SOME 20 to 30 physically disabled people in Kuching own and drive their own specially modified cars.
APPROVED DESIGN: A diagram of the modification kit approved for the disabled driver by the Road Transport Department.
This not only helps them become more mobile but also less dependent on others, especially in the face of a public transport system that is not only unreliable but virtually non-existence as well.
Although the local authorities are sensitive to the plight of the disabled, they have yet to put in place a concrete delivery system for them.
And for special needs people, life will be more independent if they can afford their own “special” transport.
Road Transport Department (RTD) public relations officer Albert Clement told thesundaypost the department’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) also applied to special needs roadusers such as the disabled who want to drive independently.
He pointed out that to enhance their mobility, the disabled had resorted to buying their own transport but like any roadusers, they had to go through the same process of obtaining a driving licence.
THE RIGHT WAY: Sarawak Society of the Disabled member Jimmy Siang (left) pointing to a sticker that indicates the car has been modified and is being driven by a disabled person. With him are Francis (second left), Donald Law (in wheel chair) and Jonatha Ruben.
Nowadays, he noted, more and more disabled people were driving cars modified to suit their special needs.
“There is a special modification kit which can be installed in a car to enable the disabled to drive with ease.”
But for the disabled who could not afford cars, Clement said they would usually go for special motorbikes.
“These motorbikes must comply with RTD specifications and designs – like having four wheels, for instance,” he stressed.
Standard operating procedures
According to Clement, before the disabled can apply for a driving licence from the RTD, they should first register with the Welfare Department to endorse the type and category of their disabilities.
“Before they can obtain a driving licence, they must also get medical approval (certification of fitness) from the government hospital that categorised their disabilities.
“The next thing is to go through the driving school so that they can sit for the theory and practical exams like any normal drivers. Once they pass their driving tests, they will be issued a licence with a disability status.”
Clement also said the disabled could go to the driving institute of their choice.
“There is a standard operating procedure to help special needs drivers. However, for administrative purpose, it would be easier for the RTD if detailed information on such drivers were provided.”
He said driving licences had also been issued to different categories of disabled people such the deaf, the mute and the partially blind.
“Most of their driving licences will specify that they are disabled and also identify the type of their disabilities.”
Modified vehicles
EASY DOES IT: Jimmy Siang lifts himself from a wheelchair into his car which has been modified with a special kit.
Clement disclosed that in May this year, the RTD informed driving schools that they must own automated modified vehicles if they wished to give driving lessons to the disabled.
Previously, he said, the disabled had to use their own modified vehicles or those belonging to other people if they wanted to learn how drive.
He also pointed out that to be roadworthy, the modified vehicle must be examined and approved by the RTD and Puspakom, adding that if everything was in order, the vehicle would be brought to the RTD for registration of ownership.
The RTD will also issue a ‘disabled’ sticker for the modified car so that public is aware it is driven by a disabled person.
However, the RTD is yet to launch this plan as it is still awaiting further instructions from the Transport Ministry.
“There are still a few things to iron out. Once this is done, the plan can be implemented to help the disabled in an efficient manner,” Clement said.
According to him, the disabled who buy their own vehicles are exempted from paying road tax.
Members of the Sarawak Society for the Disabled (SSD) who have modified their vehicles, said the modification kits were now available at a local car company and costing around RM3,000.
Although they had urged the dealer to give the disabled a discount, they said they were not expecting much and would leave it to the dealer’s discretion.
Meanwhile, SSD secretary Francis Johen Adam disclosed special needs buyers of Malaysian-made car were exempted from paying sales tax.
“But the process is very long. They have to go through the Finance Ministry to get this exemption,” he noted.
Francis pointed out that because of bureaucratic red tape, not many disabled persons had benefitted the “exemption” provided by the government.
Grey areas and issues
He said although the authorities were now more aware of the needs of the disabled, they must be serious about providing facilities to meet these needs, especially to enhance mobility of the handicapped.
On the issuance of car stickers for the disabled, he said it was up to the RTD to decide.
“When we talk about car stickers, we have to think of the wider range of disabilities involved. The stickers should also be for those who cannot drive due to a disability caused by stroke or if the person is disabled minor.”
Francis felt this should be considered by the service providers to lessen the burden of special needs people.
He said there was also a need to provide facilities like a ramp to help the disabled get into a building, adding that this should be built next to a parking bay for the disabled otherwise how would a disabled person be able get into the building.
“There must be a monitoring and enforcement system to prevent abuse or misuse of these facilities by other people,” he added.
Francis said there was still much to do to ensure the right of access to public facilities for the disabled.
He believed it was only right for the local authorities to also issue stickers, indicating certain parking lots under their jurisdiction were reserved for the disabled.
He said the issuing process should not be too tedious, suggesting the “ideal solution” would be to come up with a common sticker.
“For a start, this will be good enough,” he reckoned.