No disabled-friendly pathways, uphill road and curbs that are too high among complaints by people on wheelchairs.
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 30 wheelchair-bound persons gathered in front of Mid Valley Megamall’s North Court entrance, demanding a permanent solution for the lack of disabled-friendly accessibility to the mall.
The peaceful demonstration which later took place in front of the KTM Mid Valley station was attended by two NGOs, Dual Blessing and Damai Disabled Person Association Malaysia (Damai).
Damai President V Murugeswaran told reporters that the lack of disabled-friendly pathways between the train station and the mall was one of the main reasons for their protest today.
Murugeswaran said that many of them rely on public transport to go to the mall, and were dismayed that they had to risk their lives to cross an “unforgiving” traffic to get across to the mall as there are no appropriate pedestrian walkways which connect the train station and the mall at present.
“Also, the curbs to get down the road are simply too high for wheelchairs.
“The cars won’t stop or slow down and we always have to ask for help in order to get across.”
It was observed that two auxiliary police officers were stationed by the mall’s management near the train station to assist the disabled when crossing the road.
An auxiliary officer told reporters that most of the time they helped carry those on wheelchairs down the curb, as it was too high for them to get down by themselves.
Dual Blessing Executive Director Danny Tan said that many of them visit the mall because conferences, forums and other functions for the disabled were held at the exhibition centre at the mall, as well as at hotels within the Mid Valley area.
Most of the time, they have to get a taxi or rely on family members in order to attend these events, Tan said.
“We want to be independent, that’s all we are asking for. We don’t want to burden other people.”
Murugeswaran said that he had highlighted this issue to KTM, but was told that “KTM was not in charge of this area”.
Subsequently, he contacted the mall’s management for a solution on the issue, but was instead given a number for the disabled to call whenever they need assistance in accessing the mall. Murugeswaran said the mall management told him that they will send an officer to help them get inside.
“Not all disabled people have their (mall) number. So, we are demanding for a solution, so that this problem can be solved once and for all.”
Murugeswaran said that the appropriate solution for this matter, was to build a direct link between the mall and the train station so that they would not have to endanger their lives by pushing their way through a busy uphill road.
“The train station was built way before the mall. Why didn’t they include the KTM in the mall in the first place?
“This is done in many developed countries so that it is easier for the disabled to come to the mall.”
Meanwhile, Damai Vice-President M Munusamy also pointed out that the disabled ramp outside the train station was simply too steep for them to use.
“It should have been a zig-zag ramp because this is too steep for us. It is dangerous.
“The gate to the ramp is locked all the time and we were told to call the mall workers to open the gate if we wanted to use it,” Munusamy said.
Munusamy also said that there is a five-inch gap between the train and the platform, thus posing a serious hazard to the wheelchair-bound when going in and coming out of the train.
Murugeswaran said that he had raised such issues when he represented the wheelchair community in meetings with public transport stakeholders between 2010 to 2014, but his concerns on the lack of better access in the city were not adequately addressed.
“We want to highlight this issue so that the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) and the other local government bodies will take into account our concerns in town planning.
“I hope after this, Mid Valley and DBKL are able to sit down together in a meeting to find a solution to this problem.
“I don’t mind joining the meeting to contribute ideas too.”