Disable People In Malaysia – A Pure 2nd Class Citizen

We believe everybody will disagree to this, pretty sure about that. However if we carefully look and observe how these disable people move around Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Penang, Johor Bahru or any other cities in Malaysia, they are having tremendous difficulties. Even a fully functional people is aware about this, our politicians are aware about this, government officials are aware about this, everybody is aware about this. The infrastructure in Malaysia in general that caters for our disable friends is absolutely unacceptable. They are being discriminated in their own country. As if they are a pure second class citizen. Are they?

Let us do some imagination here. You are paralyzed from waist down, due to an accident that happened last year. Now you are fit to go to work after a few months on medical leave recuperating. Like it or not, you need to use a wheelchair to move around. It is a non-automatic version (in other words, you have to use your own hand to move in front and back). You are living in Subang Jaya with your parents, and working in an IT company in one building in front of KLCC.


(Above picture is taken from http://petertan.com/) So let us look at your first day trip from your house to your office using a public transportation since you don’t have a car at the moment.

Getting out from your house is pretty easy. But from the house to the bus stand takes a lot of effort, and sweat too. Malaysia is a very hot and humid country and using a wheelchair to the bus-stand (with a bumpy Malaysian road) making it worst as far as the sweaty condition is concerned. It took you a complete 15 minutes for you to reach the bus stop. The bus is late again, you were there waiting like what 1 hour. Getting up into the bus is another disaster. There were a few people who help to hold you and get you onto your seat. Your wheelchair is being folded and kept in front of the bus. As usual, no bus in Malaysia is disabled friendly.

The bus headed straight to the commuter station, right at the back of the Carrefour Subang Jaya building. For you to get down from the bus, obviously you need help again. Luckily there were the same friendly people who help you. From the bus, there are a few stairs you need to climb. Seems that there is no other way, but to go through it. Again, members of the public are helping you. Going into the commuter is no easy task as well. There were a medium-sized gap in between the commuter train and the pave of the station. Dangerous, but luckily the wheel is large enough not to be stucked there. The commuter is absolutely packed with people and you need to be cramped into them too. Luckily in the morning, the smells are still okay, but hey... why everybody is looking at you as if you are a freak-show here..


(Above picture is taken from http://petertan.com/) . Anyway, here you are at KL Sentral. It is a bit easy to be here as there are air-conditions everywhere within the building. At least your body doesn't smell bad from the previous USJ-commuter station trip earlier.

You need to catch Rapid KL LRT train to KLCC. From the commuter station to LRT station is just upstairs. Via a lift, there you are waiting for the train. Again you need to wait until train number 6 before you can get in. Those trains are packed with people, exactly like a sardin can. Reaching KLCC, it is pretty easy. Except for one little thing. From the LRT station going up to its shopping mall area, there is one staircase. Someone needs to lift you up for you to proceed further, or else you'll be stucked there for a while.

There you go, the members of the public again become your saviour. Going out of KLCC to the building in front, is not an easy task as well. There are heavy traffic jam which you need to go through, another round of staircase from the road up to the building. Then only you are save and sound in the office. Work for a few hours, then back to home. Same hurdles again..

That is why in http://petertan.com blog, he did mentioned this. Living one day at a time. We understand their feelings. Well Mr Government, please help our disabled friends as soon as possible. They need your help..