We had several meetings, since October 17th 2008, with various departments and ministries regarding the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 Council. The sub-committee that I am focusing on is “Universal Design: Built Environment and Transportation”. It’s a huge task to unravel exactly what is going on and how to present the course of actions to be recommended to the Minister when we see her next. We have to get our facts right also! No joke one!
So I want to inform what I had learned during the meetings and the possible actions that could be undertaken. It is my opinion alone and none is being endorsed yet, so take it like what I am trying to do here – just chatting about it and think about it more – and try to give more ideas.
MAIN ISSUES
Jabatan Kerja Raya (Public Works Department) Issues:
- Buildings designed by the consultants (outside architects that were appointed by JKR) are and were not subjected to Malaysian Standards 1184 & 1183.* Of course buildings designed by JKR’s architects are subjected to the standards but as a guideline. (Please understand the difference.) The fact is although JKR follows the UBBL (Uniform Building By Law) which is under the Streets, Drainage and Building Act, the quoted standards MS 1184 & 1183 is not for JKR as it’s for public buildings (non-government buildings).
- We discused the revision of the Building Act in order to change the MS 1184 and 1183 (perhaps we just need to revise the standards) (need advice on this from legislators)…to change “public buildings” to All Buildings! So to be honest, if we cannot get the revision done, we are ****!! (as the JKR rep has rightly pointed in the meeting in a not so rude way!)
- EPU (Economic Planning Unit under Ministry of Finance) – document on “Standards and Costs”. Need to check that there is a clause (in the document) where only for a certain size (even if its a two storey building) you need to have lifts. (Guidelines for Standards & Cost for Government Projects) Only applicable for projects sent for approval. (Need to find out more about this. Never seen the document before.)
CVLB (Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board) issues:
- The compulsory members, CVLB (Min. of Entrepeneurship) and EPU (Min. of Finance) will need to be part of the meetings in the future especially when discussing with MOT and JKR.
- CVLB representative did not turn up during the very first meeting with the Minister. And during the meetings with Min of Transport (with BEAT), we did not hear a pip from them or it was lot of waffling?? We are seeing a pattern here – apparently it is no go beyond RapidKL when there is discussion with disabled people, keeping disabled people at bay as long as CVLB can huh? SPNB (Prasarana) shot us down during the National Transport Summit…yup, side-tracked and blamed the local government… in fact KL City Hall rep expressed their concern about this impasse with the decision on the pavement heights due to RapidKL (ahemm SPNB’s) dilly-dallying ways….We are really anxious to know about the standards in January 2008. Really, really anxious….hmmmm… how long can they side step the issues?? Not only about the pavement heights but the 100 buses etc etc…so many puzzles to solve (and I heard not a meeting is being arranged yet between JPJ – CVLB etc…)
- I am in the camp that is “not really please” with the Nadi Putra buses, because we are not united in our efforts to push for the buses that we want. It’s going to be a long story with the Transportation agencies, I bet you! And the more we are not really having concrete solutions, the more they will danggle sub standards solutions and dilly dallying tactics to make us frustrated!
MS 1331:
Malaysian Standard 1331: Access of Disabled Persons Outside Buildings (2003), have yet to be incorporated into any of the legislation. KL City Hall (DBKL) rep agreed that MS 1331 should be gazetted as in terms of planning approvals via DO (Development Order) such as housing estates, if MS 1331 is gazetted, it could be enforced. At the moment now, access requirements for outside buildings are NOT ENFORCEABLE!
Also there is only DO in the beginning and then Certificate of Fitness (CF) at the end of development control. DO’s requirement is not so detailed, so the drawings submitted need to comply so that CF is given (now they change to OIC / CC but its the same). JKR do apply for DO but CF its entirely up to them. That is JKR do not submit for CF, and it’s decided in-house.
Enforcement mechanism:
An Access unit is to be developed as an enforcement mechanism. This could solve problems with existing buildings to be upgraded. Other local authorities, apart from Kuala Lumpur City Hall, will also need to have this done and need to discuss this more. I am really counting on these access units or even Disability Unit to be incorporated in all state governments and ministries involved. In KL City Hall for example, the either is to appoint an architect with three assistants to create this Access Unit. If we apply this to non built environment set-ups then we need to find out the terms of references. At the moment we are only working on the Universal Design terms of references.
OTHER ISSUES
Training curriculum:
For architecture courses, include Universal Design in the course.
For practising architects, include in their Professional Development Course (CPD).
Technical Committee of disabled advisors to the local authority:
Need to define the terms of reference properly.
Coordination problems on street / pavements (road works):
Need to find out how to coordinate the problems with TNB, Post Office and Telekom street furniture and equipment. Perhaps need to incorporate in guidelines (MS 1331) and need to draw how to streamline them. (Check with Min of Housing and Local Govt. as well)
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