The minister distracted them, or how I learnt to push a trolley and wheelchair solo
The next time we get all high and mighty to piss on the powerful for their nonchalance and contempt for us, look at ourselves first. This pecking order would not dominate if we did not play ball. The powerful get their way because we help them.
(MMO) – The two of us arrived in a 13-year-old Proton Saga, which probably sealed our fate even before exiting the highway.
On Malaysia Day, to enter a national edifice.
Ah Kit was going home to his family after nearly four months of being bed-bound by his second stroke. His tribulations were seemingly over with the airport in sight.
They weren’t.
My first mistake was to assume the preferred inside driving lane meant for those with disabilities was exactly that, a lane for those with disabilities.
I read the signboard without factoring our cultural conditioning. Amateur mistake!
The distance from the barrier gate to where the protective traffic policemen stood was awkwardly far and silly me thought they did not click the remote control because they could not see us, or my Saga to be precise.
It was close to noon, on a bright day, and the airport was probably operating at three per cent of capacity. One could see the tops of palm oil trees a mile away.
The bar rose and we headed in.
Three unamused traffic policemen looked as I rolled the window down to ask where to park. The one who spoke asked why park when there’s the outside lane.
I played my trump card — like in any woke film — and told the policemen I was assisting a stroke patient to the check-in counter. To which without flinching he asked the same question, why use the inside lane, it is for VIPs only.
Then it struck me. These important personages suffer daily from persistent unsolicited approaches from the general public, these silly voters.
Their ”job” is to keep the riff raff away, those actual people with disabilities.
I said we needed to get a wheelchair.
He said you can still get a wheelchair parked in the outside lane. Just cross the inside lane with the wheelchair. His face said the VIP lane was not to be messed about with. His two other colleagues did not object.
As if I was the errant boy for bringing a person with disabilities to the lane for those needing assistance. Still annoyed he reluctantly said I can park but to hurry along.
At that point I felt Malaysia had come a long way in how it treated its most powerful.
I had to leave my friend in the car first to enter the terminal and get the wheelchair. Past several security personnel of various uniforms and halfway to the middle from the inside to the information counter.
I asked the lady wearing the sash “Can I help you?” how to get a wheelchair and she called out to her colleague at the counter.
Though there was scarcely a crowd, throughout the process of me leaving my identity card at the counter, neither asked who needed the wheelchair.
It was not their concern, which only informs me they handle far more pertinent and pressing issues like correcting the sash when an actual VIP arrives.
By the time I rolled the wheelchair back out — not before everyone became ultra-alert when I walked towards the wrong exit door, Covid-19 you see, one door in and one door out, and they only see mistakes not hapless people — a good 10 minutes had lapsed.
My friend, who can’t walk more than a 100 metres without the risk of falling on his paralysed half was standing with one hand on a cane and the other on the car door. Invisible to all personnel.
Five minutes later, I was stumped. One man in a wheelchair and a luggage trolley. I had to take turns rolling both every 50 feet till after security.
A line of Malaysian Airlines staff stood waiting, unfortunately not for us. They ignored us.
Then it came to bear why the noticeable police and airline staff presence. The minister was to arrive, and he did so just after us.
Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong had come to check on the first day of travel to Langkawi, the holiday bubble.
My friend shouted out to the minister and got a picture taken with him. At least the minister recognises voters.
