EC must provide handicapped-friendly facilities at polling stations

KUALA LUMPUR: A non-governmental organisation for the handicapped, Persatuan Damai Orang Kurang Upaya Malaysia (DAMAI), has urged the Election Commission to provide handicapped-friendly facilities during the coming 14th General Election (GE14).
Its president, V. Murugeswaran said such facilities would encourage more handicapped individuals to vote during the general election.
"The polling stations are usually at schools and community halls which do not have facilities for the handicapped, causing difficulty to those on wheelchairs or using canes. Thus, ramps and mobile toilets should be provided for their benefit.
"The EC staff and volunteers on duty on polling day should also be given training on how to help the handicapped," he told reporters when met after handing over to the EC a guidebook on how to help these people during elections here today.
The guidebook is titled Malaysian Standard Book (MS 1184: 2014).
Murugeswaran said the Social Welfare Department also provided EC staff and volunteers with 'Disabilities Awareness Training' to assist handicapped persons at the polling centres.
Meanwhile, an EC spokesman told reporters that the commission welcomed DAMAI's suggestions and would act on them immediately. — Bernama