PRASARANA INTRODUCES DISABLED FRIENDLY BUSES IN THE CITY

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- Public transport in the country has

entered a new dimension with the introduction of disabled friendly buses that

are equipped with facilities for physically challenged and physically impaired

people.

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (Prasarana) Group Director for Infrastructure

Division, Nor Hassan Ismail said the company had purchased 150 buses from

Germany that are designed to enable handicapped people to board and disembark

without having to assisted.

"The buses are provided with special seat belts and also ramps to enable

people on wheelchairs to board and disembark without assistance," he told

reporters after launching the buses in Cheras here today.

He said initially the buses would be plying various routes in the city.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ihsan Abdul Karim, 24, who was on a wheelchair said the new

bus was more disabled friendly compared with the existing ones and suitable for

handicapped people.

He was confident that the introduction of the buses by Prasarana would

encourage handicapped people to use public transport without seeking the

help from others.

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PRASARANA-BUS 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR

"In the past, whenever I travel on buses using the wheelchair, I will have

to seek help from others but with these buses fitted with ramps, I can do it by

myself.

"If ramps and seat belts are not allocated to us, there might a risk

involved but since the new buses are fitted with the necessary facilities, it

will be a big help to people like me and others like me," he said.

Meanwhile, according to Michal Luberadkzi, Managing Director of MAN Truck &

Bus (M) Sdn Bhd, the company that manufactures the buses said apart from the

disabled friendly features, each bus was also equipped with CCTV to reduce crime

and to make passengers feel more secured and comfortable.

-- BERNAMA

MAF AKT JRL