BY: MARWAN TANOS

While millions of Malaysians reel under the impact of the rising cost of goods and services, it is, in reality, the People With Different Abilities or ‘Orang Kelainan Upaya’ (OKU) who bear the brunt of the suffering, hardship and pain.

In appealing to Malaysians and the authorities, OKUs are now seeking whatever assistance that can be given to them so they do not go under but are able to ride out the storms of life, especially price increases in goods and services.

Since OKUs are being accorded free transport on the MRT and LRT lines, this privilege is about to expire, and they are appealing to the Minister of Transport to extend this favour extended to them and also for all bus rides.

While they are grateful for the kind gesture of the government in according them this privilege, they now stand united in hope that free transportation on the LRT, MRT, Monorail and Rapid buses will be a permanent feature.

OKUs feel this is not a big ask as the government has the ability to provide free transportation services for them and it will prove to be a small burden being imposed on the taxpayer but will go a long way in alleviating their financial burdens.

OKUs counter that their community is not large in numbers and the government can easily afford to factor and absorb the cost of free transportation for them and wait in anticipation for their appeal to be granted.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher