Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Disabled group still seeking friendlier facilities

MORE than two years have passed since 23 members of Beautiful Gate Centre for the Disabled cried out for disabled-friendly facilities at Kommuter Stations.

Unfortunately, their wait has been in vain, and on Mar 11, the group decided to bring their plight to the attention of the authorities again.

The centre’s director Sia Siew Chin, accompanied by Kepong MCA public service bureau chairman Yee Poh Ping, handed over a memorandum to the Transport Minister regarding the lack of disabled-friendly facilities at the KTM stations.

Sia said a few years had passed but nothing had been done to make the Kommuter stations more accessible for disabled passengers. This has, to some extent, limited their travelling options.

The minister’s political secretary Wong Kung Foo received the memorandum and acknowledged that facilities for the disabled in the country were still lacking.

“We understand about this lack in facilities and will wait for KTMB to send us a report on the matter and take it from there,” he said.

He said while it is desirable that all Komuter stations be disabled friendly, there are huge costs involved; something the rail services provider might not be able to afford right now.

“We are looking at measures that would make it easier for the disabled to commute, and at the same time does not involve huge costs. Of course, the government will have to come into the picture as well,” he said.

Source : http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2005/3/10401310.html

No comments: