The government today denied ignoring the welfare of the disabled who are involved in massage centre services after their income have been affected as the sector has not yet been allowed to operate.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he believed the group also benefited from the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (PRIHATIN).

"I believe the disabled are the ones who are definitely going to get attention, of course they are getting the attention of the government.

“I believe they will definitely be part of the group getting government aid when PRIHATIN is introduced and provided by the government. I believe they have been able to get help from PRIHATIN.

“In terms of their business, I understand ... I have also received requests from the organisations of the blind and they are asking that we can allow them to operate," he said at a press conference here Monday.

Commenting further, Ismail Sabri said the government had directed the National Security Council (MKN) to table the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the opening of massage centres that are not under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC).

“However, we have not yet received it from MKN, and we have just requested MKN to provide (the SOP). After the MKN has tabled it, we will see and ask the Ministry of Health (MOH) to see if it is working or not,” he said.