Disabled group insists on aerobridge at new KLIA2 terminal
By ISABELLE LAI, The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: A group of disabled individuals has voiced its strong disagreement with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd's (MAHB) decision not to install aerobridges at the new KLIA2 terminal.
At a gathering held at Bangsar LRT station, they insisted that aerobridges were essential for safe boarding and disembarkation of passengers from all needs groups.
Group spokesperson Christine Lee, who is wheelchair-bound, said this held true especially for disabled passengers, those with walking difficulties, senior citizens, children and pregnant women.
“MAHB must ensure these facilities are provided and should not compromise at any cost,” said Lee, who is president of the pro-tem non-governmental organisation Barrier-free Environment and Accessible Transport (BEAT).
She said they had written a letter dated July 18 to seek an appointment with MAHB managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad to discuss the issue but had received no response.
However, Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) OKU technical committee chairman Anthony Thanasayan said the protest gathering was “premature”.
He said MAHB had met the committee and other disabled groups on Aug 15 to discuss the issue and promised to consider their views.
He added that he personally did not think it was necessary for the aerobridges as ambulifts could better cater for the disabled.
“What's wrong with using ambulifts? Able-bodied passengers don't need the aerobridges,” he said, adding that he was more concerned with the toilet and ramp designs at the new low-cost carrier terminal.
Anthony, who also heads the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive), said the OKU technical committee would be involved in ensuring proper access for disabled passengers at the new terminal.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) has come under fire from the disabled community for contravening a Parliamentary Act that emphasised the importance of accessibility to the disabled.
MAHB’s decision to scrap the construction of aerobridges at the new KLIA2 airport, despite an inherent policy which made it mandotory that they build one, has left the community incensed.
Said V Murugeswaran of Damai Disabled Persons Association: “The decision by MAHB not to include aerobridges in the construction of the new airport is a step backward and taken in the wrong direction.
“If underdeveloped countries can have aerobridges at their airports, why is Malaysia which is a step away from achieving developed nation status, regressing to third world status infrastructure and service provision?”
Murugeswaran was among 20 community representatives who gathered at the Bangsar LRT station this morning to protest MAHB’s decision.
The community is also sore at low cost carrier Air Asia for being inconsiderate and deciding that an aerobridge was ‘not important.’
An aerobridge is a permanent passenger boarding bridge and the disabled community see this an essential to their airport mobility.
Five days ago MAHB disclosed that aerobridges would not be built in the KLIA 2 airport if it was not going to be used.
Constantly sidelined
According to MAHB since AirAsia was not using the aerobridges it would not be ‘worthwhile.’
“As AirAsia and Air Asia X will be the major airlines at KLIA2, it may not be worthwhile to incur the cost if the aerobridges are not going to be used.
“Discussions will be held with other LCCs as well on their requirements,” MAHB was quoted as saying in English daily, The Star.
The statement followed AirAsia’s request for an exemption from MAHB’s policy of requiring airlines to use aerobridges.
This morning Murugesan lambasted MAHB saying their decision contravened the Malaysian with Disabilities Act.
“May we also draw your attention to Malaysian with Disabilities Act.
“The Act clearly emphasises the importance of accessibility to enable persons with disabilities to fully and effectively participate in society including access to public facilities, amenities and services and buildings and public transport facilities with universal design as a key feature of such access..
“We are deeply saddened that despite provisions in the act and many assurances from the government authorities and politicians, including Ministers, disabled people continue to face barriers and difficulties in their everyday life.
“Disabled people continue to be sidelined in national development projects such as KLIA2 which involved multi-billion ringgit in construction cost,” said Murugeswaran.
Cheaper alternative
The move to protest against MAHB’s decision however did not go down well with Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) councillor Anthony Thanasayan.
Thanasayan, a disabled himself felt that aerobridges were too expensive a commitment.
He suggested instead the use of the portable ambulifts in airports.
“The ambulift is more suitable as it is portable.
“Having an aerobridge will increase cost for passengers by 20%.
“It is unfair to shift the cost to able-bodied passengers.
“I have been carried up into planes in the US because the smaller airports does not have aerobridges and ambulifts,” said Thanasayan, who is the president of Petpositiev and an activist for the disabled community.
Whilst agreeing that ambulifts are faulty, he said most of the time the problem was with poor or lack fo maintenance of this facility.
At a gathering held at Bangsar LRT station, they insisted that aerobridges were essential for safe boarding and disembarkation of passengers from all needs groups.
Group spokesperson Christine Lee, who is wheelchair-bound, said this held true especially for disabled passengers, those with walking difficulties, senior citizens, children and pregnant women.
“MAHB must ensure these facilities are provided and should not compromise at any cost,” said Lee, who is president of the pro-tem non-governmental organisation Barrier-free Environment and Accessible Transport (BEAT).
She said they had written a letter dated July 18 to seek an appointment with MAHB managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad to discuss the issue but had received no response.
However, Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) OKU technical committee chairman Anthony Thanasayan said the protest gathering was “premature”.
He said MAHB had met the committee and other disabled groups on Aug 15 to discuss the issue and promised to consider their views.
He added that he personally did not think it was necessary for the aerobridges as ambulifts could better cater for the disabled.
“What's wrong with using ambulifts? Able-bodied passengers don't need the aerobridges,” he said, adding that he was more concerned with the toilet and ramp designs at the new low-cost carrier terminal.
Anthony, who also heads the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive), said the OKU technical committee would be involved in ensuring proper access for disabled passengers at the new terminal.
‘Inconsiderate’ MAHB, Air Asia slammed
Disabled community furious at Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad's decision to scrap aerobridges.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) has come under fire from the disabled community for contravening a Parliamentary Act that emphasised the importance of accessibility to the disabled.MAHB’s decision to scrap the construction of aerobridges at the new KLIA2 airport, despite an inherent policy which made it mandotory that they build one, has left the community incensed.
Said V Murugeswaran of Damai Disabled Persons Association: “The decision by MAHB not to include aerobridges in the construction of the new airport is a step backward and taken in the wrong direction.
“If underdeveloped countries can have aerobridges at their airports, why is Malaysia which is a step away from achieving developed nation status, regressing to third world status infrastructure and service provision?”
Murugeswaran was among 20 community representatives who gathered at the Bangsar LRT station this morning to protest MAHB’s decision.
The community is also sore at low cost carrier Air Asia for being inconsiderate and deciding that an aerobridge was ‘not important.’
An aerobridge is a permanent passenger boarding bridge and the disabled community see this an essential to their airport mobility.
Five days ago MAHB disclosed that aerobridges would not be built in the KLIA 2 airport if it was not going to be used.
Constantly sidelined
According to MAHB since AirAsia was not using the aerobridges it would not be ‘worthwhile.’
“As AirAsia and Air Asia X will be the major airlines at KLIA2, it may not be worthwhile to incur the cost if the aerobridges are not going to be used.
“Discussions will be held with other LCCs as well on their requirements,” MAHB was quoted as saying in English daily, The Star.
The statement followed AirAsia’s request for an exemption from MAHB’s policy of requiring airlines to use aerobridges.
This morning Murugesan lambasted MAHB saying their decision contravened the Malaysian with Disabilities Act.
“May we also draw your attention to Malaysian with Disabilities Act.
“The Act clearly emphasises the importance of accessibility to enable persons with disabilities to fully and effectively participate in society including access to public facilities, amenities and services and buildings and public transport facilities with universal design as a key feature of such access..
“We are deeply saddened that despite provisions in the act and many assurances from the government authorities and politicians, including Ministers, disabled people continue to face barriers and difficulties in their everyday life.
“Disabled people continue to be sidelined in national development projects such as KLIA2 which involved multi-billion ringgit in construction cost,” said Murugeswaran.
Cheaper alternative
The move to protest against MAHB’s decision however did not go down well with Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) councillor Anthony Thanasayan.
Thanasayan, a disabled himself felt that aerobridges were too expensive a commitment.
He suggested instead the use of the portable ambulifts in airports.
“The ambulift is more suitable as it is portable.
“Having an aerobridge will increase cost for passengers by 20%.
“It is unfair to shift the cost to able-bodied passengers.
“I have been carried up into planes in the US because the smaller airports does not have aerobridges and ambulifts,” said Thanasayan, who is the president of Petpositiev and an activist for the disabled community.
Whilst agreeing that ambulifts are faulty, he said most of the time the problem was with poor or lack fo maintenance of this facility.
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4 comments:
Greetings everyone,
with due respect to Anthony ,I think he has missed out on some fundamental issues in regards to aerobridges and access for OKUs at the new airport terminal.
1)Consumer rights: Whilst some smaller regional and secondary airports around the world do not have aerobridges, this argument does not make sense in KLIA. KLIA is the main air hub for Malaysia, servicing millions per year. Air Asia alone has over 200 aircraft on order, fueled by millions of fare paying passengers. They make millions in profits and yet refuse to pay for usage of aerobridges?
I am a pilot with MAS, and I have NOT seen many international airport built in the developed these last 20 years which are not equipted with aerobridges. For your info, Tony....aerobridges in our part of the world is needed with the frequent rain storms and heat. We are spending billions on world class terminals with marble floors, huge tv screens, and various value added facilities....but decide to amit a simple itme like an aerobridge?
Bear in mind, larger aircraft will also be using the new terminal....300 seater aircraft. How do you think the ambulift is going to cope with more OKUs or elderly passengers?
2:Safety : The rist of incidents and accidents are high whenever passengers are required to walk along the tarmac area to the aircraft. Ground vehicles are aplenty. Engines may still be winding down. And again....refueling. A fire hazard.
Aerobridges allow quick and safe disembarkation, and pretection from those risks.
Please reconsider your response on the protests.We are talking about a large, brand new airport terminal...not a small regional airfield in the jungle.
And another thing. Why is MAHB bending over backwards to accomodate Air Asia's insistence on NOT using aerobridges? For your information, Air Asia uses aerobridges when the park at airports around the world! Why are malaysian consumers being shortchanged?
I have many friends who are wheel-chair bound and having read this article in the local daily I thought best for me to comment on this matter.
Firstly, gathering to protest is not going to solve the problem. But, I believe it did serve a certain individual's agenda.
Secondly, why protest when you are given every opportunity to have a dialogue with the relevant authority and present your case - provided you have the facts and figures.
Thirdly, why argue when in actual fact you should be gathering feedbacks from those affected. My question is "How many are really affected?". Do you have the statistics? MAHB would be more than willing to look at the numbers.You can only put forward your request. You never insist.
Finally, this individual should not mislead the OKUs and make baseless comments.I find this character to be very irresponsible.
I have read all the Comment and to me it make a point
As for me i am not talking only for the OKU but as an Universal usage ( Senior Citizen, pregnant mothers Mothers who are pushing trolley and are pregnant too)try using the ambulift and see how jerky it can be if the ground staff are not experience to handle it . As for me the number of time i requested for an amulift i was told it is out of order so how do i come down from the plane get carried down not safe And of the day if money is the question MAHB can ask the Government to give Tax rebate to use the Ambulift. As for protesting here and there is wrong A High powered committee has be set by the Ministry of Transport together with all the transport agencies together with the OKU so let a decision be made by the the high powered committee and please refrain from any other action. Thank you please
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