KUCHING: The Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) must take into account the needs of the disabled and an in-depth study should therefore be carried out before the project is implemented fully.
In stating this, Society of the Blind Malaysia, Sarawak branch chairman Isak Ngau called on the Sarawak government and the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) to make a study to enable the identification of the needs of the disabled.
“It will be difficult to make changes if an in-depth study is not carried out on the needs of the disabled such as accessibility, rails and other facilities for the disabled.
“The disabled also have different categories such as physical disabilities, vision, wheelchair-bound and learning disabilities and they have different needs for this ART,” said Isak in a statement, Sunday (April 2).
Isak’s statement was also supported by Persatuan Anak Istimewa Sarawak (PERAIS) president Rapelson Richard Hamit and the secretary of Persatuan Insan Istimewa Daro and Matu (IDAM) Masni Mahdi.
According to several media reports, the first ART will arrive in Sarawak this year to undergo a Proof-Of-Concept (POC) exercise along the Kota Samarahan Expressway.
SEDC chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Hussain said the hydrogen-powered ART will take about one year to be tested on the highway.
“Next year, we may bring in three or four ART units to Sarawak. This will allow Sarawak to have commercial operations at the end of 2025,” Abdul Aziz was quoted as saying.
Commenting on the existing public transport in Sarawak apart from ART, Abdul Aziz said that SEDC also plans to add more vehicles that would make full use of hydrogen power such as buses.
