Disabled by uncaring set-up

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia prides itself as a caring society, but its public transport system has been described as “shockingly disabled-unfriendly”.

And this censure comes from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, the ministry responsible for the welfare of the disabled, no less.

“I am shocked that disabled citizens, especially those who are wheelchair-bound, are unable to utilise public transport because little effort has been made to enable them to move about easily,” said parliamentary secretary Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.

“I think it is relevant that we keep public facilities and public transport disabled-friendly, and every one has a role to make this a reality, including transport providers and local councils.”















ENABLING THE DISABLED: Chew receiving a complaint from wheelchair-bound citizens near the Bangsar LRT bus station during a campaign protesting against an insensitive public transport system.

She said this at the Bangsar LRT station yesterday after witnessing a campaign to highlight problems faced by the physically disabled in using public transport.

During the campaign, some 30 wheelchair-bound people showed that it was impossible for them to get into a bus because of the steps and the fact that the door was too narrow for a wheelchair.

The campaign was organised by the Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled, Society of Chinese Disabled Persons Malaysia, Damai Disabled Persons' Association of Selangor and the Federal Territory and Malaysian Spinal Injuries Association.

Beautiful Gate executive director Sia Siew Chin said the disabled community was frustrated that repeated calls to make public transport disabled-friendly had long been ignored.

She cited the launch of Areas 5 & 6 of Rapid KL's new system on Saturday, noting that the new buses used to cover routes in Klang, Shah Alam, Subang Jaya, Damansara, Petaling Jaya, and Puchong did not address the needs of disabled people.

“Many often forget that we have rights too – and here we are talking about basic rights such as that to move about freely.

“We hope the Government will place some emphasis on our needs because we want to live independently and not be a burden to anyone,” she said.

Disabled people, she added, often had to rely on taxis but many taxi drivers refused to accept wheelchair-bound passengers.

According to her, the Kelana Jaya (formerly Putra) LRT line allows easy access while KTM Komuter is also accessible with some help but the other LRT lines and KL Monorail have “ignored our needs”.

Rapid KL corporate communications senior manager Katherine Chew said the company planned to import 100 buses with ramps that would enable boarding by wheelchair-bound passengers by December.

Source : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/9/25/nation/15533086&sec=nation