Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the government is planning to install platform barriers at Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations, similar to those at Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations, to enhance passenger safety. He said the absence of such barriers had been identified as a factor in accidents, particularly involving persons with disabilities (PwD).
Loke was responding to Khairil Nizam Khirudin’s (PN–Jerantut) supplementary question, who asked about the cause of a fatal incident last February in which a visually impaired man fell onto the tracks and was struck by a train at Wangsa Maju LRT Station. He also added that Prasarana is looking into proposals to install the barriers between the platform and tracks.
However, he also noted that there could be a possibility of not closing the gap entirely. “Implementing this would require significant expenditure because it involves redesigning all these rail stations, and it would also take a considerable amount of time,” he said at Dewan Rakyat during the question-and-answer session.
“Rail service operators also continuously provide training to their frontline staff to assist and facilitate the needs of PwD passengers,” he added. “This is to ensure that appropriate assistance is delivered professionally, empathetically, and efficiently.”
For the moment, auxiliary police officers have been stationed at the affected stations. These police personnel, according to Loke, have also been trained to be more alert and sensitive to the needs of PwD passengers.
On the other hand, Loke also responded to the original question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH–Bukit Bendera), who asked about efforts to improve accessibility for PwD passengers in using public transport. He said the government remains committed to enhancing accessibility and inclusiveness in the public transport system, including ongoing upgrades to PwD-friendly facilities and the installation of lifts at older and rural Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) stations.
(Source: Malay Mail)
