StarMetro report on July 22.
ABOUT half-a-million ringgit was spent in the first half of the year to repair and replace vandalised toilets along the Kajang transit line in Selangor.
MRT Kajang Line head of operations Sofiah Hussien said the company had to allocate RM500,000 from January to June this year, specifically for the repair and replacement of toilet spare parts in MRT and LRT stations.
This included toilets designated for people with disabilities (PwD).
“It is largely due to wear and tear and misuse by the public,” she said, adding that theft and vandalism were the main contributing factors.
“We had to constantly replace vandalised parts and stolen items, such as the steel railings in the refuse rooms at our Sg Buloh and Kajang stations.
“People also steal items like the toilet hand rail and flip bars in the PwD toilets,” she said, during a site visit to the MRT Phileo Damansara PwD toilet with StarMetro.
Last week, it was reported in a front-page article titled “Make Loos Accessible” and “Not Built to Specs, Misuse by the Able-Bodied Among Issues” that dozens of toilets in the Klang Valley meant for PwD with disabilities were not built to standard.
Many of those that initially were up to specification have been vandalised or broken.
In some locations, repeated vandalism led building management to permanently close the toilets and convert them into storage rooms.
Sofiah says Rapid Rail has to frequently replace steel railings, hand rails and flip bars.
Visits by StarMetro to public parks, train stations, MRT and LRT stations and other transportation hubs in the city uncovered numerous issues.
Some toilets in train, MRT, and LRT stations were not suitable for PwD.
Many were in a state of disrepair and not fit for use.
At the MRT Phileo Damansara PwD toilet, water was leaking from the hand bidet and there was a mop within the facility.
During the latest visit, the hand bidet hose, which had been leaking earlier, had been fixed.
The stolen hand rail would make it very difficult for a disabled person to use this toilet. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star
However, the hand rail had been stolen.
“Among the items that tend to get stolen are racks, hand dryers, soap and tissue paper, while items that are frequently vandalised include toilet seat covers, bidet hoses and hand railings,” Sofiah said.
“We appeal to the public to be mindful when using public toilets and to not misuse toilets that are for people with disabilities.”
Wheelchair users need the handrail to transfer themselves to the toilet bowl.
Yet the steel hand rail is often sought for scrap metal, she added.
