Mobility Assistance Penang” (MAP)

TRANSPORT SERVICE FOR DISABLED PERSONS OF PENANG

Introduction
On September 24^th 2000, the representatives from Society of the Disabled Persons Penang (SDPP) met representatives from the Church of Lady of Sorrow to discuss the mobility problems of disabled persons. At the end of the discussion, SDPP was requested to prepare a paper to outline a possible solution to the problem.

People with disabilities and frail elders need transportation to get to work, school, recreation, medical services, and all the other activities of daily living. Public transportation needs to become accessible for blind persons, those who are partially sighted, people with mobility and cognitive impairments, and persons who are deaf, deafened, or hard-of-hearing.

Unfortunately, the public transportation system currently available in Penang is completely unsuitable for these people. The buses are inaccessible to wheelchair users and often the bus drivers do not have patience to wait for crutch users.

Taxi service is too expensive for average disabled persons many of whom belong to the lower income group. They cannot afford to take taxi to go to and from work everyday. Many taxi drivers are also reluctant to help disabled persons carry their wheelchairs or walking aids into their taxis. 

Some disabled persons make specially arrangement for “kereta sapu” (private taxi service) to fetch them to work. But that can be very expensive --- as much as RM 200 a month. This service is available only on monthly basis. It is difficult to get these drivers to make single trip, such as going to the hospital, immigration office, visit friends or shopping.

Because of this, many parents find it difficult to send their disabled children to school, many educated disabled adults are unable to go to work, and many disabled persons simply stay at home not going anywhere at all. Some working disabled persons have to resign from work when their families relocate to places too far for them to travel by their tricycles.