Sasitharan (in wheelchair) attempting to navigate through a narrow bollard gate with help from DBKL officers as Maimunah (second from left) looks on during the walkabout in Brickfields. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star
IT was no ordinary site visit for Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif during her first Brickfields walkabout.
The visit was part of an initiative to assess the condition of accessibility infrastructure and public facilities in the area, long touted as a disabled-friendly neighbourhood.
The walkabout, intended as a standard site visit, highlighted real challenges faced by Brickfields’ disabled community.
The most concerning moment came when wheelchair user C. Sasitharan, who was part of the group accompanying the mayor, lost his balance on a steep, uneven ramp and fell backwards, bruising his elbow.
Maimunah, just a few steps behind, rushed to his side as DBKL officers helped steady his wheelchair and attended to him.
And that was not his first near-miss of the day.
Earlier, he had almost fallen again while trying to navigate a narrow five-foot way that ended abruptly at a shop entrance with no ramp.
“I almost toppled over. If people hadn’t grabbed my wheelchair, I would have fallen,” Sasitharan said.
Over the two-hour walkabout, several wheelchair users and visually impaired residents took the opportunity to show the mayor how poorly designed, uneven and unsafe many of the so-called “accessible” facilities really were.
“The bollards are meant to stop motorcyclists from using the walkway, but they’re too narrow for some wheelchairs,” said Gurdip Kaur, another wheelchair user.
“Even though the design includes a gap for wheelchairs and strollers, it’s too tight and the kerb drop makes it risky.”
Gurdip added that despite the wheelchair-friendly icons plastered on pavements, there was little point if the ground was bumpy and ramps were missing.
Independent Living and Training Centre Malaysia president G. Francis Siva said, “They look good in theory, but most of these features are more cosmetic than functional.”
Visually impaired Annbarasi Nyanasekaran related how she tripped over a trolley left on a walkway in Brickfields, and broke her leg.
Brickfields Rukun Tetangga chairman SKK Naidu said DBKL must relook at all safety aspects if it was serious about turning the township into a safe and inclusive place for everyone.
“All relevant departments and agencies must be involved as this can’t be done in silos,’’ he added.
Maimunah was joined by dozens of DBKL department heads and officers during the inspection, aimed at identifying problem areas and gathering feedback directly from the community.
“I wanted to see the situation for myself. We’ve received a lot of complaints from Brickfields, and clearly, there’s a lot that needs fixing,” she told StarMetro.
She added that DBKL would assess what could be done immediately, what it would cost and how to align the upgrades with DBKL’s vision of a “City for All.”
Maimunah also stressed that it was not only up to DBKL.
“A liveable city depends on considerate residents. Don’t break the rules. Be mindful, especially of the disabled community,” she said.
When asked about the biggest issue from the walkabout, Maimunah said, “Design. That’s the biggest challenge. There’s a lot of room for improvement.”
On blocked walkways and obstructions by roadside traders and restaurants, she said stronger enforcement was needed.
“We have guidelines and enforcement teams. Now, it’s about going out and making sure rules are followed.
“But I want to tell people, please be considerate, stop blocking pavements.
“Everyone has a role to play. We all need to do better to make the city more inclusive and liveable,’’ Maimunah added.
