Mr. Simon Teo emphasizing a point during the training.

The Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat Malaysia (JKM) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) organised a one-day training on “How To Conduct A Seminar Effectively” at the Institut Latihan Majlis Kebajikan dan Pembangunan Masyarakat Kebangsaan (MAKPEM) at Bandar Baru Sentul yesterday. This training was co-ordinated by Dr. Kenji Kuno, the Chief Advisor from JICA.

Group photo of participants. Dr. Kuno is at the far left. In the center
beside Simon is Cik Norani, Pengarah Bahagian OKU.

Twelve participants from various NGO’s involved in Independent Living (IL) and Disability Equality Training participated in this lively training conducted by Mr. Simon Teo, Course Director of Ace Breakthrough Management Resources. He guided us from the initial preparatory work to sharing with us effective tips on conducting a successful seminar. Cik Norani, Pengarah Bahagian Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) was there to officiate over the conclusion of the training and presented participants with certificates.

Birds roosting on the roof of a school at Bandar Baru Sentul.
Photo by Wuan.

The one thing that has always fascinated me while at the institute was a flock of large birds roosting on the roof of a school across the river. Once in a while, they could be spotted at the river hunting for food. On many evenings, just after dusk, I could make out their dark forms flying overhead. I had always wondered what those eerie things were until I saw them perching on the roof from afar during daytime.

There is a very interesting debate going in at MonsterBlog. See disability issues from my point of view and that of someone who thinks that I should not be complaining so much about the lack of accessible facilities in Malaysia. Follow this link: When The Warm Malaysian Hospitality Is Just Not Enough.

Removing The Steps Of Disablement

Bless these Muslim youths who, despite the month of Ramadan, selflessly exerted great amount of energy to help my friends and me up and down a flight of steps. Without them, we would have been stranded. Their kindness is commendable. Carrying a wheelchair down a flight of steps with someone sitting on it is no easy feat. One misstep and all would have gone tumbling down.

Nevertheless, this is what wheelchair users have to risk all the time. The environment in Malaysia is very handicapping to people who are mobility impaired. That is the reason why wheelchair users like me call ourselves “disabled persons.” We are disabled by social construct. More than anything else, it is the perception of how things should be that is creating untold inconveniences for us.

On November 10, Bernama quoted Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said as saying that the ministry is “aware that presently, not all sports facilities in the country are disabled-friendly’ and that “the cost of hosting KL ‘06 (9th FESPIC Games) was high because of the need to provide additional facilities for the disabled.”

This is the often heard misconception that disabled persons require special or extra needs as compared to the non-disabled. Consequently, providing these needs would incur an exorbitant expenditure. This issue is often misunderstood by many, including government officials and even disabled persons themselves. Cost should not be touted as the reason why barrier-free amenities are lacking in Malaysia. The question of additional or extra or special needs should not arise either. This is about basic needs that everyone is entitled to whether they are disabled persons or not.

Take the flight of steps as an example. If a ramp with a gentle gradient is built over it, there is no longer a need to carry me up or down anymore. If one is to argue that building a ramp constitutes a special and extra need, than what does constructing that flight of steps mean? Take away the ramp and people with mobility impairments become disabled. Take away the steps as well and the non-disabled become disabled too because they will be unable to get into the building. In this sense, how can a ramp be considered an additional facility while steps are not?

Steps and ramps are means of accessibility. Access to buildings and all public amenities should be constructed to be functional to everyone. This is very seldom the case though. It is apparent that most of the obstacles disabled persons have been encountering originated from a skewed perception of how things should be. The consequences of this perception in turn prevent disabled persons from participating fully in society.

Just because things have been done the same way for thousands of years do not mean that we must continue doing it the same way now. Nevertheless, architects continue to design buildings with steps but without ramps while local councils continue to turn a blind eye to these blatant omissions.

The Uniform Building By-Law (UBBL) 34A stipulates that disabled persons must be provided with access into public buildings. It states that the requirements “shall be deemed to be satisfied by compliance with Malaysian Standard MS 1184 and MS 1183.” The two standards clearly lay out the design considerations needed to make such amenities safe and functional.

Unfortunately none of the 145 municipalities in Malaysia have fully complied with UBBL 34A. Local authorities appear to be the main stumbling block to making Malaysia barrier-free by refusing to enforce UBBL 34A. In the meantime, disabled persons continue to be disabled and risk their lives traversing over all these man-made obstacles. Why? Because we simply do not have a choice.

On the appointed Saturday of October 7, The Snark could not make it. He had an important engagement somewhere. Likewise, ShaolinTiger was overseas on a business trip. Instead of waiting for the merry duo, Christine suggested that we send the car to her regular workshop instead. Mr. Chua, the proprietor of the workshop, had installed similar hand control kits in Christine’s Toyota Vios and a few of her friends’ cars.

It was already late afternoon when we arrived at the workshop situated a stone’s throw away from the Bangsar LRT Station. While Mr. Chua was figuring out how to install the kit, Christine, Wuan and I adjourned to the mamak’s restaurant next door. It was hot. I felt very uncomfortable even with the ceiling fan blowing down on us.

There is a difference between Christine’s and the hand control kit I got. Hers is a right-handed control version. This is commonly installed in right-hand drive cars. I bought the left handed one solely to ease my entry into the car. My legs are long. A suitable car would need to provide sufficient space between the seat and steering wheel to accommodate my lower limbs. The protrusion of the control stick near the door would make it very difficult for me to transfer into the car.

That was also the very reason why we got a Honda City. This is the only car within our budget with a very adjustable steering column. When locked at its highest position, I could get in and out of the car with ease. I had difficulty getting into the Nissan Sentra and Toyota Vios. Wuan preferred the Kia Citra but I could not even get into the MPV because of the small front doors.

Mr. Chua wanted to be sure that there is sufficient space for the control stick play. After trying several variations, he told us that it could be done but we had to leave the car overnight as he was busy. We did not fancy leaving the spanking new car overnight there. So we made an appointment to send the car for installation the following Saturday.

… to be continued.

When The Warm Malaysian Hospitality Is Just Not Enough

So, 2007 is Visit Malaysia Year again. Incidentally, this is also the year we will be celebrating our 50th Independence Day. The Ministry of Tourism is targeting more than 20 million foreign visitors for this campaign. Undeniably, Malaysia has much to offer to tourists. After all, we are a melting pot of cultures that date back to the time when Malacca was the centre of commerce between the East and West many centuries ago.

While tourism officials are busy preparing glittering bunga mangga and kompang troupes to greet the influx of tourism dollars, the government is doing nothing to make tourists with mobility impairments feel welcomed. This group of tourists include senior citizens and wheelchair users.

One only has to go on a walkabout along the many attractions in Kuala Lumpur to understand the dire situation. Walkways either do not have kerb cuts or are in a state of disrepair. Accessible toilets are far and few in between. There are no public buses that they can ride in for a city tour. How then do we expect these people to move around and enjoy their time while they are here?

At the same time, Kuala Lumpur will also be playing host to the FESPIC Games later this month. According to its website, “The FESPIC Games is the biggest multi-sports & multi-disability event for athletes with disabilities in Asia and Oceania, and the second largest Games in the world, after the Paralympic Games.”

Come November 21, as many as 4,000 athletes and officials from about 50 countries will congregate in the capital for 12 days of intense competition. Surely some of them would love to visit the many attractions that Kuala Lumpur is famous for. What impression of Malaysia will they bring back to their country when they find that they are unable to visit these places because of the lack of accessible amenities? Certainly the warm Malaysian hospitality will not be sufficient to prevail over the inconvenience and disappointment that they have to face.

With four years to prepare for the games, Kuala Lumpur is still as inaccessible as ever. We have nobody to blame but the government for being complacent in this matter. When such an important event cannot even move the government to upgrade public facilities into barrier-free ones, what more can disabled citizens expect?