Lessons learned from my Petition to KTMB

First of all, I am surprised at myself for initiating the exercise. I am known for being laid back. But after our Deepavali lunch at Kg. Wellington (formerly Wellington Estate) which is a left turn off the Ipoh-Lumut highway at the junction to Pantai Remis (right turn), I decided to do something.

Before lunch, youngman Honasegaran was sitting in a wheel-chair, chatting with us about his life at a disabled centre in Rawang. He was disabled as a result of a motor accident a few years ago, which case is still pending court decision. In a way, he was lucky to have spent almost 3 years at the centre which taught him, among other things, cooking, riding a special motorbike (for disabled), driving a special car (for disabled) and even learning how to use computer. Generally, he learned how to look after himself as well as cooking and sharing with other disabled residents of the centre. Other than being unfortunately disabled, I think he learned more in Rawang than if he were studying like the other students near home. He told us he is actually financially independent, using a special motor bike converted into a hawker stall, selling drinks and cut fruits. He will be moving out of the centre to make way for others, but continue to live in Rawang.

He told us that he had been back 4 times by train, from Rawang to Batu Gajah. He described how he had to use his wheel-chair going on the platform parallel to the railway lines for quite a distance before his father could pick him by car. This was to avoid the high pedestrian overhead bridge across the new double-tracked railway lines. He seem resigned to the hassle adding that there are only a very small number of disabled using the train and never expect KTMB to listen to their problems. This was the part which riled me and spurred me to action. Because of his disability he had no option but to use the train, and his father had to travel about 50 km to BG, AND, face the hassle of pushing the wheel-chair bound son for a distance just to avoid the high overhead bridge. The least KTMB could do is to have a scheduled stop at the old station for trains arriving from the south, for the benefit of senior citizens, those with mobility problems as well as those who are physically handicapped.

A few years ago, I knew and was disappointed when I heard about the plans to build a new railway station despite complaints about the 'out of the way' location. The construction was completed ahead of practical usage and when it was open to the public, even my son on his first visit, noticed the signs were already faded.

Before it was open for use, when the new approach roads were not completed, I have been there a few times going through a village and got lost most times! The most surprising was even with the new roads leading to it, a Batu Gajah resident said he could not find the way once and had yet to have been there! An Australian visitor to the God's Little Acre cemetery, upon arrival at the new station, described it as 'in the middle of nowhere'!

I have mentioned elsewhere that the new station is 2 km from the main road (Jalan Tg. Tualang) compared with the old station which is just next to the main road (Jalan Pusing). Another surprising fact was that a few people said they would advise arrivals at night to get off at the Ipoh station instead for security reasons. This has made the location ludicrous because some people are prepared to travel 20 km (to Ipoh) instead of 2 km (to new station) to fetch their relatives or friends! Similarly, these people mentioned that they would rather leave their cars in Ipoh than BG, again for safety reasons.

As for the people I have approached to support my petition, I am grateful to those who willingly provided their names. I can honestly say that almost all, if not all, agreed that the new station is very inconvenient compared to the old, though some are reluctant to use their names for some irrational fear that it has something to do with politics, that they are civil servants or retired pensioners.

To KTMB, I hope someone in the company who is in a position to make a difference, will seriously look into our existing problems with the location of the new station, and think of a way out. Just think of the happiness of train travellers when this is done, I am sure you will feel good too.




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