PJ Mosque To Become Disabled-Friendly

DATELINE MASJID JUMHURIYAH, TAMAN DATO HARUN:

Worshippers with disabilities as well as the elderly at the well-known mosque here will soon be able to fulfill their religious obligations with greater comfort. 

The good news was revealed last Saturday. 

This was after a team of experts from the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) visited the house of worship for Muslims to check on its disabled-friendly facilities.

The access-audit began from the point worshippers approached the building to how they would go inside.   

Thanasayan thrilled by ramp at the front of the mosque

The group was led by the director of planning Puan Sharipah Marhaini and councillor Anthony SB Thanasayan.

"Although the present ramp into the mosque isn't a hundred percent perfect, most people will still be able to use it without much difficulty," observed a pleased Thanasayan after he and the team spent about 45 minutes assessing the building. 

"I'm absolutely thrilled that the ramp was built at the main entrance of the mosque and not hidden away at the back as this adds on to the dignity of the disabled and elderly whose entrances must always be in front of the building," added Thanasayan who also serves as chairman of the disability expert team in the local council.

Puan Sharipah tackled the carpark area to the mosque. 

Assisted by Mr Francis Siva, a tetraplegic, from the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) in Rawang, Selangor who also sits in MBPJ's disability expert team, the director of planning managed to identify a suitable spot at the entrance of the mosque's compound to place the handicapped parking.

"Users with special needs will be protected from the elements to make life easier for them" - Sharipah 

She promised to get it duly covered too, so as to protect users from the harsh elements such as the sun and rain. 

However, the major addition to the mosque that day would be a handicapped-friendly restroom each for men and women.

"Instead of subjecting our target groups to share a toilet, a separate toilet for both sexes would further add to the dignity of the person," said Dr Melasutra Md Dali who is the councillor- in-charge of the area.

Also present with her were fellow MBPJ councillors Encik Halimey Bin Abu Bakar from Zone 24 and R Selvarajan from Zone 14.

The visit to the mosque was part of a major outreach event by MBPJ last week to reach out to the poor, disabled and the elderly in Petaling Jaya.

It was initiated by the State Assemblyman for Taman Medan Haniza Mohd Talha.

The first-time effort will see MBPJ literally knocking on the doors of the poorest houses in PJ in an attempt to reach out to the most unfortunate communities.

The effort has drawn lots of praises from many quarters.

Note: Pictures courtesy from ILTC.   

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