Thursday September 15, 2011

A big step forward

Local councils get a nudge in the right direction.

SYABAS to Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil for playing an instrumental role last week in persuading the Cabinet to make a positive move in the interest of the country’s disabled community.

The minister succeeded in getting her colleagues to push for the appointment of people with disabilities (PWDs) in special committees in every local council.

This is to ensure that basic issues such as accessibility will no longer be overlooked and neglected by city and town council planners and engineers.

The move follows a similar directive given by Selangor Chairman of the Local Government, Study and Research Committee Ronnie Liu to all 12 local councils in the state earlier in the year.

I think it is great that both these politicians have put aside their party’s differences momentarily in such an exemplary way to focus on the handicapped community which is struggling with the most basic issues.

They have pointed out that if disabled people are ever going to catch up with the rest of the nation, it must start with the local councils.

To put it in a nutshell, when the disabled are able to use the pavements or access buildings with their wheelchairs, only then will they be able to find jobs, take care of themselves and live like the rest of society.

No amount of admonition from politicians is going to make a difference for the more than 10% of the population, coupled with the growing number of elderly citizens, if local councils do not get into the act.

As chairman of Petaling Jaya City Council’s technical committee on disability, here are some tips from MBPJ for those who are unsure of how to get a committee going or what to do after that:

> Choose your PWDs wisely. Although it is imperative to have people with handicaps in the meetings, make sure the ones you pick will be able to contribute. There is no time to lose, so do not get people who will just warm the seats. The ones picked must be serious, dedicated and knowledgeable. This may require some orientation and exposure of how councils operate to give each PWD an idea of what is expected of them.

> Have meetings once a month: There is so much to catch up on and monthly meetings will help to get things going.

> Have a wide and varied representation: Don’t only think of those in wheelchairs. It’s vital to get others like the blind, the deaf, people with learning disabilities, little people and even the elderly with physical problems. Don’t forget parents of PWDs, too. They often have great ideas but don’t have the opportunity to voice them.

> Invite active NGOs: Think of support groups for people with stroke, Parkinson’s and even epilepsy, not just people with physical disabilities or those in wheelchairs. People with walking disabilities have a lot to contribute, especially in the way pavements are designed. Having said that, don’t forget individuals with disabilities as well. Because many of them may have been locked away in their homes as the local councils had forgotten about their needs, they may present the best ideas.

> Provide or pay for their transport: This is the least councils can do for their invaluable input.

> Approve new buildings only when they get the blessing of the committee. The PWDs’ views should go hand-in-hand with the local councils’ engineering and planning department.

> Organise regular site visits: Each local council should organise regular visits to the new buildings during construction to make sure that everything is in order.

> Hold social awareness programmes: International Day for the Disabled on Dec 3 and other special days such as Parkinson’s Day, World Mental Health Day, Older Persons Day and White Cane Day are all excellent opportunities for local councils to highlight and involve the public.

> Exemplary certificates as recognition: Identify buildings, restaurants and even homes for the disabled and elderly that provide proper facilities and appreciate them for their deeds. This is a very effective way to get more outfits to create a better world for PWDs.

> Slow and steady will get you there: Don’t be in a rush to get everyone on board. You can invite them over the weeks and months. Starting small will also help you to make sure that you have the right people on board who can help you reach your target.

So to all the local councils everywhere: Good luck!

New Cheras bus terminal disabled-friendly

Disabled commuters can look forward to service with a smile at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

New Cheras bus terminal disabled-friendly

Disabled commuters can look forward to service with a smile at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

LAST week, we were pleasantly surprised to receive an invitation from Maju Terminal Management and Services (Maju TMAS), the operators of the new bus terminal, Terminal Bersepadu Selatan at Bandar Tasik Selatan (TBS-BTS) in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. They wanted us to check out the disabled-friendly features at the terminal.

Maju Holdings, the parent company of Maju TMAS, was awarded a design-and-build contract in November 2007. They had the mammoth task of constructing the RM570mil terminal within three years. The terminal would serve as an integrated transportation hub where the public can commute by bus, taxi and rail. Bandar Tasik Selatan was identified because of its ERL and Komuter rail lines.

The terminal which began operating at the start of this year, has replaced the newly renovated Pudu Raya bus station for all south-bound buses.

A key feature of TBS-BTS is the disabled-friendly facilities which also cater to the elderly.

Special service: Wheelchair-users can purchase tickets with ease at dedicated counters for the disabled and the elderly at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

So when I was invited to offer feedback on the company’s efforts in looking into the needs of handicapped users, I was quite excited.

As chairman of the disability technical committee of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), which offers advice on handicapped-friendly features to developers, I thought it would be a good idea to bring along some of my team members with disabilities, as well as MBPJ’s planning and engineering staff.

Now, I must admit that we were half-expecting to see things that were not in proper order at the terminal, because of past experiences with other outfits which promised the same thing but turned out to be the opposite.

But boy, were we in for a surprise! The first thing that we were thrilled to notice at the terminal were the guiding blocks for the blind. These bright yellow tiles with grooves in them – also called tactile flooring – help the blind find their way about independently.

If you live in KL or PJ, you are likely to notice more and more of them being built in the outside environment, especially on the pavements.

However, what is notable about TBS-BTS’ tactile flooring is that they are also placed inside the terminal. This is exactly how it should be done – both outside and inside.

Long stretches of tactile lines from outside of the terminal effectively lead blind commuters into the building all the way to the information and ticketing counters.

They are also designed to guide the visually impaired into the restrooms which are wheelchair-friendly.

Our blind technical expert was thrilled. He used his white cane to cover almost the entire building.

Most buildings that claim to be friendly to the blind, sadly stop short of providing tactile flooring inside the building. This leaves blind visitors at a loss over what to do next when they are inside. Although our expert is blind, he was quick to point out areas that could do with some improvement. Some of the tactile lines, for instance, were not continuous at entry points such as the doors. For some reason, the able-bodied designers had overlooked this.

There were also certain areas where the management had placed chairs, stand-up signs for the public to queue up or other obstructions close to the markings. Blind commuters may accidentally knock into them.

As for wheelchair-users, there were three of us, including me. We represented various degrees of handicaps and gave our views based on our personal experiences.

We pointed out that the “lowered public phone booths” were not low enough for our wheelchairs. Some of the fittings such as the sink, water closet and dustbin in the restrooms were more of an obstruction than a help.

However, overall the boys at TBS-BTS had done an amazingly good job. We appreciated their willingness to receive feedback from us in good faith.

They said our feedback was a challenge to them to strive to make their terminal even better for persons with special needs.

The best news was that the terminal staff would be trained to go the extra mile to help all disabled commuters.

We were told that even before commuters with disabilities could approach the respective counters, the staff would get to them first.

With its golden service and improvements in the pipeline, TBS-BTS is certainly headed in the right direction. Syabas!

Cabinet defers decision on KLIA 2 aerobridges

Cabinet defers decision on KLIA 2 aerobridges

Posted on 7 September 2011 - 05:47pm
Last updated on 8 September 2011 - 07:41am

Azril Annuar
newskdesk@thesundaily.com

PUTRAJAYA (Sept 7, 2011): The cabinet has deferred its decision on the installation of aerobridges at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA 2) low-cost carrier terminal pending further studies on the matter, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha today.

The cabinet will continue the feasibility study on installing aerobridges in response to the plight of the disabled community’s protest over Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad’s (MAHB) decision not to instal the aerobridges.

Kong had promised to bring up the matter to the cabinet after meeting 11 representatives from the disabled community yesterday, including non-governmental organisation (NGO).

“I brought up the issue during the discussion of the paper by (Women, Family and Community Development Minister) Datuk Seri Shahrizat (Abdul Jalil) that all public buildings must comply with disabled community friendly facilities.

“I met their representatives and I have informed the cabinet that KLIA 2 and generally all new main international airports need to have aerobridges. As the government, we must be caring and sympathetic to their needs,” Kong told theSun over a phone interview today.

However, Kong also said the Cabinet has “deferred making a decision, pending further studies on the matter”.

“This is the Cabinet’s decision. My stance on their plight is very clear. I am very sympathetic and I support their cause because the aerobridge can also be beneficial to others including pregnant mothers, infants and parents with infants and the elderly,” said Kong.

In a press conference earlier this week, Kong also said that KLIA is renowned worldwide as a first-class airport which means it should have “first-class facilities and not third-class facilities.”

The disabled community falls under the jurisdiction of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry. When asked whether its minister or any other members of the cabinet supported his proposal, Kong declined to comment.

Yesterday, 11 representatives from the disabled community met with Kong over the controversial decision by MAHB to forego the installation of 80 aerobridges at its new LCCT in KLIA 2 as it was not in line with AirAsia’s requirements and business model.

Its chairman Tan Sri Aris Othman said in July that the total cost for 80 aerobridges is around RM104 million. The RM2 billion KLIA 2 is expected to be completed in the second half of this year with an annual capacity 30 million passengers.

Thursday September 8, 2011

Harrowing experience

IT is most encouraging to see more disabled-friendly features popping up in buildings everywhere. Parking lots for the disabled, complete with ramps leading into the building, and disabled-friendly restrooms are a welcome sight for anyone with a disability.

However, a recent episode taught me a sober lesson about handicapped-friendly buildings: disabled-friendly designs are only good if the service providers are prepared to take the extra step to reach out to those with special needs. There is no point in having handicapped-friendly facilities and simply expecting things to naturally fall into place.

At the start of the Raya-Merdeka holidays, I drove over to a hypermarket in Shah Alam to do some last-minute shopping and take advantage of the sale.

I was disappointed to see that parking lots for the handicapped were occupied by non-disabled drivers. There were no security guards to stop able-bodied drivers from occupying the said lots.

And that’s not all. I had to wait for about 15 minutes for the occupant of the handicapped-friendly toilet to finish doing the needful. And when he was done, out came a young man of about 30 who did not look disabled, unless he had a learning disorder or mental disability that was not visible.

However, I will not insult my intellectually-challenged brothers and sisters for I know them well. They have no need to use a loo meant for the physically disabled.

When I went into the toilet, it was filled with cigarette smoke which made me choke and cough.

The big disabled logo on the door belied the actual situation of the restroom. The fittings were not properly maintained. The pipes were not working properly, the toilet seat was filthy, and the grab bars were shaky, making it dangerous for users.

Just when I thought I had seen everything, the door burst open (indicating the lock was not working) and a man with a bewildered look stood in front of me with his fly half open.

He was clearly shocked to see me, and I was startled, too. I realised later that he was an employee of the hypermarket.

When I insisted on making a complaint, I was asked to wheel myself for about a hundred metres to meet the supervisor at the counter. Of course, the most sensible thing was to ask her to meet me where I was.

No one called me to apologise for the goof-ups the next day.

But my story does not end here. Within 24 hours, I was back at the hypermart to collect something I had forgotten the previous day.

This time, I took along a friend. I waited in my car as he dashed into the hypermarket to get the item, but disaster struck again. My car battery died, and I had to wait for more than an hour for help to arrive.

In the 30-odd minutes that my friend took before he returned, I felt vulnerable. I felt trapped in my car, invisible and all alone in an awkward spot.

When my friend returned, he managed to get some staff members to push my car to a safer spot. Even then, the staff were obviously not trained to respond to an SOS situation involving a disabled person.

It would have been helpful if they had asked: “Are you all right, sir?” or “Do you need assistance to go to the restroom?”

Heck, even a cuppa would have gone a long way to calm my frazzled nerves.

Court Action Against Disabled-Friendly Violaters On The Way

Story & Pictures Courtesy from Petpositive

Court Action Against Disabled-Friendly Violaters On The Way

PETPOSITIVE THERAPY CENTRE, PETALING JAYA:

MALAYSIANS WITH DISABILITIES will finally be able to seek the help of the courts when their rights are violated.

Efforts to make this happen is being initiated by three key persons from the disability and legal fields.

The persons were two local councillors from thePetaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Jeyaseelen Anthony and Anthony Thanasayan together with disabled activist Francis Siva.

They met in Kuala Lumpur last week to study the2008 Persons with Disabilities Act in Malaysia in order to see how the important piece of legislature can have bite in it.

Jeyaseelen about on his MBPJ duties

"There is a urgent need for the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to be protected," said Jeyaseelen (left in red) to PET+BLOGSPOT.

"The PWD Act provides for the protection of disabled person's rights but sadly, it's enforcement by the authorities is far from satisfactory," he added.

Jeyaseelen who is also a consultant at the Faculty of Law in University Malaya in in the capital went on to point out that schools, public buildings, parks and others, are still not disabled friendly despite the existence of the Act.

"The National Council for PWDs - despite being formed three years ago - has yet to come forward with proposals and recommendations over these issues - something which they are mandated to do under the Act.

"We need action; not just talk on the part of the authorities.

"The Act needs to be given life," Jeyaseelen stressed.

Court is best says Francis

Francis (right) who serves as president of theIndependent Living and Training Centre in Rawang, Selangor, lamented that he is fed up of the prevalent mentality among the public and in the government that disabled people are a charity case.

"It is high time that the public sees us as equal citizens with the able-bodied," he said, adding that "starting court action is one of the most powerful and effective way to demonstrate this."

Francis made his remarks immediately after the group held their meeting in Mid Valley Megamall last Monday.

Ready to support

Anthony Thanasayan who is also President of PETPOSITIVE says that his NGO is more than happy to lend their support to a worthy cause such as this.

Thanasayan said the group is planning to check out several new school buildings as its first project to see if it is accessible to wheelchair users.

If the facilities are found to be lacking, the team will promptly write to the Ministry of Education and demand an explanation before taking the matter to court.

Watch this space for more on this exciting development.

ILTC Charity Concert - Wheelchair Dance

Our women 'a force for unity'

Our women 'a force for unity'

2011/08/24

By Suganthi Suparmaniam

suganthi@nst.com.m

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil (centre) speaking to members of a non-governmental group for the disabled recently.

KUALA LUMPUR: History has proved that women possess the ability to bring changes and lead peace movements as they are natural agents of peace and unity.

Keeping this in mind the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has chosen "Women: A Force for Unity" as the theme for this year's National Women's Day.

"We want to convey that women are powerful agents of peace and unity.

"As women, we pledge individually and institutionally to strengthen and safeguard our rights.

"An empowered woman is an asset to herself, her family and her country," said Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil in a recent interview.

This year's National Women's Day honours the outstanding achievements of two women through The Prime Minister's Award for Woman Entrepreneur and The Prime Minister's Award for Woman Social Activist.

The celebration also highlights the ministry's achievements over the years.

Particularly significant is a policy which requires a minimum of 30 per cent women at decision-making level in the public sector beginning 2004.

Since then, the number of women in decision-making positions has almost tripled.

Of particular significance is the increase of women officials at the JUSA (premier grade) level from 18.8 per cent in 2004 to 32.3 per cent last year.

Women in Malaysia have come a long way. Many of them are holding high positions as rectors and vice- chancellors of public universities, secretaries-general of ministries and Syariah court judges. Even Bank Negara governor and the Securities Commission chairman are women.

The ministry was also instrumental in the 2002 amendment to the Pensions Act 1980 which allows widowers who remarry to continue receiving pension and the Land (Group Settlement Areas) Act 1960 which allows wives or ex-wives or the settler's heirs to be part of land schemes and to become land owners.

In the area of women's health, the ministry has worked tirelessly to promote a healthy lifestyle, including mammogram testing for early detection of breast cancer. To make mammogram available to all women, including the poor, a subsidy of RM50 per person was introduced for those earning below RM5,000 a month over the age of 45.

This subsidy was given added value when the ministry came up with another scheme where external breast prostheses and special brassieres were made available to breast cancer patients. The scheme came with a government allocation of RM4.3 million a year.

The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007 was the result of continuous advocacy and the ministry continued to raise the issue until the Attorney-General and Home Affairs Ministry were asked to draft an act.

The act was passed in Parliament in 2007 and the ministry was put in charge to protect and rehabilitate trafficked victims who are women and children.

To date, three shelters have been set up for such victims.

Other notable achievements include amendment of immigration law where children born overseas to Malaysian women and their foreign husbands are awarded citizenship; amendment of the Penal Code to increase the penalty for rape to a maximum of 30 years' jail, 15 years for incest and if the victim dies, the death sentence.

The National Women Policy and Women's Development Action Plan was passed on July 22, 2009, and launched by the prime minister on Aug 29, 2009. It aimed to accelerate the achievement of gender equality in line with the country's international commitment to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Beginning mid-October last year, the government had extended maternity leave of civil servants from 42 days to 90 days.

The appointment of senior officers as Gender Focal Points (GFP) at all ministries is also a hallmark of the ministry's efforts over the years. As GFPs, these officers will assist the ministry in ensuring that gender equality is implemented within all government agencies.

Read more: Our women 'a force for unity' http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/25sut/Article/#ixzz1W2ERxAYR

Full of Kar1sma

2011/08/25

Full of Kar1sma

By Farrah Naz Karim
farrah@nst.com.my

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (centre), flanked by his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, with representatives of groups who will get aid under the Kar1sma programme in Putrajaya yesterday. — NST picture by Izhari Ariffin

RM1.4b welfare programme will help 500,000 people, says PM

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday launched the RM1.4 billion welfare programme, Kar1sma, for 500,000 people.

He said the poor, elderly, handicapped, single mothers and underprivileged groups would benefit from monthly payouts of between RM100 and RM450.

The programme also set aside RM4.1 million for about 2,000 widows of military personnel and policemen.

Described as a “newly branded welfare programme for the people”, Kar1sma will provide skills training for the said groups to improve their lives and instil independence in them.

“We have people who need help. If there are no government intervention programmes like this, they will be sidelined. “This is one of the pillars of Gagasan 1Malaysia in upholding social justice.

These people will not only be helped financially, they will also be given new skills and mindsets to help themselves and contribute to the countr y.” Najib said the programmewas initiated under the Government Transformation Programme to ensure these people were not left out of the nation ’s growth.

While some countries reduced allocations for pensioners and welfare programmes, he said, Malaysia not only continued to help the needy, but also increased funds for them.

“We will reach out to about 500,000 people. Don’t make one-off contributions and go around telling the whole world about it.

“The Barisan Nasional government is committed to helping underprivileged Malaysians on a monthly basis.

“This shows our commitment to the people and that we will uphold social justice.” Last year, the government spent RM1.2 billion, through welfare programmes, to help 424,000 people.

The largest group of recipients are senior citizens, who make up 30 per cent.

Present were Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and representatives of groups who will receive the aid.

Shahrizat said the programme would help the underprivileged break out of their cycle of hardship.

She added that the programme complemented other government initiatives, including health benefits for the needy.

In identifying the recipients, she said the ministry, through its agencies, stressed on the efficiency of application processes, including removing red tape.

Read more: Full of Kar1sma http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/FullofKar1sma/Article/#ixzz1W2CZEXs8

Thursday August 25, 2011

Be more helpful

Do not turn a blind eye to the needs of the visually impaired.

LIVING life as a blind person is something few people understand, except for the blind themselves. Blindness can strike anyone at any time, with little or no warning. When it happens to an adult, the experience is often devastating.

But it isn’t only the blind person who suffers. The trauma is also frequently and deeply felt by family members and loved ones of the affected individual.

For those who lose their sight when they are much older, coping with blindness is not easy at all.

My friend, Yam Tong Woo, 57, from Sungai Buloh, Selangor, knows about the condition all too well when he suddenly became blind three years ago.

We were chatting about it only last week. He remembers the incident as if it took place yesterday.

Yam was working in Kunming, China, as the general manager of a heavy machinery company when he fell ill and lost his eyesight.

“My life was plunged into total darkness and the future looked bleak,” said Yam.

Unfortunately, the doctors he sought were of no great help.

“I approached a well-known association for the blind for help on how to cope with blindness, but the association wasn’t much of a help,” Yam lamented.

He started looking for answers himself. The Internet proved to be a lifeline in times of crisis.

“I learnt how to use the white cane which is a very important aid for those who are newly blind,” Yam pointed out.

“Later I discovered how very different it is for disabled people in overseas countries. In Australia, for instance, the government takes a special interest in looking into the needs of aging blind citizens. No one is denied help, no matter how old they are, especially if they are people with disabilities.

“Regardless of an individual’s age, everyone is given a fair chance to be rehabilitated. In Australia, losing one’s sight at 54 is considered young,” said Yam.

Counselling for the blind is virtually unavailable in Malaysia.

“Even our NGOs don’t provide such a service. As a result, many newly blind people and their caregivers do not get the support and advice they need to cope with their condition.

“Assistive technology for the blind – such as screen reader software that converts text to speech in order for the blind to access the Internet – is much too expensive for the blind.”

Yam said this sad state of affairs is regretful when information technology is meant to empower the blind so that they can live independently. With National Day round the corner, Yam has the following three wishes for the blind community:

> There should be support for the elderly who lose their sight. It is even more traumatic for the blind person and his family members, if they do not get proper support and counselling. The various NGOs – as well as government centres – should buck up and provide a help centre for such persons.

> Doctors should arm themselves with knowledge on the blind. Every blind person who comes to them for help should be directed to the local NGOs. Every eye doctor should be trained on how to deal with blind people, instead of just treating their condition. Showing compassion alone doesn’t really help a blind person.

> The environment – both outside and inside buildings – should be made blind-friendly by the local councils. Members of the public should also play a supportive role and treat the blind like human beings and not aliens from outer space. Be courteous and do not knock into them in crowded places.

Always respect the white cane which is an international symbol of the blind.

When in a lift, allow the blind to get in first and get out as well. And when you see the blind trying to find their way about, always come forward to help instead of just staring at them.

Thursday August 25, 2011

RM1.4b fund to help the needy

By ZUHRIN AZAM AHMAD
zuhrinazam@thestar.com.my

PUTRAJAYA: A RM1.4bil fund to help the underprivileged has been launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The 1Malaysia People's Welfare Programme, or Karisma, is expected to benefit about 500,000 people, comprising senior citizens, the disabled, children and single mothers.

He said the recipients would each receive between RM100 and RM450 per month.

“I am also happy to announce that widows of policemen and soldiers are also eligible for aid.

“This is the Government's appreciation to the Armed Forces and policemen for their contributions and sacrifices,” he said during the launch of the programme at his office here yesterday.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

Under the Karisma programme, RM332mil is allocated to the disabled, RM290mil to underprivileged children, RM455mil to senior citizens, RM4.1mil to widows of police and army personnel and RM303mil to fund community-based programmes.

Najib said the initiative was part of the Government's continuing efforts to improve the standard of living of the poor and ensure that no Malaysian was excluded from enjoying the country's wealth.

He added that the programme was the Government's initiative to uphold social justice, which was one of the main pillars of the 1Malaysia concept.

“We have changed the direction and focus of the Government through the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and we have identified a large part of our community that needs help so they can become independent.

“The underprivileged represents a large group of the community and without government intervention, they will remain marginalised and we will have failed to uphold social justice,” he added.

Najib said while the economic growth of certain countries had contracted and others were slashing the pensions of their retirees and welfare aid, Malaysia has been able to provide, and even increase, financial aid to the underprivileged.

“We in Malaysia are not only able to carry on with the (welfare) programmes but also provide higher allocations for the needy.

“I hope that those who receive aid will be inspired with new hope, skills and spirit so that they will be able to contribute to their future and that of the country,” Najib said.

Shahrizat said some 2,000 widows of policemen and servicemen would benefit from the programme.

She added that this group would also be provided with a launching grant to start their own businesses.

Thursday August 18, 2011

New Cheras bus terminal disabled-friendly

Disabled commuters can look forward to service with a smile at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

LAST week, we were pleasantly surprised to receive an invitation from Maju Terminal Management and Services (Maju TMAS), the operators of the new bus terminal, Terminal Bersepadu Selatan at Bandar Tasik Selatan (TBS-BTS) in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. They wanted us to check out the disabled-friendly features at the terminal.

Maju Holdings, the parent company of Maju TMAS, was awarded a design-and-build contract in November 2007. They had the mammoth task of constructing the RM570mil terminal within three years. The terminal would serve as an integrated transportation hub where the public can commute by bus, taxi and rail. Bandar Tasik Selatan was identified because of its ERL and Komuter rail lines.

The terminal which began operating at the start of this year, has replaced the newly renovated Pudu Raya bus station for all south-bound buses.

A key feature of TBS-BTS is the disabled-friendly facilities which also cater to the elderly.

Special service: Wheelchair-users can purchase tickets with ease at dedicated counters for the disabled and the elderly at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

So when I was invited to offer feedback on the company’s efforts in looking into the needs of handicapped users, I was quite excited.

As chairman of the disability technical committee of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), which offers advice on handicapped-friendly features to developers, I thought it would be a good idea to bring along some of my team members with disabilities, as well as MBPJ’s planning and engineering staff.

Now, I must admit that we were half-expecting to see things that were not in proper order at the terminal, because of past experiences with other outfits which promised the same thing but turned out to be the opposite.

But boy, were we in for a surprise! The first thing that we were thrilled to notice at the terminal were the guiding blocks for the blind. These bright yellow tiles with grooves in them – also called tactile flooring – help the blind find their way about independently.

If you live in KL or PJ, you are likely to notice more and more of them being built in the outside environment, especially on the pavements.

However, what is notable about TBS-BTS’ tactile flooring is that they are also placed inside the terminal. This is exactly how it should be done – both outside and inside.

Long stretches of tactile lines from outside of the terminal effectively lead blind commuters into the building all the way to the information and ticketing counters.

They are also designed to guide the visually impaired into the restrooms which are wheelchair-friendly.

Our blind technical expert was thrilled. He used his white cane to cover almost the entire building.

Most buildings that claim to be friendly to the blind, sadly stop short of providing tactile flooring inside the building. This leaves blind visitors at a loss over what to do next when they are inside. Although our expert is blind, he was quick to point out areas that could do with some improvement. Some of the tactile lines, for instance, were not continuous at entry points such as the doors. For some reason, the able-bodied designers had overlooked this.

There were also certain areas where the management had placed chairs, stand-up signs for the public to queue up or other obstructions close to the markings. Blind commuters may accidentally knock into them.

As for wheelchair-users, there were three of us, including me. We represented various degrees of handicaps and gave our views based on our personal experiences.

We pointed out that the “lowered public phone booths” were not low enough for our wheelchairs. Some of the fittings such as the sink, water closet and dustbin in the restrooms were more of an obstruction than a help.

However, overall the boys at TBS-BTS had done an amazingly good job. We appreciated their willingness to receive feedback from us in good faith.

They said our feedback was a challenge to them to strive to make their terminal even better for persons with special needs.

The best news was that the terminal staff would be trained to go the extra mile to help all disabled commuters.

We were told that even before commuters with disabilities could approach the respective counters, the staff would get to them first.

With its golden service and improvements in the pipeline, TBS-BTS is certainly headed in the right direction. Syabas!