A recent media report regarding the new RapidPenang buses stated that:

'Dr Teng (Penang state local government, traffic management committee chairman Dr Teng Hock Nan) said the state had ordered 150 low-floor buses from China for the bus service. "For the time being, we will not be having special buses for the disabled who use wheelchairs," he said.'

Teng must be ignorant of the fact that special buses are not required to accommodate wheelchairs or those with walking difficulties, the deaf, the blind, the elderly, mothers with babies in prams or push-chairs.

All new buses should be so designed to come completely fitted-out with all the necessary facilities to enable each and every citizen to use then, without any exceptions.

As it is, it seems that the 150 new buses from China for RapidPenang will not be universally designed, so they will not be wheelchair accessible, and most likely they will also be inaccessible or unusable by others too.

I wonder who the Penang state government consulted before ordering the 150 new buses?

It is shameful that the disabled get the cold shoulder once again. Let's hope the proposed Penang monorail will conform to the concept of universal design and will provide universal accessibility. At least then, the mobility problems in Penang will be partially solved.

It is essential that all forms of transportation, all buildings, footpaths, and other infrastructure should conform to the concept of universal design, and thus will be accessible to everyone.

The marginalisation of the disabled in Malaysia must stop, or otherwise Malaysia may give the impression that it favours developing a master race (die Herrenrasse) comprising of only the 'perfect'.