KUCHING: Sarawak will enhance its public infrastructure and services to better accommodate disabled people, says Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
The Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development stated that lessons learned from hosting the Para Malaysia Games (Para Sukma) underscored the significance of this initiative.
"Crucial sectors such as urban planning require reform and possibly even new legislation to sufficiently cater to individuals with special needs," said Fatimah during the opening of the Sarawak Urban Forum on Monday (Oct 21).
She added that an inclusive, multi-sectoral approach is necessary to make cities more livable for those with special needs. Local authorities play an essential role in designing urban spaces to serve the elderly and the disabled well.
Creating barrier-free environments for independent access to public spaces is a priority. "Implementing universal design is vital in our development efforts," she said.
Fatimah said that various Sarawak local councils are implementing the Unicef Child-Friendly Cities Initiative, including in major cities such as Kuching, Miri, and Sibu.
"Our aim is for all our main cities to undertake child-friendly initiatives as we develop," she said.
She said Unicef's situational analysis survey will help assess the local authorities' readiness for such initiatives and provide recommendations for them to become officially recognized as child-friendly cities.
