Broken tiles along the walkway (right) leave Lee with no choice but to use the road to get to the market.
THE uneven walkway along Jalan Metro Prima, Taman Kepong, Kuala Lumpur is a safety hazard for pedestrians especially the wheelchair-bound.
The tenting of road tiles at the junction of Jalan Metro Prima and Jalan Kuang Bertam, due to protruding roots, has damaged the walkway.
Wheelchair-bound resident Lee See Mui, 67, who sells tissues at a nearby coffeeshop, said it was a daily challenge navigating through the area.
“I use the walkway every morning to go to the Kepong Baru morning market before heading to the coffeeshop.
“However, the wheel of my electric wheelchair gets stuck in gaps along the walkway.
Tiles along the walkway at Jalan Metro Prima and Jalan Kuang Bertam, Kepong has been damaged by protruding tree roots. -ONG SOON HIN/The StarReporter : Jarod Lim
“I have no choice but to use the main road which is dangerous as there are oncoming cars,” she told StarMetro.
Lee said she had to replace the wheels on her wheelchair due to damage after going over the uneven walkway.
“The walkway near the Jalan Metro Prima and Jalan Metro Prima 3 junction also needs to be repaired,” she said, hoping Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) would upgrade the walkway soon.
Kepong Community Service Centre head Yee Poh Ping, who called for a press conference, wants DBKL to remove the tiles and pave the walkway with concrete instead.
“This has been done at several locations in Kepong. It looks nice and the surface is even and easier for people to walk on,” he said, adding that he has highlighted the matter to DBKL’s Civil Engineering and Drainage Department.
Yee said DBKL had replied that a project to upgrade the walkways was in the pipeline.
“The upgrading of walkways is being done in phases in Kepong.
“Currently, DBKL is upgrading walkways at the Jinjang Utara market, Jalan Kepong as well as the drains along Lorong Kuang Gunung and 15 other locations,” said a DBKL spokesperson.
