Materials :
Country Paper :
Country Paper: Malaysia
Information Regarding the Implementation of BMF Target 13 to 20
Arikisamy Anthony (Anthony Arokia)
Persatuan Mobiliti Selangor and Kuala Lumpur
(Mobility Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur)
Nature of Organisation: Door-to Door Community
Transportation Service.
Target 13
Question 1:
The Uniform Buildings by Law 1984 has been
amended. Section 34A of the Uniform Building by Law stipulates that all new
public building must provide access to enable disabled persons to get in and
out within the buildings and be provided with facilities for the use by the
disabled persons. There are also various national standard i.e. MS 1183 –
Code of Practice for Means of Escape of Disabled People, MS 1184 – Code of
Practice for Access for Disabled People to Public Buildings which were
incorporated into the gazette by-law and MS1331 – Code of Practice for
Access for Disabled People Outside of Buildings. Building plans submitted to
the local authority after the date of gazetting in each State must comply
with it. Existing buildings must do so within three years of that date (or
any extension of that grace period given), but may on application be
exempted from its requirements to such an extent as the local planning
authority thinks fit. In addition to these National Standards, in 1999 the
Ministry of Housing and Local Government has come out with a guideline on
"Building Requirement for Disabled Persons".
However, the enforcement is not being fully implemented due to lack of
awareness among the local authorities. The Ministry of Women, Family and
Community Development as the focal point and champion for Persons with
Disabilities recently presented a paper to the National Council of Local
Government to get their commitment to enforce the Uniform Building By laws
and to ensure that Code of Practices and guidelines on Buildings Requirement
for Disabled Persons are followed in approval of all building plans. The
Ministry is also drafting a National Policy for Disabled Persons, Disabled
Persons Act and also A National Plan of Action for Disabled Persons.
The issues of accessibility and Barrier-Free Environment are addressed
accordingly.
Question 2:
Effort has been taken by several Local authorities to make certain areas
in the city barrier free.
i. Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur City Council has taken the initiative to make Brickfield, an
area with a high population of the blind barrier free. Many accessible
features such as covered drains and manholes, tactile guide, wide pavement,
gentle slopes, ramps and modified traffic lights are provided.
ii. Petaling Jaya
Under the Local Agenda 21. Petaling Jaya City Council has taken
initiative and made SS 2 town centre barrier-free. Barrier-free walkway,
ramps, parking lots, public toilets and parks within the area are accessible
to the disabled persons, senior citizens and children.
The Petaling Jaya City Council has also drawn out a plan to make Petaling
Jaya Township barrier-free. A technical committee comprising of disabled
people (blind, physically disabled, deaf and and learning disabilities) sits
with the council members, meets once a month to vet through all plans
submitted to the local authority for approval.
iii. Penang
The Penang City Council has also taken steps to make Penang accessible.
For example the inner city stretching from the commercial area of Beach
Street, part of the Penang heritage trail Gurney Drive beach front and
botanical garden are all accessible to persons with disabilities and older
persons.
iv. North-south Highway
North-south Highway made provision for the disabled by creating ramps,
railings, telephone, parking bay and toilets for the disabled throughout
their Rest and Recreational areas.
v. Putrajaya
Putrajaya, the Administrative Capital provides facilities for the
disabled persons. The buildings, walk-ways and the parks are accessible
vi. National Day of the Disabled Persons.
In conjunction with the International Day of the Disabled Persons,
Malaysia give recognition to building owners and architect for best
accessible buildings such as best hotel, shopping complex, office complex
and government building.
Target 14
Question 1:
There is no specific policy on accessibility to public transportation
system at the moment. Persons with Disabilities have initiated some pressure
groups i.e. the Light Railway Transit Action Group, Access Initiative Group
(AIG), Barrier-free Environment and Accessible Transportation (BEAT) and are
working with relevant authorities on the issues.
Question 2:
i. PUTRA LRT
PUTRA Light Rail Transit is the only public transport service that is
fully accessible for the disabled persons. The service covers part of Kuala
Lumpur city to Petaling Jaya. The other Light Rail Transit (STAR) that run
the other half of the Kuala Lumpur city and outskirt is not accessible to
the disabled persons. RAPID KL – integrated transport service for the Klang
Valley has committed to provide accessible buses.
ii. Mobility Service Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur (Persatuan
Mobiliti)
MOBILITI is an NGO established in 2002 to provide door-to-door community
transport service for disabled and older persons in the Klang Valley. It is
the first community transportation service in Malaysia and also in South
East Asia. The Association started with only one van in 2002 and has now 5
vans providing services to more than 500 hundred registered users. Services
provided include transportation to clinics, hospitals, government
departments or simply to go shopping or visits friends or relatives.
Target 15
Question 1:
None
Question 2:
None
Target 16
Question 1:
None.
Initiative is taken by the Malaysian Association for the Blind to train
about 500 blind yearly in the used of ICT and internet.
Question 2:
There several projects under the Department of Social Welfare and NGO to
promote the use of ICT among persons with disabilities.
i. PDKnet is currently used in Community-Based Rehabilitation Programmes
in 4 districts in the state of Malacca.
ii. E-pekak is a webpage developed by the Malaysian Federation of the
Deaf to disseminate information on issues concerning the deaf and other
disabled groups.
iii. DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System for People with Print
Disability) under the National Council for the Blind is training trainers
for the development of the system.
Target 17
Question 1:
None
Question 2:
None
Target 18
Question 1:
None
Question 2:
None
Target 19
Question 1:
None
Question 2:
None
Target 20
Question 1:
None.
Question 2:
The Malaysian Association for the Blind has taken the initiative to train
the blind in Braille and conduct Braille proficiency examination.
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