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.

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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!

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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

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