Don’t hijack OKU toilet

I REFER to the comments made by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Fuziah Salleh on transgenders using disabled-friendly toilet.

She said she also wanted to meet the disabled community (OKU) to discuss this matter.

There’s no need to meet the OKU community to discuss this because it’s a clear-cut case; allowing transgenders to invade the disabled-friendly toilet is not the solution. Ablebodied transgenders can’t be allowed to use the disabled-friendly toilet meant for the disabled community.

Fuziah should learn more about the needs of the disabled people and the fundamentals of the disabled-friendly toilet.

She should also make a public apology to the disabled community for her insensitive remarks and idea. Has she even thought about the concerns of the disabled community over the presence of able-bodied transgenders in their toilet? What about the safety of the disabled people? Being transgender is not a disability unless you are wheelchair-bound.

Disabled-friendly toilets are designed for those who have physical disabilities, especially people who are wheelchair-bound who can’t use the normal toilet. The space is wider and there are bars to help a person on a wheelchair to transfer from their chair to the toilet bowl.

The mirror and sink are also designed for the convenience of those confined to a wheelchair.

Just imagine if the disabled-friendly toilet is opened for able-bodied people; how long would a disabled person have to wait before he/she can relieve himself/herself?

Only one disabled person can use the disabled-friendly toilet, unlike normal toilets which have several cubicles.

Many wheelchair-bound persons have problems controlling their bladder and cannot hold on for long.

Even those with hearing impairment or other non-physical disabilities do not use the toilet for the disabled. They all use the normal toilets.

FADZLI FADHILAH Disability Activist Founder of Living With ALS Petaling Jaya