Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to observe two contrasting examples of the human nature. Wuan and I were at Mid Valley Megamall and as usual, the highlights of our trips there were looking for a toilet for PWDs to enable me to perform intermittent catheterization. In the vast complex, it is sometimes difficult to find one’s bearings, especially when it is packed with weekend shoppers. My bladder was already full and I needed to drain it immediately. I breathed a sigh of relief when we saw the sign pointing to lavatories.

When we reached the toilet for PWDs, a non-disabled couple had already opened the door and was about to enter when they saw me. The wife, who was pregnant was obviously in distress, her face cringed in discomfort as she held on to her bulging abdomen. They stopped in their tracks for a moment, wondering whether to go in or not. The husband gestured for me to use the toilet first but I indicated that they could use it. I guess they chose that particular toilet because the husband could help the wife in there. After all, if he did not need to help his wife, they could have used the normal toilet within the same premises.

Not wanting to wait for my turn, we scampered all over the mall looking for another toilet until Wuan suggested that we use the toilet in Cititel’s lobby again. I am always attracted to clean toilets like bees to honey. Unfortunately, that toilet was locked from inside. We thought someone could be using it and waited outside for a while. Along came a middle-aged woman who evidently was not using a wheelchair and did not walk with a limp. She turned the doorknob a few times, ignoring the fact that I was in the queue waiting to use it. When she failed to open it, walked three steps and disappeared into the normal toilet. I glared at her when she came out but she acted nonchalant.

Some people have the mind to comprehend that toilets for PWDs were built for a purpose. The pregnant lady had to use the toilet but she recognised the fact that it was built for people like me. They graciously accorded us that priority even though the needed to use it in haste. Some are simply inconsiderate and abuse such amenities for their own convenience. Time and again, I have stressed that amenities for PWDs is not a privilege but a necessity. We need these to be able to integrate into society. PWDs have every right to go out and enjoy a barrier-free environment as anybody else. Please do not make it more difficult for us than it already is. Think before abusing such facilities and depriving the people who really need to use it from using it.

Encik Aznan sent me an email yesterday. In the mail, he stated that they have investigated and rectified the problem at the toilet for disabled persons behind the Tie Shop at Level 5, KLIA. At the same time, he requested that I provide them with a photo of a door lever suitable for such amenities, which I did in my reply just now.

As I will be away for a few days beginning tomorrow, I told him that I would provide additional information when I return. However, the main issue, which was the toilet for disabled persons in Penang International Airport, was not mentioned. This I will pursue when I return.

Related entry:
Response From Malaysia Airports

Photo by Wuan.

At 5.30pm just now, I received a call from Encik Aznan who introduced himself as the terminal manager for KLIA. This was regarding the email I wrote to Malaysia Airports. The discussion focused mainly on the disabled toilets around KLIA. He informed me that he did an inspection of those facilities and acknowledged that the sliding doors of some of the toilets were indeed difficult to open and close. Those, he said, were in the original design and they were not aware that it could cause problems for disabled persons using it.

I explained to him that I have limited hand functions and rounded knobs and small locking mechanisms for toilets doors would be difficult to for people with similar disabilities like mine to operate. Additionally, I suggested that a proper audit be carried out for all the facilities for people with disabilities to ensure that they are suitable and functional, like I have suggested earlier in my email.

Encik Aznan asked for contacts of organization of disabled persons to assist them in such matters but I did not have it offhand. I promised to check and get back to him on that. In the meantime, he said he would reply to the email that I sent. For this, Malaysia Airports gets good marks for their caring attitude and a willingness to improve on aspects where there are shortfalls. Hopefully, the problems that I highlighted would be corrected soon.

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

Ikea, Ikano and The Curve are not places to go if one does not own a car. Wuan and I were there last Saturday. The cab fare from Pandan Perdana to Ikea was RM20.00. That was slightly more than what we paid for the trip to One-Utama for the Bloggers Meet in January. As long as the cabbie charged us according to the meter, we were happy to pay.

We went looking for a disabled toilet as soon as we go out from the taxi. The problem with disabled toilets at Ikea is that the male and female disabled toilets were located inside the respective normal toilets. Wuan was a little reluctant but we used the disabled toilet in the male side anyway.

Photo by Wuan.

The toilet was just large enough to fit a wheelchair in with some room for maneuver. There was even a button to call for help - the first I have seen anywhere in Malaysia. The sink was fitted at a height that was easy for people on wheelchairs to reach conveniently. Next to Mid Valley Jusco’s disabled toilet, this gets high ratings for functionality and a well thought out design, except for its location.

Photo by Wuan.

We had lunch at Manhattan Fish Market while waiting to meet up with De Book Worm. Wuan ordered Baked Fish in Garden Herbs. I had Crunchy Garden Salad. The salad was nothing to shout about. It was lettuce and tomatoes and some other vegetables with Thousand Island Dressing. The fish was served in a pan with rice. I stole a few bites. The rice was especially delicious.

Just as we finished our meal, De Book Worm arrived with hubby and daughter in tow. She had put up an entry on that meeting in her blog. As usual, I was the quieter one. Still, it was nice meeting up with someone whom I have only chatted with through Yahoo for the past few months. We parted ways at around 3:30pm and loitered around Ikano.

At around 7:00pm, we hopped over to The Curve for a light dinner and a quick look-see. We had planned to go back at 8:00pm. It was all quiet there, very unusual for a Saturday evening. When we passed Marche, there was a long queue waiting to get in. We were very tempted to eat there but decided otherwise. We did not want to be late in going back.

Photo by Wuan.

There were no taxis outside The Curve. We spotted a few parked at Ikano just across the road. Traffic was heavy but it was a good thing there was a pedestrian crossing. Cars stopped as we crossed. At Ikano, Wuan indicated to the first taxi in the queue that we wanted to go to Pandan Perdana.

“Empat puluh ringgit,” the cabbie said.

Wuan and I looked at each other in disbelief. We told him that the fare was only RM20 for the same journey that morning. He went on and on about the distance and that he had waited for a while there. We ignored him as he babbled on.

“Brapa lu mau bayar?”

We shook our heads.

“Dua puluh lima ringgit.”

We shook our heads again. We would not get into his taxi even if he went down to RM20. These are the dishonest and lazy cab drivers that are giving the industry a bad name. Wuan called a radio cab but the operator said there was no response. There were several people waiting across the road at The Curve. We thought we could hail a passing cab there too. After waiting unsuccessfully for a while, we thought about William and called him up to “rescue” us.

“Have a drink first. I’ll call you when I’m there” he said. William stays at Pandan Perdana too.

Photo by Wuan.

We went browsing at Ikea instead. It was almost closing time. I got a few packets of tea light candles. Wuan bought several other items not available elsewhere. William called while we were at the checkout counter. After paying, we tried to get out of Ikea the same way we went in that morning but the guard asked us to use another exit. That main entrance was locked and he did not have the keys to it.

Cynthia and Wuan wasted half an hour looking for an exit, she from the outside and Wuan from the inside. That was ridiculous. Obstacles that were put up to prevent the shopping trolleys from being taken out of the premises also prevented my wheelchair from going out. There were no signs to indicate where people in wheelchairs could exit after closing time. Thank God for caring friends like William and Cynthia who got us out of sticky situations like these time and again.