Bridging the gap: A person in a wheelchair being assisted by a helper while crossing a street in Perak, in this file photo. Activists say 100 new vans are just a start, with greater efforts needed to improve first- and last-mile connectivity.
PETALING JAYA: The proposal to fund 100 specially designed mobility vans to ease daily travel for persons with disabilities (OKU) is a milestone for inclusive transport, say activists and stakeholders.
The announcement made by the government under Budget 2026, however, must be part of a wider plan to make the nation’s transport system truly barrier-free, they said.
“This is an important acknowledgement of the mobility challenges faced daily by the community across Malaysia.
“We thank the Prime Minister, Transport Minister, and Prasarana for listening and responding to the voices of the OKU community,” read a statement signed by Christine Lee, founder of Barrier-Free Environment and Accessible Transport (BEAT); Pua Ghin Chu, executive director for Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled; and Mohammed Sarhan, welfare executive for Dual Blessing Bhd, an NGO for OKU.
“It is heartening to see the government taking positive action to address our call for inclusive public transport,” said Lee, who is a wheelchair user herself.
For them, these customised mobility vans, which serve wheelchair users, are sorely needed, given that none of the existing e-hailing or Demand-Responsive Transit (DRT) services here are wheelchair-accessible.
“At present, only two mobility vans operate across the entire Klang Valley, with waiting times stretching from several days to months.
“The decision to roll out 100 vans is an important milestone – complementing the existing transport network and bridging the mobility gap.
“To achieve full inclusion, they should be embedded within a broader vision of universal accessibility – supported by sustainable planning, adequate funding, integration into a wider network, and adherence to universal accessibility standards,” said the activists.
They say that getting 100 new vans is just the start, as much more is needed to connect public transport users’ first and last miles.
“We recommend the usage of real-time on-demand service to replace the current pre-booking system, that is similar to Grab and other DRT platforms. In addition to this, the vans and supporting infrastructure must comply with universal design and accessibility principles,” they said.
“For the built environment, compliance includes MS 1184 and MS 1183.
“For vehicles, it requires alignment with international best practices and standards, such as having ramps or lifts, step-free entry, and adequate interior turning space to ensure safety, dignity, and usability for wheelchair users.”
The activists also appealed for a comprehensive view when addressing the needs of OKU.
“Accessibility must extend beyond the vehicle to the entire travel chain, as accessibility also needs to be extended to pick-up/drop-off points and crossings, and the government must work with local authorities to ensure feeder paths are barrier-free.
“Without safe and continuous infrastructure, mobility vans and other transport modes cannot truly serve the community,” said Lee in calling for genuine dialogue with end users as a sustainable way forward.
“The design, deployment, and monitoring of these vans must involve OKU organisations and include periodic reviews to ensure the vans and booking systems remain responsive to needs.
“There should be nothing about us without us,” she added.
