Not built to specs, misuse by the able-bodied among issues

A worker at the Bukit Jalil Stadium says the features in toilets for people with disabilities often break down because of misuse by able-bodied folk.

METRO NEWS

Monday, 22 July 2024

DOZENS of toilets in the Klang Valley meant for people with disabilities (PwD) are not built to standard.

And many of those that were initially up to specification, have been vandalised or broken.

In some locations, repeated vandalism led building managements to permanently close these facilities and turn them into storage rooms.

Visits by StarMetro to public parks, train stations, MRT and LRT stations as well as other transportation hubs in the city discovered numerous issues.

This OKU toilet at the DBKL owned Kompleks Tun Sambanthan is not built up to specification as the hand rails and toilet bowl are too close and maneuvering the wheelchair will prove challenging.

Many toilets were missing seats or handlebars, or were simply not constructed to specifications.

Some had water leaking from the hand bidet, causing the floor to be wet and slippery.

One toilet in the KL Sentral transportation hub had a door so rusty that an able-bodied person found it difficult to open, so it would have been harder for a wheelchair-user.

Some disabled toilets were locked up due to constant breakdowns.

Cleaners who spoke to StarMetro expressed their deep frustration over the situation.

At a public toilet in Bukit Jalil Stadium, a cleaner complained about how such toilets had the tendency to break down twice a month like clockwork, because of able-bodied folk misusing them.

“The hand bidet just keeps breaking or leaking, causing water to pool around the cubicle all the time,” she said, pointing to a broken bidet.

“I have no idea why people don’t value public assets.”

There were two public toilets at the Bukit Jalil Recreational Park in Kuala Lumpur, with one disabled toilet but it was closed and the PwD signage had been removed.

“We could not cope with the frequent vandalism, so it is permanently closed,” a cleaner there said.

Many of the toilets in the train, MRT and LRT stations seem regular but would not have been acceptable to people with disabilities.

Many were in a state of disrepair and not up to standard.

At the MRT Phileo Damansara, water leaked from the bidet and there was a mop in the facility.

At the Rawang KTM station, the toilet was locked.

StarMetro accompanied a wheelchair-user and upon seeing the person with disability, the station staff was quick to provide the key when requested.

Inside, the toilet was spacious but the handrail was too far from the toilet bowl and the flip bar was broken.

At the public toilet on Jalan Perdana in Kuala Lumpur, the toilet had been turned into a mini storage room with brooms, mops and brushes left inside.