PwD toilet issues at Rawang station to be addressed

Hemavathy Muniandy, a wheelchair user, says many PwD toilets are often locked or inaccessible because they are not built according to specifications. — Filepic

Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) and KTM Bhd have addressed concerns raised on the condition of toilets for people with disabilities (PwD) at Rawang railway station.

In a statement to StarMetro, RAC assured the public that it would coordinate with KTMB to rectify the highlighted issues to improve user experience.

The effort will begin with the removal of obstructions to the toilets while parts affected by wear and tear or vandalism would be repaired or replaced, according to the statement.

“For the long term, RAC will reassess all PwD toilets and work towards addressing issues and make improvements that align with PwD toilet standards.”

It said as the maintenance of toilets for PwDs at railway stations was under the purview of KTMB, the operator, it should be responsible for the overall conditions and maintenance of all facilities in the train station.

RAC was referring to StarMetro’s print and video reports on July 22 regarding the plight of PwDs in accessing toilets and poor facility conditions at various locations, including train stations.

The company added that in relation to this, RAC recently conducted an audit exercise, where out of 56 stations and halts within the Klang Valley, 40 had PwD-accessible toilets while nine did not.

For stations without PwD toilets, RAC said it would look into providing the facilities.

RAC said it was the shared responsibility of the public to not misuse toilets at railway stations, especially those for PwDs, to ensure the facilities were available for convenience of all passengers.

A KTMB spokesperson also addressed the condition of the Rawang station PwD toilet.

She said the toilet had been locked to prevent further damage from vandals and the key was being kept by counter staff trained to provide immediate assistance.

She acknowledged the inappropriate placement of the broken flip bar and said the unit had been repositioned and the broken parts have been replaced. ― By BAVANI M