Hari ini, kita menyambut ulangtahun kemerdekaan ke-48 negara yang tercinta. Tetapi apakah maksudnya merdeka? Adakah ia setakat kebebasan dari belenggu kolonialisme? Jikalau ada segelintir lagi masyarakat yang masih tinggal dalam keadaan keresahan serta serba kekurangan, apakah maksudnya perkataan merdeka untuk mereka? Untuk golongan ini, penghujung perjuangan mereka masih belum kelihatan.

Golongan yang dimaksudkan ialah orang kurang upaya (OKU). Mandat Rancangan Sedunia Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu untuk OKU (United Nations Global Programme On Disability) menyarankan tiga objektif yang menyatakan: (i) OKU perlu diberi peluang dan galakan untuk membangunkan diri dan menyertai masyarakat secara berkesan; (ii) hak asasi dan maruah mereka mesti dilindungi dan; (iii) mengutarakan persamaan peluang untuk mendapat pekerjaan, pelajaran, maklumat, barangan dan peralatan, dan perkhidmatan.

Adakah golongan OKU di negara ini menikmati semua yang tertakluk dalam mandat itu? Adakah OKU diberi peluang untuk menyertai kegiatan pembangunan sosial masyarakat dan digajikan secara sama peluang? Adakah OKU diberi peluang untuk berdikari sepenuhnya? Terdapatkah satu pelan induk yang menyenaraikan dengan lengkap garis panduan untuk untuk menanangi masaalah OKU? Dari pandangan saya sebagai seorang OKU, jikalau adapun, ia dilaksanakan secara rambang dan tidak mengikut satu sistem yang ditetapkan.

Masyarakat OKU tidak meminta lebih dari apa yang kami sepatutnya terima. Kebanyakan saudara OKU yang saya temui lebih rela berdikari atas usaha mereka sendiri tetapi keadaan sekitaran serta sokongan asas tidak mengizinkan. Sebilangan besar perkhidmatan awam seperti pengangkutan, jalanraya, bangunan dan kemudahan tidak disesuaikan untuk OKU. Bagaimanakah OKU boleh berdikari dan menyumbang tenaga untuk turut membangunkan negara kalau kemudahan asas yang amat diperlukan tidak wujud?

Mendirikan serta melengkapkan sekitaran yang sesuai untuk OKU bukanlah satu keistemewaan. Kami bukanlah pengemis yang meminta belas kasihan sesiapa. Malah, kemudahan asas untuk membolehkan kami berdikari adalah satu hak asasi. Malangnya, OKU sendiri terpaksa berjuang untuk mendapatkan hak tersebut kerana kerajaan serta pihak berkuasa tempatan tidak cukup peka terhadap masaalah kami. Adakah agensi yang dipertanggungjawabkan khas untuk menyelesaikan masaalah OKU benar-benar faham keperluan kami dan sejurusnya mencari penyelesaian untuknya?

Sejenak renung, tidak boleh dinafikan kerajaan telah banyak menganjurkan rancangkan untuk memperbaiki keadaan masyarakat OKU tetapi ini tidak cukup untuk membolehkan kami berdikari seperti biasa. Masaalah yang sudah berlarutan sekian lama ini jelas memperlihatkan kecacatan dalam sistem pentadbiran yang bersikap acuh tak acuh terhadap rungutan kami. Kami masih perlu mengharungi kehidupan seharian yang penuh dengan kesulitan serta rintangan. Kemerdekaan tidak bermakna kepada kami sekiranya kami masih perlu berjuang di setiap penjuru untuk melindungi hak dan maruah kami. Apakah itu kemerdekaan? Kami OKU masih belum faham sepenuhnya maksud perkataan itu.

Pursuant to my unpleasant experience of being trapped in one of the toilets for disabled persons at the Penang International Airport for the second time, I have sent an email to Noor Hafiza Ruslan, Senior Executive of Corporate Communications for Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad to complain about it.

Dear Miss Hafiza,

RE: FAULTY TOILET AT THE PENANG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

I am a severely physically disabled person suffering from spinal cord injury. I use a wheelchair and have poor hand dexterity. Apart from my physical disabilities, I also suffer from chronic kidney failure and need to use the toilet on a regular basis for intermittent catheterisation. I travel alone frequently between Penang and Kuala Lumpur via the Penang International Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

For the second consecutive time in three months, I was trapped in the same toilet for disabled persons near Gate 8 of the Penang International Airport yesterday. The previous incident was in May 28, 2005. I am not sure if that particular door knob was faulty or not. Nevertheless, I would like to point out that that round door knobs are not suitable for those with poor hand dexterity. A lever handle is the preferred fixture for such facilities. Additionally, a help button or cord should be installed inside the toilet for the purpose of summoning for assistance should the need arise.

Apart from that, one of the toilets for disabled persons at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport was faulty as well the last time I had to use it in June 25, 2005. The lock was difficult to engage and disengage. This is another potential trap for people with disabilities if the problem is not looked into with haste.

Those are two of my gripes regarding the facilities for people with disabilities at the airports in Penang and Kuala Lumpur. I am certain there are many other inconveniences and improperly implemented amenities for people like me that I have yet to come across. I would like to advise you to liaise with organisations of people with disabilities to systematically audit such amenities to ensure that they are implemented according to approved standards and are fully functional at all times. Airports are gateways to Malaysia and it would give our country a bad image if disabled foreign travellers are unable to enjoy these facilities or are frequently trapped inside toilets the moment they arrive.

Should you need to contact these organisations to assist Malaysia Airports in this aspect, please get in touch with me. I am certain that they will be more than happy to provide you with the standards and help audit in making all the airports under your management totally barrier free for people with disabilities. In the meantime, please look into the defects mentioned and rectify them immediately to prevent further incidents. Hopefully when I need to use any of these toilets again, the problems are already rectified. I look forward to hearing the good news from you regarding this issue soon.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
Peter Tan

Related entry:
Trapped In the Toilet Again!

I got trapped in the same toilet for disabled persons near Gate 8 at the Penang International Airport just now. This is the second consecutive incident within three months. The same faulty door knob was the culprit again. It was my complacence in not filing a complaint with the airport manager the previous time that got me into the same sticky situation again. A kind gentleman who was sitting near the toilet heard my knocking came to my rescue. All door knobs for toilet for disabled persons should be replaced with levers to enable those with poor hand dexterity to open it with less effort. Malaysia Airports is going to get a mail from an very irate disabled traveller soon.

Related entry:
A Series Of Unfortunate Events

It felt great to be able to fulfil a vow, especially one that was made in earnest. Twenty five months was such a long time ago but I will never forget the evening when I prayed from the bottom of my heart to a God I hardly knew. I pleaded. I bargained. I cajoled. If Mum got well again, I would dedicate my entire life to serving Him. Man proposes, God disposes. He did not heal her. He took her away from me instead. Nevertheless, I was greatly consoled by the gift of a vision, one that showed Mum was no longer in agony but in absolute bliss. That gift was worth more than anything I can ever possess. That was to be the turning point of my life.

My conviction in the existence of God has never ceased since. I have become a follow of Jesus. In His teachings, I have found a purpose and a direction. My life has never been more different than it has been the past two years since my baptism. This way of life is one I have been searching for all my life. I believe I am a better person now because I have been touched by the grace of God. There is no looking back now. The only way to contentment is to keep His commandments and to live a Christlike life. This I attempt to achieve in all the things that I do.

This morning, I was given the opportunity to make good the vow I made two years ago. Vincent, one of the catechists of the cathedral, invited me to share my journey of faith and my life with a group of youths aged between sixteen and seventeen who will be receiving their Sacrament of Confirmation in October. Shared I did and I hope I have contributed my part in making a difference. These are the people who will be building the church that Jesus founded long after I am gone. I pray they will take Christianity to greater heights.

This, I hope, will be the beginning of many more opportunities for me to share and spread the Word of God. This is one vow that I will not only discharge once but one that I will keep fulfilling as long as I am able. I have received more than I have given. I have been blessed. I continue to be blessed. It is only right that I share this wonderful experience so that others too may discover the greatness and the mercy of the Almighty.

The blog meet organiser. She had graciously picked me up from my apartment and sent me back. What more can I say? KS Tang gave Reallybites and me a treat at Dome before the meet. Hey KS, congratulations on your wedding! The venue - Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Gurney Plaza. We occupied several tables inside Coffee Bean. Go to blog meet also must sit for exam ah? Some money exchanged hands too. I am still wondering why. Presenting Penang bloggers. Yes, we are a bunch of weird people. KS… I do not know what he was trying to do. I do not want to know. And what was Frostier peeking at?

I must thank Reallybites for taking the trouble to fetch me to the meet. She had trouble in disassembling my wheelchair intially but she is now a fully certified wheelchair disassembler and assembler. I would also like to thank KS for that delicious meal. It was pasta with vegetarian topping. I was famished and that was my first meal for the day. To top it all, SapiensBryan pushed me around the plaza looking for a toilet for disabled people. While he patiently waited for me outside the toilet, a Neanderthal with a brain the size of a pea barged into the toilet without knocking. SapiensBrayn was apologetic for not stopping the trespasser but was truly annoyed at the same time for the insensitivity of people like that. Still, I had fun at the meet and I am sure the other bloggers will agree with me. I am already looking forward to the next meet.

Related entry:
Gurney Plaza Bloggers Meet

Entries on this meet:
Reality Really Bites ~ Penang Blog Meet - Part 1
A Pathetic Attempt At Blogging ~ Bloggers Meet
It’s All About Me, Myself & I ~ My First Blogger Meet
5XMom ~ Bloggers Meet - Penang
Memoirs Of A Blur Sotong ~ Coffee Bean Blog Meet
n305er Industries ~ Conclusion - Penang Bloggers Meet Part 1
Mental Jog ~ At Coffee Beam (Beamed Away My Money!)
Professionalized.com ~ Penang Webloggers Meet At Gurney Plaza
Malaysian Voters Union ~ Another Bloggers’ Meet
Kiasi aka Kiasi-ism ~ To Put Or Not To Put?
SapiensBryan ~ My 1st Bloggers Gathering
Codename : Dreams ~ Penang Bloggers Meet (1)
Hizecool