Penang to make public transport disabled-friendly by 2010

Published: Thursday December 11, 2008 MYT 1:20:00 PMUpdated: Thursday December 11, 2008 MYT 3:52:55 PM

Penang to make public transport disabled-friendly by 2010

GEORGE TOWN: Penang will be the first Malaysian state to conduct a full audit of its public transport facilities while it develops a comprehensive blueprint to improve the access and mobility of people with disabilities by 2010.

The initiative to boost the economic and social independence of those with disabilities, will be done through a two-year pilot project by the state’s Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNPD) to study how to create a barrier free public transportation in Penang.

UNPD Assistant Resident Representative James George Chacko said the ‘Transport for Persons with Disabilities - Support of the Development of Accessible Transport in Penang’ and its access audit on public buses, taxis, trains, ferries and airplanes as well as other infrastructures would lead to the development of a holistic transport improvement strategy that would in turn offer a framework for raising awareness levels in the general public.

“The audit will also look into pick-up points, road pavements and pathways emphasising on inter-connectivity. The findings of this audit will form the basis to develop an accessible public transport improvement master plan.

“The other initiatives to be undertaken in the coming months will include a demand responsive door-to-door transport service in Penang island; capacity building for disabled people in accessing public transportation; disability equality training for front line transport operators; training on access building requirements and universal design for contractors, architects and civil servants; designing a barrier-free bus stop model; and an awareness campaign,” he said at the launching ceremony of the UNPD-UPEN project at Dorsett Penang Hotel on Thursday.

Chacko also said the project was supported by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, and UNPD was confident with the project’s strong rationality, it would receive the necessary financial backing of the Federal Government.

“The project seeks to develop a ‘best practice’ model that we hope can be replicated nationwide,” he added.

State Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who launched the project, said the state government was also studying the possibility of drawing up a transport master plan and forming a state transport commission to serve as a one-stop agency responsible for planning, implementation and management if all transport issues in Penang.

“The necessary documents are currently being prepared for submission to the state executive council.

“We hope they will be ready by the end of the month or early next month before we start work on formulating the master plan, which we estimate will take one or two years to draw up and implemented,” he said.

Bernama

In need of facilities

Thursday December 11, 2008

In need of facilities
Wheel PowerBy ANTHONY THANASAYAN

Despite so much awareness created, only a few government bodies are making life easier for the disabled.

LAST week began with such a nightmare.

The one thing that most active persons in wheelchairs frequently worry about suddenly happened to me.

And of all things, it happened on Dec 3, the day each year on which the world celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).

I was at a Government-sponsored function to observe the occasion when all hell broke loose.

A major war was going on inside my tummy, and I was about to explode. Generally, when a person in a wheelchair has to go, he really has to go!

My only consolation (or so I foolishly assumed at the time) was that I was fortunately in a disabled training centre with several hundred handicapped people.

Together with help from an able-bodied friend, we made a dash to the nearest restroom with a wheelchair logo. To our horror, there was no toilet bowl in it!

We raced to the only other men’s toilet at the other end of the building only to find a cramped space. Not only was it wrongly designed, but it was also poorly maintained.

There was no toilet seat or toilet rolls. There were not enough grab bars to hold on to and the one that was there was fixed at the wrong spot.

In fact, there would have been no way I could transfer myself onto the throne had my friend not been there to help.

The place was so tight that it was amazing how we managed to do it at all. My friend heaved and puffed and had to perform a couple of unbelievable acrobatic feats to finally get me out of my chair.

To prevent soiling my clothes, I was forced to strip down to my birthday suit with my helper in the cramped cubicle all the time because I could not reach the door to shut it.

To think that the IDPD’s focus this year was on “dignity and justice”, and here I was, ironically being robbed of both on an that particular day.

That unpleasant episode lasted for more than an hour. I felt even more guilty as I had prevented many other disabled people from using the facilities all that time.

Apart from the drama in the restroom, I was told that the ­disabled were not served at the meal table until some of them com­­plained about it. It was the VIP able-bodied persons who had the privilege of waiters attending to them.

It was also sad to note that all the official vans by the government used to transport their staff were not designed for wheelchairs.

One would have thought that after all the awareness created about disabled persons and their needs (including by the authorities), at least one or two vehicles would have such features by now.

On the contrary, I was inform­ed that currently none of the vehicles owned by the Govern­ment are wheelchair-friendly.

The next day, however, was much better.

This time, I found myself with a group of disabled persons in Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya.

We were there as part of a new initiative by the Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) to make the entire stretch of pavement on Jalan Gasing friendly to all persons, especially the disabled and the elderly.

The MBPJ project is part of the city council’s mission to create a liveable city for all its residents.

What this means is that the present pathway will have to undergo various changes. Narrow passageways will have to be widened to allow access to wheelchairs.

Proper kerb cuts will need to be provided to allow wheelchairs and prams to access the pavements. Bus stops will also need to be accessible.

Street furniture will have to be rearranged. These include signboards, postboxes, lamp posts and even trees that cause obstruction to pedestrians.

Open drains will have to be covered so that the blind (and children) do not fall into them.

Tactile flooring to help the blind move about independently and traffic lights with audible alerts to tell them when to cross the road, will have to be provided.

Once these changes are implemented, the disabled will no longer feel imprisoned in their homes.

Even though there is presently no disabled-friendly public transport, they will at least be able to go out to the nearest shop, religious building or hospital like the rest of society.

The MBPJ project is expected to be completed by next March.

Disabled folks need our respect

Tuesday December 9, 2008

Disabled folks need our respect

MARIAM Mokhtar made an excellent point in the article “Time to heighten plight of the disabled” (The Star, Dec 4).

I wholly agree that International Day for the Disabled should be something we need to not only celebrate but also to show our respect, kindness and admiration for the disabled.

It is disheartening to know how a country like Malaysia still harbours a backward attitude when it comes to the disabled community.

I am baffled that Malaysia is not disabled-friendly and that society is not empowering the disabled community at all.

It makes me angry to see a few ignorant Malaysians do nothing but stare at a disabled person venturing out in public for everyday chores.

In Britain, where I come from, the only response you get for staring at a disabled person is either a rude gesture or a good scolding.

Disabled individuals have feelings and rights to be treated with dignity and respect like their able-bodied counterparts.

They don’t need to be stared at, teased or be made fun of.

How would you feel if you were a disabled person where you have to endure a barrage of insults and rude stares by others?

Helen Keller, Rick Allen, Kristi Yamaguchi, Ian Dury, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Stephen Hawking, Louis Braille, David Blunkett, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Cameron Leslie. What do these 11 persons have in common?

They are all not just famous for their achievements and talents but have also proven that their disabilities do not impede them from achieving success in life.

It shows that disabled individuals can be as successful as their able-bodied counterparts as long as we give them the support they need.

It is about time that Malaysians stopped thinking that disabled people cannot make a useful contribution to society, the economy and social issues.

CHRISTOPHER K. BIRCH,

Kuala Lumpur.

All senior citizens can take advantage of free transport

Monday December 8, 2008





All senior citizens can take advantage of free transport

I REFER to “Offer free transport to all senior citizens” (The Star, Nov 17) which raised the question as to why transportation for senior citizens is only provided at old folks homes that are registered.

The allocation of 11 vans to the Day Care Centres for the Elderly is a pilot project implemented by the Social Welfare Department Malaysia (JKMM) through a smart partnership programme with an NGO, Majlis Pusat Kebajikan Semenanjung Malaysia (MPKSM).

These vans are placed at the Day Care Centres for safety and maintenance purposes. Any local senior citizen who may have the need to use these vehicles to seek treatment at local clinics or hospitals may make a request to MPKSM by calling these lines – 03-2274 3714 or 03-2274 9918 .

However, this facility is provided only for senior citizens who have physical disabilities or live alone and do not have guardians/family members who can assist them to seek treatments at clinics or hospitals.

This is part of the JKM’s role in ensuring the well-being of all underprivileged senior citizens.

We will continue to do our best to ensure that they are well cared for and can live more comfortable and fulfilling lives.

HELYA MAIZUREEN HASHIM,
Public Relations Officer,
Department of Social Welfare.

Disabled urged to register with Welfare Dept

Monday December 8, 2008

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Home > News > Nation

Disabled urged to register with Welfare Dept

PETALING JAYA: Less than 1% of the disabled people in Malaysia are registered with the Welfare Department.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Noriah Kasnon said according to the World Health Organisation, an average of between five and 10% of a country’s population was made up of the disabled.

Impressive: Noriah (right) launching the Hilton Christmas Train in Petaling Jaya yesterday. Looking on (from left) are Hilton Petaling Jaya general manager Luc Bollen and organising chairman of the hotel’s GongxiDeeparayamas Charity Party V. Jayamurugan.

But our ministry only has 233,000 registered disabled members, which is less than one per cent,” she said after launching the Hilton Christmas Train yesterday.

She also attended the GongxiDeeparayamas Charity Party at the hotel.

Noriah encouraged the disabled to register with the department so that the ministry would have a clearer picture in assessing the disabled community’s situation.

She added that only 581 registered OKU (disabled people) were working in the public sector.

“OKU with a monthly income of less than RM1,200 would be entitled to apply for a RM300 incentive under the department’s scheme,” she said.

A monthly allowance of RM300 would also be given to caregivers of bed-ridden OKU with a total household income of less than RM3,000 per month. Noriah presented 25 charity homes with RM4,500 each at the event.

The donations were generated from the Fifth Hilton Christmas Train project which features a train display by lecturers and students from the University College Sedaya International School of Architecture and Built Environment.

PETALING JAYA - Lawatan

Christmas Celebrations (Open House)