Dec 17: I LAUD the efforts of the Malay­sian Bar Council to have stricter laws for facilities for disabled persons in public buildings and properties.

But unless enforcement is carried out, the general public’s attitude towards the handicapped community will remain unchanged.

I urge enforcement authorities to take a drive to any place in Penang where there is allocated parking for the handicapped. I dare to bet my last dollar that the spots would have been taken by able-bodied drivers. Motorcyclist too park at these spots.

What is the point of putting signs up and reserving parking bays for the handicapped when they never get to use them?

I would like to relate a personal experience at the Penang Inter­national Airport when I went there to receive a friend from overseas.

He was confined to a wheelchair and it was his first visit to Malaysia. After hearing so much of this country, he decided to accept my invitation to visit.

His first impression was not a good one. We had so much problem trying to load his chair into the car as it needed to be taken apart amidst honking cars. All the handicapped parking spaces were taken by non-handicapped drivers. His departure was equally traumatising.

It is time we have stricter enforce­ment against these errant members of the public. Please do something about it if we say we really care.

Source: http://thestar.com.my