects the spine and is typically noticeable at birth. Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect (NTD).
“Today is the day! People with disabilities in Malaysia will get a fair chance. I am not going to back down.
“I am not a human who did not want to voice out. I am here for the Malaysians, for children such as mine,” the senior lecturer at the parasitology department in Universiti Malaya’s medical faculty said at the announcement of her candidacy recently.
She submitted her candidacy application when PKR’s deputy president Rafizi Ramli called for public submissions of candidates last month, adding that she was frustrated by the lack of opportunities in research by the current government and the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE).
“I’m the only person in this country with a functioning laboratory on neurotic defects. I published on neurotic defects regularly.
“Yet time and time again my cohort of researchers who applied for every single MOHE grant, fundamental research grants, long-time research grants and we have been denied! When the only thing I want to do is help children like me walk,” she said.
Dr Nuraishah received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
After graduating with a Masters in genetics, Dr Noraishah continued her studies at University of London at the Doctor of Philosophy level in the field of medical biotechnology (developmental neurobiology specialisation).
Noraishah’s candidacy was announced along with that of six other PKR candidates. PKR president Anwar Ibrahim stated Noraishah would fight for a parliamentary seat in the Federal Territories but did not specify which one.
A man at the press conference, believed to be a party supporter, reportedly heckled Noraishah and PKR, saying; “You’re still taking all these government servants to be politicians again, especially at universities. Go and do research. Don’t be involved in politics.”
Malaysia is set to head to the polls on Nov. 19.
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