Councillor: Allocate more bays for the disabled

Sundaram checking a layout plan for the Sri Sarawak area in Taman Andalas as he counts the number of parking bays for the disabled.

THE lack of parking bays for people with disabilities at the Sri Sarawak commercial areas of Taman Sri Andalas, off Jalan Tun Abdul Razak in Klang needs to be looked into.

Klang Municipal councillor S. Sundaram wants Klang Municipal Council (MPK) to address the issue and allocate more parking bays for the disabled.

“The council’s Community Department must do an immediate audit on street parking spaces at the Sri Sarawak area and work with MPK’s Engineering Department to come up with a design to fit in bays for the disabled group, ” he said.

Sundaram added that the disabled parking bays should observe universal designs that feature proper ramps and hand rails to assist people with disabilities or mobility issues.

“During a site visit, I noticed that there were several medical facilities and a dialysis centre catering to the needs of

people with disabilities living nearby.

“Senior citizens also use these facilities and accessible parking space is needed.

“There is even a privately-owned hospital providing maternity and gynaecological services. There is a pressing need for dedicated parking bays, especially at Jalan Sri Sarawak 20, ” said Sundaram, adding that he had spoken to stakeholders there and received feedback that it was ideal if each street had two parking bays for people with mobility issues.

Sundaram said although MPK had given out parking stickers for the disabled, it needed to do more.

“Giving out stickers does not help the disabled person much if there are inadequate parking bays, ” he said.

Sundaram added that MPK’s Community Department must also consider people with disabilities such as those suffering from dementia, autism or anxiety disorders as family members would have to drive them to the clinics’ for their appointments and often needed time to get them out of the vehicle into the premises.

MPK Community Department director Normah Zainul Abideen said her team would carry out an audit at the Sri Sarawak commercial area next week and identify streets where parking bays for the disabled were needed.

“Our initial plan is to have the parking bays at Jalan Sri Sarawak 20, Jalan Sri Sarawak 19 and Jalan Sri Sarawak 17.

“We will also work with the Engineering Department to have the road markings and kerbs painted, ” she said.