Thursday, August 14, 2014

Developers urged to adhere to latest guideline














Community

Published: Wednesday August 13, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM 
Updated: Wednesday August 13, 2014 MYT 7:04:28 AM
CONTRACTORS and developers must adhere to the latest guidelines on providing accessibility for disabled persons in new development projects in Kuala Lumpur as released by the Department of Standards Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) was serious in ensuring that all facilities built by contractors and developers are according to the MS 1184:2014 Universal Design in The Built Environment — Code of Practice (second revision).
“This guideline shows the seriousness of the Government to enable local councils to pay attention to accessibility of facilities for disabled persons and senior citizens,” he said in his speech before launching the Seminar on Universal Design and Accessibility for Building Contractors yesterday.
He added that DBKL’s procurement committee took into consideration the low prices offered by contractors and the quality of the facilities.
The MS 1184: 2014 was approved by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry on June 3, added Ahmad Phesal.
“The rapid and progressive development in the country needs to take into consideration the needs of the disabled by preparing buildings that are planned and built according to universal design.
“It is a design that is user-friendly to everyone and not categorised for only the use of the disabled, children or pregnant mothers,” he said.
The seminar, he said, was to give exposure to contractors and developers in the building industry to include facilities for the disabled in every project in a barrier-free environment, using a universal design.
Ahmad Phesal added that they would recognise buildings that included facilities for the disabled.
He gave an example of a universal design in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad building in Jalan Sultan Ismail, which included a ramp instead of a staircase for the public.
On the upgrade of Jalan Alor, Ahmad Phesal said RM12mil had been allocated but there was a delay.
“We have to get the opinion of traders and other stakeholders in the area on the plan.
“We are also refining the design of the plan as we must take into consideration the utilities such as the pipes,” he said
Ahmad Phesal had announced on Aug 22 last year that the project to turn Jalan Alor into a food paradise would begin in October last year and completed in 11 months.
He had said the upgrade was consistent with the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 and also in preparation to make Kuala Lumpur a world-class city.

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