The blind against new system |
Friday, 06 August 2010 10:22 |
ABOUT 50 blind residents in Brickfields took to the streets yesterday to protest against the new traffic system in Tun Sambanthan.
They gathered at 10am near the YMCA building further slowing down the traffic flow along Jalan Tun Sambanthan 4 with some motorists hooting to show support for their cause.
The protesters were against the one-way traffic flow and wanted more zebra crossings and speed humps along the street.
Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun who met the group later told reporters that he would meet Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to put across their grievances.
“Traffic flow along this street as increased and more zebra crossings and speed humps must be put in place to reduce accidents,” he said, assuring them that he would speak to DBKL director-general Datuk Salleh Yusup soon.
He said he would request DBKL to deploy more traffic wardens in the area until the speed humps were in place.
The gathering yesterday was organised by several blind associations, including the Blind Justice Group.
“Most of the NGOs for the blind did not even give their suggestions to the authorities during the initial traffic blueprint for Brickfields,” said Blind Justice coordinator G. Guna.
He said in the whole of Malaysia, Brickfields was the only place where the blind were concentrated and they had been trained to move around in this area.
“When the blind-friendly area gets disrupted naturally they become concerned. The blind have no other place to go to but the motorists have other options,” said the volunteer at the National Council for the Blind.
There are about 1,000 blind people working or residing in Brickfields and more than 60 are employed as masseurs at the over 20 blind-run massage centres in Brickfields.
Council assistant executive director Moses Siew Cheong admitted that the council did not attend meetings or provided input to DBKL . “They are professionals and we leave it to them to do a good job,” he said.
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Last Updated on Friday, 06 August 2010 10:55 |