Accessibility is for everyone

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) represents an important milestone in Malaysia’s transport development. Its promise of faster and more comfortable journeys between the Klang Valley and the East Coast is welcome. However, as Malaysia prepares to introduce this new rail service, we must ask a more important question: is our transport system truly accessible to everyone?

At 62, I see this issue from the perspective of a senior citizen and a person with a disability (OKU), following a stroke that left part of my body paralysed. Having travelled to 61 countries and 41 US states, I have experienced different transport systems and witnessed how accessibility can make a significant difference to people’s lives.

Modern transport should not be measured solely by speed, technology or the billions invested in infrastructure. It should also be measured by how effectively it serves older people, wheelchair users and those with limited mobility.

For an able-bodied passenger, walking several hundred metres to a railway platform may be nothing. For someone with a disability, it can be a major obstacle. A broken lift, inaccessible toilet, steep ramp or poorly designed pedestrian route can turn an otherwise convenient journey into a difficult experience.

Accessibility must therefore extend beyond the train itself. It must cover the entire journey, from home to the station and finally to the passenger’s destination. Malaysia should ensure that ECRL stations provide functioning lifts, accessible toilets, clear signs, safe boarding facilities, trained assistance staff and reliable connections to other forms of public transport. These should be essential services, not optional facilities.

Another transport issue close to my heart is the road connection between Kuantan and Johor Bahru through Kuala Rompin.

As someone who grew up in Kuala Rompin, Pahang, I believe this coastal corridor deserves greater attention. The route connects Kuantan, Pekan, Kuala Rompin, Tanjung Gemok, Mersing, Kota Tinggi and Johor Bahru. It is more than a road connecting two cities; it links rural communities, fishing towns, tourism destinations and local economies.

Kuala Rompin and Tanjung Gemok, in particular, have strong potential as tourism gateways, including Pulau Tioman. Yet communities along this corridor need better public transport connections, safer roads, proper rest areas and accessible facilities.

A reliable bus service connecting Kuantan, Pekan, Kuala Rompin, Mersing and Johor Bahru would benefit residents, tourists, senior citizens and people with disabilities. Buses should also be designed to accommodate wheelchair users.

It is important to recognise that the ECRL does not directly serve Kuala Rompin, Mersing or Johor Bahru. This makes feeder transport and better connections between rail and road networks even more necessary. I would like to see closer cooperation between the Pahang and Johor state governments to develop this corridor as an integrated transport, tourism and economic route.

Having travelled extensively, I believe accessibility is not a privilege for a small group of people. It is fundamental to inclusive development.

Malaysia has the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008, but legislation must translate into meaningful improvements in everyday life. Senior citizens and people with disabilities should not have to depend on sympathy or personal assistance every time they use public transport.

The government should introduce regular accessibility audits involving the OKU community, improve concessionary fares, provide reliable feeder services and ensure that public transport operators are properly trained to assist passengers with different needs.

The ECRL is an important investment in Malaysia’s future. But its success should not be measured only by passenger numbers, journey times or economic returns. It should also be measured by whether ordinary Malaysians, including the elderly and disabled, can benefit.

At 62, I still want to travel, explore and enjoy life. A disability may slow my movement, but it does not take away my desire to see the world.

A truly developed transport system is not one that only moves trains faster. It is one that ensures nobody is left behind, regardless of age or physical ability.

MOHD FUDZAIL MOHD NOR

Selangor