Saturday November 27, 2010

Underpass not friendly to disabled

By ELAN PERUMAL
elan@thestar.com.my

THE contractor of the newly-completed flyover at Persiaran Sultan Ibrahim in Klang has come under fire for failing to provide facilities for the disabled at its pedestrian underpass in the area.

The Disabled Association of Klang has taken SPAZ Sdn Bhd to task for failing to keep to its promise.

Its chairman, Allan Tan, who is also a Klang municipal councillor, said SPAZ had agreed that the pedestrian underpass would be built with consideration given to the wheelchair-bound and people on crutches.

No help: The path that leads to the underpass does not have railings to support the disabled.

Tan said the underpass had failed to link the Mydin complex with a platform that would enable those on wheelchair to cross over.

He said a ramp should have been built so that the disabled would be provided with access to the underpass.

Tan said it had not been provided with hand railing and the path to the underpass was steep.

“It is dangerous for the wheelchair-bound to go up and down the steep path.

“Even people pushing the wheelchairs will find it difficult to go up the slope,’’ he said.

Huff and puff: Tan demonstrating how difficult it is to go up the steep path.

He said the council had made it clear that the underpass must be disabled-friendly.

“It is the responsibility of the government to cater to the needs of everyone, especially for public facilities,’’ he added.

Tan said the council had brought the matter to the attention of the contractor.

The underpass was built as part of the RM32.3mil flyover which connected Persiaran Sultan Ibrahim to the Kota Bridge.

The work on the flyover, which included the construction of a new roundabout near the Metro Plaza, was completed after a year’s delay.