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KUCHING, Sept 23: Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong is urging the Kuching South City Council (MBKS), Kuching North City Commission (DBKU), and Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) to enhance the accessibility of their markets and hawker centres to create a more user-friendly environment for the elderly and disabled.
In a statement issued today, Yong emphasised the need for improvements that would eliminate barriers and provide better access for wheelchair users, senior citizens, and individuals using walking aids.
During a recent walkabout at Bintawa Market and Kenyalang Community Market, where she was distributing mooncakes to the local community, Yong received feedback from many elderly citizens requesting that the councils implement facilities that cater to disabled individuals, enhancing overall accessibility.
“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 marketplace,” she said.
Yong pointed out an example at Kenyalang Community Market, a three-story facility with a ground floor serving as a car park, the first floor housing vegetables, meat, and fish sections, and the second floor featuring a hawker centres.
She noted that the lack of disabled-friendly facilities creates challenges in moving between these floors for people with mobility issues.
Yong stressed the importance of local councils installing lifts, elevators, escalators, and additional railings to facilitate senior citizens and disabled persons visiting markets or hawker centres within their respective jurisdictions. — DayakDaily
