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06 May 2012| last updated at 05:03PM

Make buildings disabled friendly



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KUCHING: The relevant authorities should enforce provisions in the Buildings By-laws to accommodate the needs of the disabled persons by ensuring that they are incorporated in all new public and commercial buildings at the design stage, said Social activist Datuk Seri Ang Lai Soon.

 

He said the difficulties faced by the disabled when venturing outside their homes had yet to be addressed in a meaningful manner by planners, developers, architects and builders in Sarawak.  
 
"Virtually most of all our public and commercial buildings, which are open to the public and elevated from the road level do not provide ramp access, meaning the building is virtually inaccessible for a person in a wheelchair or provide a Herculean struggle for anyone accompanying that person," said Ang, who is Sarawak Cheshire Home president, when addressing its annual general meeting here today. 
 
He also suggested that the federal and state Governments throughout the country as well as the private sector have a serious look at their existing buildings to find the best solution to retrofitting to meet the needs of wheelchair users in the areas of their buildings that are used by the public. 
 
"For the wheelchair user, either easily accessible lifts or moving walkways, sometimes referred to as travelators, are essential for moving between floors to make the buildings "wheelchair user friendly," he said. - Bernama
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