MISSING tactile guides, locked disabled-friendly toilets, absence of ramps and obstacles blocking pathways have become daily, stressful challenges for Penang’s disabled community (Orang Kurang Upaya or OKU).
This boils down to mobility and infrastructure failures, said Penang Society of Disabled Persons president Datuk Teh Lay Kuan, adding that while facilities existed, significant improvements were needed, particularly for wheelchair users.
She said walkways and five-foot-ways often lacked ramps, making access impossible, or were obstructed by items like feeder pillars.
“Most of us are wheelchair- bound, so we need the roads and five-foot ways to be accessible.”
Uneven surfaces also force users to make sudden turns, Teh said, challenging independent wheelchair operation.
She cited well-designed ramps, like those in Singapore, as a standard for true independence.
Locked toilet crisis
The issue of inaccessible restrooms was also underscored by both the society and St Nicholas’ Home For the Blind general manager Carmen Chew.
(From left) Teh, Lim and Ooi struggle to access the pavement as they are blocked by double-parked cars in George Town.
They have condemned the common practice of locking disabled-friendly toilets.
This forces users, who often have an urgent need, to waste critical time and effort finding a security guard for the key.
“I understand that toilets are often locked to prevent misuse, so cleaning it is the proper solution, not locking it.
“The visually impaired find it difficult to use regular toilets due to the lack of handrails and the narrow space,” she said.
Teh, who is also wheelchair- bound, cited Komtar as an example for cases of locked disabled- friendly toilets.
“Waiting for a key is impractical. It takes extra time and effort to find a guard,” she said, recalling a sad incident where one of their disabled members wet himself because he could not get the key in time.
Rajendran says five-foot ways are legally meant to remain free of obstacles.
She added that many locations, including factories and restaurants, lacked dedicated toilets for the disabled.
“Regular toilets are too narrow and lack the support railings necessary for wheelchair users and those with physical disabilities, severely impacting the employment prospects of qualified OKUs.
“We once attended an event at a factory without a disabled- friendly toilet, which was difficult for our members. This is why people with physical disabilities often cannot work in factories, even if they are qualified,” Teh added.
Transportation woes
Teh urged the Penang government to provide better public transport, specifically hydraulic vans equipped with lifts for easier travel to hospital appointments.
“Usually, we need someone to help us get onto public transport. Hydraulic vans would make travelling much easier for us,” she said.
The one van they have to cater to the 300-member society offers limited transportation options, she said.
“A state-driven initiative would relieve a lot of travel burden for wheelchair-bound people,” Teh added.
She emphasised the difficult navigation for the disabled at the Penang ferry terminals in George Town and Butterworth, adding that the authorities should have consulted the disabled community before construction.
“Even with assistance, manoeuvring along the entrance and walkways is strenuous,” she said.
Lim says there is broader support with help from the Social Welfare Department for the disabled.
Teh highlighted the need for the state to require developers and contractors to consult the disabled community when building new facilities, hoping the upcoming Penang LRT Mutiara Line would be designed with accessibility in mind.
Challenges for the blind
Chew said tactile ground surface indicators (straight lines mean ‘walk’, dots mean ‘stop’) which guide the visually impaired, were often removed for repairs and never replaced.
“Even a gap of two missing tiles can disorient a visually-impaired user, leading to a loss of direction or the risk of walking into traffic,” she said.
Chew added that obstacles like feeder pillars placed too close to the tactile guides posed a serious threat, interfering with the 45-degree sweep of their guiding cane.
Chew (standing, right) observing trainee S. Puvarasan, 19, build a website as part of his course work at St Nicholas’ Home for the Blind.
She urged the local councils to enforce stricter regulations on contractors.
For pedestrian crossings in Penang, Chew suggested for all to be equipped with beeping signals to indicate when it is safe to cross.
“Visually impaired people rely on these audible cues instead of traffic lights,” she said.
State-led initiatives
Penang island mayor Datuk A. Rajendran has addressed maintenance efforts, revealing that the city council spent about RM3mil annually on maintaining road infrastructure and walkways.
He said dedicated teams conducted routine inspections three to four times a year to identify defects and schedule the necessary maintenance work.
“The public can lodge reports through various channels, including the Pearl mobile apps and WhatsApp or by dropping by our office,” he said.
Five-foot ways are legally meant to remain free of obstacles, he said, and Penang Island City Council (MBPP) was empowered to issue compounds or fines for obstructions under the Street, Drainage and Building Act (Act 133).
Penang social development, welfare and non-Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Lim Siew Khim highlighted the state’s broader support with help from the Social Welfare Department towards the disabled community.
Penang, she said, was promoting the ‘MAIN’ (Membesarkan Anak Insan Negara) campaign to create a supportive environment for children, including those with disabilities, focusing on early detection and family support.
“The campaign has four sections, namely early childhood development involving parents and caregivers, early detection of autism, children’s well-being and protection, and easy access to counselling for children with disabilities and their families,” added Lim.
“We will work on policies to make Penang more child-friendly, including raising awareness, identifying gaps and assessing homes and organisations to improve facilities.”
Lim said Penang was also working towards becoming an Age-Friendly City, a design philosophy intended to benefit everyone, including senior citizens and the disabled.
This includes promoting accessibility, inclusivity and universal design across the state, such as restructuring walkways to improve access to public transport for the disabled community.
“We aim to promote accessibility, inclusivity and universal design across the state, and restructuring walkways to make public transport more accessible,” she said.
