Did I say Sabahans are affable people? During the bloggers meet at Shamrock Irish Bar the previous evening, Wei Chuen asked if Wuan and I had anything planned for the next morning. We did not and he invited us to have breakfast with him. He came to pick us up from the hotel and had to wait for a while as we overslept.

Somewhere in Kota Kinabalu. Seamless road and walkway.

We went to this modern-day kopitiam that serves the usual fare that such shops offer. I would have loved to try some of the signature dishes but because of my low-protein and low-everything-else diet, I settled for toasts while Wuan had nasi lemak. Eating has become such a boring event for me now, even when travelling. What I liked most was the accessibility of the place. The road and the entrance to the complex was seamless. If only the rest of Kota Kinabalu were like that.

Wuan, Wei Chuen and Peter Tan at The Pacific Sutera.

Just after lunch, Rosalynn took us to the Filipino Market. Wuan wanted to get handicrafts. That place smells! I gather that the open space beside the handicraft market is a fish market and a place where fishing boats land their catch. Fortunately when we were there, the place had already been cleaned up.

Inside the Filipino Market.

While Wuan and Rosalynn shopped along the narrow aisles of the market, I explored the surrounding areas a little. There was no shade outside. The midday sun was bearing down on me but the salty sea breeze was cooling enough to keep me comfortable. Finally, I got my wish of smelling the salty sea breeze! I know I am weird.

Women fishing at the seafront outside the Filipino Market.

Kota Kinabalu is not an accessible city, especially the shopping complexes. Even the one and only accessible toilet in one of the complexes was out of order. Luckily, I went there not to visit these places. I can imagine how difficult it is for the disabled people there to move around. That was one of the reasons why I did not see many disabled people out and about.

Fishing boats at the seafront outside the Filipino Market.

Rosalynn invited us to visit her apartment after picking up the Justin and Sabrina from school. As hers is a walk-up apartment, I waited at the poolside while Wuan went up. I was beginning to enjoy the serenity of the place, broken occasionally by low-flying aircrafts, when it began to rain. It rained and rained and rained. If I could, I would have played in the rain. My wheelchair cushion was not up to it unless I fancy forking out RM500 for another piece. The rain only turned into a heavy drizzle 90 minutes later.

The Pacific Sutera at night.

Rosalynn and the kids had dinner with us. It was a farewell dinner as we were leaving the next day. Boleh Café has a very nice buffet spread. I could not help but cheat on my diet - well, just a little. It was still early after dinner. Wuan and I went on a walkabout around the hotel grounds. The glow of light reflected on coconut trees, the sounds of lapping waves and the surroundings created an extremely romantic atmosphere. We looked at each other and knew that we would be making another trip to this paradise again.

N E W S

Nation
Wednesday December 19, 2007

First disabled senator takes oath

By MANJIT KAUR

First Disabled Senator

KUALA LUMPUR: Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh, who is blind, created history yesterday when he became the first disabled person to be appointed a senator.

Dr Ismail, 60, took the oath before Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh yesterday.

The academician and economist, who is married and has six children, said he was delighted when told about his appointment a few days ago.

Dr Ismail, originally from Kelantan and who now lives in Kajang, has been totally blind since he was 13.

Dr Ismail said with the appointment, there would now be a voice for the disabled community.

“I would like to thank Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the appointment, and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil for nominating my name,” he told reporters after the ceremony yesterday.

Dr Ismail graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York in 1973, and received his Master of Science (Economics) from the University of Illinois in 1974, before obtaining his PhD from the same university in 1977.

The Malaysian Association of the Blind (MAB) president also sits on various committees and working groups in the local and internationals levels.

He is the International University College of Technology Twintech vice-chancellor, National Association of Bumiputra Private Colleges president and National Economic Consultative Council chief rapporteur.

He is also a member of the National Implementation Task Force in the Prime Minister’s Department, and the East Asia International Council for the Education of the People With Visual Impairment chairman.

In 2001, in recognition of his work as well as his contribution to the country and the international community, he was awarded the Doctor of Literature from the Irish International University by the European Union.

Dr Ismail said among others, the issues he would bring up would be on education, jobs and facilities for the disabled.

Wuan and I went to visit a couple of new-found friends in Rawang. We lost our way after we crossed the town center and saw the Hamburglar outside McDonalds welcoming diners to the restaurant. Cute!

Hamburglar welcoming diners to the restaurant.
Photo by Wuan.

Shy Hamburglar covering his face after catching Wuan photographing him.
Photo by Wuan.

The following news report by The Sydney Morning Herald regarding air travel for disabled people in Australia is equally relevant here in Malaysia in the wake of unfair conditions imposed by AirAsia on disabled people.

Airlines dive in survey of disabled passenger satisfaction

Bonny Symons-Brown
December 17, 2007

PEOPLE with disabilities have significantly more trouble accessing airline services than five years ago, despite the introduction of a national standard to protect them.

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre surveyed 110 people with disabilities, their carers or advocates and found that only 14 had an overall positive experience when dealing with airlines.

Its report concludes that there has been “a systemic failure of airlines to improve access”. It has been submitted to a federal government five-year review of disability standards for accessible public transport.

The standards are a regulatory framework for all modes of public transport but there is no compliance monitoring or licensing requirement for airlines to meet the standards.

Even if the airlines do meet the standards, the report warned, the standards do not adequately protect the human rights of people with disabilities.

The complaints included airline announcements that delays were due to a wheelchair passenger, travel being refused unless the disabled person was accompanied by a carer, and broken wheelchairs due to negligent handling. In one case, a passenger was left on the tarmac with no assistance to the terminal entrance.

The centre’s chief executive officer, Robin Banks, said restrictive airline policies on aids such as wheelchairs or assistance animals and inadequate communication between staff and customers with a disability had lead to negative experiences for many disabled travellers.

“People reported things like they felt humiliated or they felt embarrassed, some of them said they wouldn’t be flying again, and the sense that people were afraid of the experience being repeated,” she said.

“The other really strong and common theme is a sense of frustration and a sense that the person they were dealing with couldn’t resolve, or was unwilling to attempt to resolve, the problem.”

The report, co-ordinated with the NSW Disability Discrimination Legal Centre, calls for an airline-specific code of practice to be developed in consultation with people with disabilities and administered by a relevant federal transport agency; mandatory reporting requirements, with data released annually; training courses in disability management for all airline staff; and an industry-based complaints process.

Ms Banks said that in a country such as Australia, where air travel was an important part of public transport, people with disabilities should not continue to confront accessibility problems.

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