Feeling the discrimination

Monday, August 25, 2008

The Malay Mail - News

Feeling the discrimination
By Anu Venugopal An Act of hope?

The Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 has been gazetted and came into force on July 7. This is the first rights-based legislation for people with disabilities (PWD).

With the enforcement of the Act, PWDs will be able to enjoy better public transport facilities, amenities and services.

So many promises made but so little achieved, say disabled groups.

The able-bodied take it for granted, but to the disabled, getting around Kuala Lumpur is a never-ending nightmare.

Through their eyes, the streets of KL are full of obstacles and risks — steep and high pavements, slippery tiles, overhead bridges with narrow steps, poor traffic and transport conditions... and the list goes on.

Promises by the government and public transport companies that amenities will be disabled-friendly are not being adhered to, say the physically challenged.

"The government promised wheelchair-friendly public transport, but it has not been provided. The situation has not improved one bit," said Christine Lee, coordinator for the Barrier-Free Environment and Accessible Transport Group.

The group is an informal coalition of NGOs representing the interests of people with varying disabilities.

It has been fighting for the rights of the disabled since 1994 but Lee says there has been little improvement to the infrastructure and public transport system in the Klang Valley.

"Out of 1,000 buses that were supposed to be disabled- friendly, only 100 buses can be accessed by the disabled. Even then, it is not easy for us to use these buses as it is just too difficult," said Lee.

"The ramps are too steep for people with wheelchairs to manoeuvre by themselves. Some bus drivers are kind enough to help out but if we are on our own, it is difficult.

"The disabled people in Malaysia are still facing barriers to being independent."

"We find it very difficult to move around on our own. There are barriers everywhere.

Pavements are too high for us to manoeuvre the wheelchair. Not many buses are disabled friendly. The ones that are 'disabled friendly' are not good enough."

Many of the disabled are disheartened with Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen's remarks that the disabled cannot expect the ministry to knock on doors and offer them jobs,

"We want to work and be independent, but how can we when the infrastructure such as roads and transport system make it difficult for us to move around?" asked Lee.

She believes that one of the ways the government could improve infrastructure and amenities for the group would be to consult the disabled.