It was reported that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will be serious in ensuring contractors and developers meeting the latest guidelines on providing accessibility for disabled persons in new development projects in Kuala Lumpur. This is as per the standard by the Department of Standards Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib that all facilities built by contractors and developers must be following the MS 1184:2014 Universal Design in The Built Environment — Code of Practice (second revision). He then gave an example of a universal design in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad building in Jalan Sultan Ismail, which included a ramp instead of a staircase for the public.
Personally, I think ALL developers should already have this in their design instead of waiting to be informed or reminded. It’s a very small gesture of goodwill no matter how bit or small the developer may be. We always say that the public authorities should be more modern, should be more efficient in what they do but if you are a developer, do you know that the trend is for friendlier buildings? I am not a developer but I do know that if by building these disabled friendlier facilities I would suffer losses, I think one better not become a developer. There must be something wrong with my design. 🙂 Contact DBKL here if needed.
Of course the public should also help too. Identify buildings which are totally not disabled friendly, write to DBKL who can then facilitate a discussion with the developer concerned. Please also do not misuse the facilities provided for the disabled. For example, the car parks for the disabled, unless you are really disabled, why would you want to park there? They said, first world facility, third class maintenance. I would say it’s more like third class mentality, yes that’s to the people who’s just plain ignorant. Everything always begin with you and me. Do you want to make this a better Malaysia?
written on 12 Aug 2014
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