Published: March 11, 2016
According to a report, able-bodied drivers have been buying these fake car stickers designating them as disabled and using them to take up precious parking bays in shopping centres.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 ― Disabled drivers in the country have yet another challenge to deal with, according to a news report revealing the sale of fake car stickers displaying their disability status as OKU, the Malay acronym for “Orang Kurang Upaya”.
The Star reported today that able-bodied drivers have been buying these fake car stickers designating them as disabled and using them to take up precious parking bays in shopping centres.
Damai Disabled Person Association Malaysia president V. Murugeswaran said the Road Transport Department only gives out the genuine OKU stickers after assessing the condition of disabled drivers.
“We are sad that there is also a lack of enforcement by the local authorities. It seems that the irresponsible drivers are not worried about being fined,” he was quoted saying.
He said the authorities should impose harsher punishments to discourage able-bodied drivers from taking up the parking slots dedicated to the disabled, also suggesting the installation of machines that can instantly send photos of cars without genuine stickers to the police or local authorities.
According to the paper, members from Murugeswaran’s association had lamented about the challenges faced in finding parking slots in shopping centres in the Klang Valley.
Disabled parking bays in malls are usually limited in number, and are also located closer to the entrance for convenience.
The paper said hardware shops have been found selling the unauthorised stickers for around RM7 to RM20.
H.C. Chan, the Malaysian Shopping Malls Association advisor, was reported saying that little could be done if a car with the disabled sticker is seen, but added that security guards can take action if they see an able-bodied person parking in the OKU parking slots.
Recently, a man’s Facebook complaint against a security guard who refused to let him and his wife park at shopping mall KLCC’s “ladies-only” parking zone went viral. The couple later apologised over the incident.