The Digital Awakening » Malaysia Parliament

Karpal all praise for disabled-friendly facilities: The Star – June 18, 2009

Peter Tan — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:36:27 +0000

The Star Online
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Home > News > Parliament

Thursday June 18, 2009
Karpal all praise for disabled-friendly facilities

KARPAL Singh (DAP – Bukit Gelugor) is all praise for the newly modified ramp and special lift meant for the disabled at Parliament House.

“This is a good development. It’s good for disabled visitors who come to Parliament, and not only for me.

“It’s a necessity now as many were unable to come due to the lack of facilities,” said Karpal, who was wheeled into the building from the back entrance via the new low-gradient ramp.

The new ramp at the back of the main building comes with an overhead roof.

He then took the lift to the first floor where the Dewan Rakyat is located.

Karpal said that in April, he fell forward from his wheelchair while using the ramp at the front of the tower block because it was quite steep.

Lift for wheelchair-bound MPs and visitors ready: The Star – June 12, 2009

Peter Tan — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:33:27 +0000

The Star Online
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Home > News > Parliament

Wednesday June 17, 2009
Lift for wheelchair-bound MPs and visitors ready

THE Parliament building is now friendlier to wheelchair-bound MPs and visitors as its special lift is ready for use.

Chief Administrator Datuk Kamaruddin Mohamad Baria said: “Disabled visitors can now park their cars at the back of the Parliament building, wheel down a low-gradient ramp, which is covered with anti-slippery mat, to get to the back entrance of the Parliament. Then they can take the lift up.”

Convenience: Norizan trying out the lift for the disabled at the parliament building yesterday.

He said the proposal was to accommodate wheelchair-bound MPs like veteran DAP MP Karpal Singh and other visitors.

Wheelchair-bound Norizan Kasbi was pleasantly surprised when he saw the lift during a visit to Parliament yesterday.

The former Johor Umno Youth information chief was the first disabled person to use the lift.

“This is thoughtful of the Parliament administration,” said Norizan, 47, who became paralysed after a road accident in Sabah in 1999.

Malaysian Parliament Building Should Be MS 1184 Compliant

Peter Tan — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:00:29 +0000

The Parliament Building Malaysia.
Dated December 20, 2006.
Photo by Wuan.

The Malaysian Parliament building is the symbol of democracy. It is there that bills are debated and laws passed to protect the wellbeing of the people. It also represents the people’s collective aspirations as a nation where the rights of each citizen is respected. From afar, its unique exterior is as magnificient as it is imposing. I have always been in awe of this impressive edifice.

Of all places, I had expected the Parliament building to be barrier free as we have the law and the code of practice to regulate such amenities. I was dead wrong. It was at the tower block of the Parliament that I came face to face with a steep ramp two years ago. That was the only access for wheelchair users into the building. Wheelchair users will find it hard to go up the ramp unassisted on that gradient. While watching the video of UMNO Youth confronting Karpal Singh outside the Parliament building, I caught a glimpse of Karpal being pushed up that same ramp.

The steep ramp into the lift lobby of the tower block next to the Main Building of the Parliament.
Dated December 20, 2006.
Photo by Wuan.

There are a couple aspects of the ramp that are wrong. The ramp is too steep. It does not comply to the minimum 1:12 gradient as the specified in MS 1184: Code of Practice on Access for Disabled Persons to Public Buildings. The recommended height for the handrails on both side is between 840mm to 900mm. The Uniform Building By-law 34A (UBBL 34A) stipulates that all public buildings must comply to MS 1184. However, I was made aware that this by-law does not apply to government buildings. How ironic.

If the government is serious in making Malaysia accessible to disabled people, it should begin with the Parliament building. The existing ramp should be replaced with one that is in compliance with MS 1184. Parliament should take the lead in this matter. Otherwise, it is hypocritical to enforce the UBBL 34A when the very building where laws of the nation are made fall short of the accessibility standards required of others.

Ruckus Outside Parliament Building – Is This Malaysian Culture?

Peter Tan — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:52:58 +0000

After watching the ruckus outside the Parliament House involving UMNO Youths and Member of Parliament for Bukit Gelugor Karpal Singh on TV3 and NTV7 just now, I could only think of one question: Is mob culture Malaysian culture? Notwithstanding Karpal’s provocative utterances in Parliament the day before, such scenes of disorderly behaviour should not have happened or allowed to happen within the compound of the august Parliament building.

Senator Datuk Lee Sing Chooi Dies

Peter Tan — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:54:00 +0000

The Star Online reported that Senator Datuk Lee Sing Chooi died of heart attack on Tuesday night. Datuk Lee is the MCA Parliamentary Affairs Bureau chief. I met him only once when I went to Parliament House with members of the Barrier-Free Environment and Accessible Transport Group (BEAT) to meet Datuk Dr. Ng Yen Yen who was then the Deputy Finance Minister regarding public transport for disabled people. Datuk Lee had invited us to witness the proceedings in the Dewan Negara after the meeting. May he rest in peace. My deepest condolences to the family of Datuk Lee for their loss.