Malaysians, in general, agree that our public transport system is badly designed and poorly maintained. This makes it difficult for those who get around the city using public transport and this is especially true for the disabled community.
Recently, a Twitter user Pearly (@xxpearlyxx) shared a photo that showed a thousand words of how badly our public facilities are maintained. The photo was taken at the Ampang Park LRT station and it showed a man on crutches hobbling his way up the stairs.
The netizen felt sorry for him as he had to climb those stairs as the escalator has not been repaired since the fire incident last year.
Escalator & Lif Ampang Park rosak sejak tahun lepas. Kesian abang OKU ni kena panjat tangga.. @MyRapidKL pic.twitter.com/07wQ9WIJ3j
— It’s Me… (@xXpearlyXx) May 18, 2022
Ampang Park Station… Minggu lepas da repair, minggu ni rosak balik?? Apa benda lah contractor korang ni buat kerja?@AskRapidKL @MyRapidKL pic.twitter.com/PMXSmQFZ7t
— It’s Me… (@xXpearlyXx) January 19, 2022
Accompanying the picture, she tagged RapidKL and said, “The escalator and lift at LRT Ampang Park have been out of order since last year. I pity this OKU brother who has to climb the stairs.”
Following the netizen’s complaint, RapidKL said the lift at the LRT station is still under maintenance, thus customers should ask for staff assistance at the counter. “The staff can help,” they responded.
The response from RapidKL had made the situation worse with netizens flooding the comment section with criticisms.
Hai, lift di stesen Ampang Park masih lagi di dalam penyelenggaraan. Pelanggan boleh minta bantuan staff di kaunter. Staff boleh bantu.
— Ask Rapid KL (@AskRapidKL) May 18, 2022
Disability (OKU) advocacy group SIUMAN slammed the company and pointed out that the disabled community do not need assistance but rather, they need access.
“Access is a right. It’s disgusting how our society keeps spouting ‘santuni OKU’ (compassion for OKUs), yet does nothing to mandate universal access,” the advocacy group tweeted last night.”
“Maybe abled people don’t understand this, but it’s very demeaning for the disabled to have to be lifted when there is no access.”
We don’t need assistance. We need access. Access is a right.
— SIUMAN ♿🧠 | #AmendAktaOKU #DecriminaliseSuicide (@KamiSIUMAN) May 18, 2022
It’s disgusting how our society keeps spouting “santuni OKU”, yet does nothing to mandate universal access.@MyRapidKL
cc @weekasiongmp @RinaMohdHarun @SenatorRasAdiba @bolehspace
HT: @xXpearlyXx https://t.co/CPPKUXc1dN pic.twitter.com/6et2UYPabH
The group also tagged the Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong in the tweet and called them out to fix the issue immediately.
“How about for Hari OKU Sedunia/Hari Batik Malaysia 2022 (thanks Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri), OKU pay full fare and Rapid KL ensures universal access?” asked SUIMAN.
Meanwhile, netizens share the same sentiment as SUIMAN and pointed out that facilities at LRT stations had not been well maintained, with leakages and many other problems.
What do you think about this? Share your thoughts!
