2016年7月12日 星期二

2016年7月10日 星期日

When patriotism becomes missing!

To many Malaysians who have keen concerns on the national security and welfare of people, it is undisputable that the role and existence of our opposition political parties in recent years have become questionable and disillusioned. Noticeably, their reciprocal actions on the attacks by foreign elements in our country have casted much doubts and discounted confidence.

Our opposition parties have been campaigning freedom, fairness and rights of the rakyat and also fighting for welfare for the people. The fundamental bases of freedom, enjoyment of rights and welfare of people depend much on the stability and security of our country. However, when there was a so-called bomb explosion initiated by foreign elements in Puchong and also the intrusion of Lahad Datu, Sabah by Suluks , the actions exhibited by our opposition have been disgusting. Their actions clearly not only show the total lack of patriotism but also demonstration of irresponsible parliamentarians. Instead of calling for unity of our people to fight against the intruders and terrorism, these elected law-makers tried to make mockery of our security.

There have been street demonstrations organized by the unscrupulous politicians to protest against the ruling party for the so-called unfairness and curbed freedom of an individual politician and also corruption charges against the opposition, however, when the foreign elements openly declared attack on the integrity and dignity of our country, our opposition acted dumbly and blindly without any organized protest that would help to show our solidarity against those who threatened the security of our country. As shown in the past, organizing demonstration by the oppositions should not be a problem. Generally, most of the people just wonder when the street demonstration is strongly needed against the foreign elements, no such assembly is being organized. The simple conclusion may be that individualism has prevailed over patriotism and our people have now become divided to the ease of foreign threats.

2016年7月3日 星期日

Wheel chair lift

The existence of the “ wheel-chair lift “ at the main entrance at one of the shopping malls in Penang was perplexed and fuzzed to most of activists of accessible transportation. Understandably, the installation of the existing “wheel-chair lift “was meant to replace the previous accessible side walk to the entrance of the main shopping mall.

However, the so-called replacement can be interpreted as lack of understanding and knowledge of what we mean by accessibility and usability. In design buildings and constructions, the concepts of accessibility and usability should always be termed with safe, direct and obstacle free path of travel. The present wheel-chair lift clearly has not met the general standard of accessibility as it does not provide direct accessible and free passage into the building. The user of the wheel-chair lift has to make prior arrangement before she or he can use it. Additionally, the use the wheel-chair lift is limited to one person at a time and there would not be enough time if there are more wheel-chaired people in the emergency. It is quite puzzling the management of the shopping mall changed the sloping walk to this wheel-chair lift.

The installation at the main entrance also indicates the misconception and misperception on the disabled people and the actual users of accessible sloping or gradient path. The disabled people not necessarily to sit in wheel-chairs and the users may cover wide range of people as they can be senior people and even ladies with prams or the pregnant.