KUCHING: Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong has called on all local councils to provide a more conducive and friendly environment for the elderly and disabled by improving the facilities in all council markets and hawkers centres under its jurisdictions.
She said it was necessary for Kuching South City Council (MBKS), Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) and Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) to improve their markets’ facilities to facilitate the disabled and elderly to have more accessibility in public areas that are free from barriers.
This is especially for wheelchair users, senior citizens and individuals using walking aids and facing difficulties to climb up and down the markets using staircase.
Yong said during a recent walkabout to distribute mooncakes to the local community at Bintawa Market and Kenyalang Community Market, she received feedbacks from many elderly citizens requesting the councils to implement disabled-friendly facilities at the markets to enhance accessibility of the elderly and disabled.
“The improvement of current market facilities is needed as most of the patrons who visit the public market belong to the senior citizen group who require friendlier facilities to move around and access the market place,” she said in a press release yesterday.
In addition to that, Yong gave an example of Kenyalang Community Market which is a three-storey market whereby ground floor is the car park, first floor is for the vegetables, meat, and fish section as well as second floor where the hawker centre situated.
“In order to access from the car park to the first floor or from first floor to second floor, it is challenging because there are no disabled-friendly facilities for people with mobility problems.
“In fact, it is a must for all local councils to install lifts, elevators or escalators, as well as more railings to facilitate the senior citizens or disabled persons who visit the markets or hawker centres within their respective jurisdiction,” she said.
