Early this morning, I received a call from Encik Zahari from the Jabatan Kejuruteraan of Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ). I had sent an email to the MPAJ on Monday to protest the lack of kerb ramps in the stretch of pavement currently being upgraded. A bus stop is located on the pavement. It is important that this particular stretch is made accessible to ensure that wheelchair users are able to get to the bus stop and catch a bus when RapidKL deploy their non-step buses to this route.

Encik Zahari gave the assurance that ramps will be built on both ends of the pavements that are being upgraded. The kerbs that have been put in place will be removed to accomodate the ramps. There would not have been a need to remove the kerbs had it been done correctly in the first place. I told him that the gradients of the ramps should have a ratio of 1:15 or less. They should gentle enough for wheelchair users to traverse up independently. I have seen bad ramps all over Kuala Lumpur, especially those done by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL). These ramps are too steep and are not seamless from road to pavement. There is usually a small step from the road to the ramp. That may cause a wheelchair going up to tip backwards.

From this episode, it is apparent that the authorities have not taken the issues of access for disabled people into account. There should not even be a need for me to remind the parties concerned that public facilities should be inclusive, more so when new infrastructure is being built or when the existing ones are being upgraded. Accessible facilities should have been the norm. In Malaysia’s march to becoming a developed nation, we cannot, should not, ignore the fact that disabled people still have to struggle with third world infrastructure. The “developing nation” status will be meaningless when a segment of the population is still marginalised in so many ways.

Upgrading of pavement at Pandan Perdana.

A few stretches of pavements at Jalan Perdana 3/1 in Pandan Perdana are currently being upgraded. I am very particular about these upgrading works because the previous upgrading on a different stretch of the pavement was done haphazardly and could not be used safely although I have stressed to the previous ADUN for Teratai on the need to follow the code of practice. He was the one who got the allocation for upgrading part of the pavement in 2007.

Anyway, imagine to my horror when I found out that there were no kerb ramps to the pavements in the current upgrading works. I asked around and was made to understand that the MP for Pandan Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat had provided an allocation for these works. I posted a note in Facebook and tagged him, asking him to ensure that there are kerbs ramps as one of the pavements has a bus stop. If we cannot get to the bus stop, we definitely cannot board the buses when RapidKL deploy their non-step buses on this route.

The bus stop in the midst of pavement upgrading works at Pandan Perdana.

Through Facebook, I was given the phone number of Ong Tee Keat’s Service Centre Public Liaison Officer, Kent Ng, together with the office phone and email. I called the office number on Sunday afternoon. There was no answer. Then I called Kent and explained the issue to him. He said he would get back to me. I followed up with an email briefly detailing on how the kerb ramp should be constructed.

Work on the pavement is currently still on going. I was afraid that the pavement would be completed before any action is taken. I waited until this afternoon and called Kent again. He told me that he would submit my complaint to Datuk Seri Ong. I asked him when and explained the urgency of the matter. What he said to me following that was totally unexpected.

No kerb ramp.

“Mister, you called me on Sunday. Do you know Sunday is rest day?”

It was not what he said that irked me but the tone of him saying it. I said I knew but it is Monday now and I am calling him again to check and ask him when action will be taken. He gave me the same line that he will submit my complaint and that I had called him on a Sunday. YES, I KNEW IT WAS SUNDAY! If the matter was not urgent, I would not have called.

After that incident, and as far as I am concerned, I have done the necessary to enlighten Datuk Seri Ong regarding this matter. I shall wait and see how it pans out. Surely, the MP for Pandan who is also the Minister of Transport already understands the issues of public transport with regards to the street environment. His ministry and related agencies have been engaging disabled persons’ organisations in this matter for a long time already. I pray he will do the right thing.

Hmm, I hear the Chordettes singing…

Another end of pavement with no kerb ramp.

Close up of the dug up pavement with kerb.

It is not often that I come across restaurants that serve food with flavours that my tastebuds wholeheartedly embrace. Good food is hard to find anywhere, be it in Penang, Ipoh or the Klang Valley. Nevertheless, Wuan and I were pleasantly surprised to discover a restaurant near where we live that has never failed to tantallise our our appetite. This restaurant is one of the few that has us going back for more, more of the same and a little more of the good spread available in their extensive menu.

Now, I am not a great fan of fish head noodle. The messiness of picking out the bones always puts me off. Besides that, the fish head noodles in Penang usually came with thick noodles that I did not quite like. I cannot even remember the last time I had it. One day while deciding what to eat in Restoran New Curry at Jusco Taman Maluri, Wuan convinced me to give the fish head noodle there a try. We were already regular patrons there long before that but we usually ordered rice or noodle dishes.

Restoran New Curry Fish Head Mee Hoon Soup.

I can still remember when I took in the first spoonful of the murky soup. “This is delicious,” I told Wuan. She agreed. That was the beginning of my gastronomic love affair with the restaurant’s fish head mee hoon soup. We have eaten it inumerable times since. Wuan has also brought home take-away for dinner on many occasions.

Unlike the fish head noodles from Penang which has clear soup, this was creamy sourish and tasty at the same time. The different layers of tastes all complemented each other very well. There is nothing more appetising than starting a meal with a few sips of the warm soup. The deep-fried fish head was generous in portion as were the strips of salted vegetables, Chinese cabbage and ginger slices. The bee hoon was soft but not soggy – done just right. I have tried a few more at different places in the Klang Valley but none came close.

Restoran New Curry Fish Fillet Mee Hoon Soup.

We were there again for lunch yesterday after my medical checkup at UMMC. I wanted something light on the stomach because I had not eaten anything since I woke up. I have never noticed that they have fish fillet with bee hoon soup in the menu and ordered that. Wuan went for the fish head bee hoon soup. That was an unmistakeable choice. We have not been disappointed each time we had that.

My order of fish fillet bee hoon soup was equally as appetising. The fillet was fried. It came in clear soup with lots of Chinese cabbage and the same soft but not soggy bee hoon. The soup was delicious. By the time I was done with the meal, I had finished the entire bowl of soup and the bee hoon but left behind about half of the fillet for Wuan. I had already eaten as much fish as my diet allowed. Food like this makes me wish I could throw caution to the wind and indulge.

At RM9.80 per bowl, the bee hoon soups are not exactly cheap but I reckon that is a reasonable price considering the location and atmosphere. Restoran New Curry’s signature dish is fish head curry. We have eaten that before too. It was creamy but not too much and aromatic. That was also one of the better fish head curries I have tasted. There are also a number of rice and noodle dishes that we like. This is the restaurant that we usually go to whenever we feel like celebrating with a good and hearty meal.