KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The actions of some irresponsible able-bodied motorists who have no qualms using parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities (PwD) in public areas, offices and shopping malls have spurred an architect to come up with a disabled-friendly parking system.

       Physically-impaired Mizral Abdul Manan, 50, took the initiative to develop the system known as EZ OKU PARKIN’.

       Mizral, who suffered a stroke that paralysed the right side of his body nine years ago, said the parking system that utilises radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, could prevent irresponsible parties from using the special parking spots reserved for the disabled.

       “I myself have become the ‘victim’ of their thoughtless behaviour, especially when I go to shopping malls only to find that the PwD parking spaces had been ‘stolen’ by the able-bodied.

       “There are even some who refuse to give way and get angry when they are confronted, which led me to come up with a special system for PwD parking facilities,” he told Bernama.

       Mizral, an architect with a company in Ipoh, said that with the help of two of his friends, Shaharom Yeop Alip, 65, and Hilmi Ibrahim, 60, he started to conduct research and development for the system in March last year.

       The system comprises a card equipped with Near Field Communication technology that acts as an electronic identification document, as well as an RFID vehicle sticker placed on the windshield of the user's car.

       “An RFID antenna device will be installed at each PwD parking lot.

       “If a driver without a card or sticker parks in the PwD parking lot, an alarm will ring loudly within three minutes and a photo of the vehicle will be taken automatically to allow further action to be taken against the offender,” he said.

       Mizral said he had presented the system, which uses readily available components, to the Social Welfare Department on Aug 4 to get approval for it to be used at all PwD parking lots in the country.

       He also suggested that the EZ OKU PARKIN' card be given free to PwDs who are registered with the agency.

       “I’m not doing it for the sake of making money, but to provide a facility to the PwD community,” he said. – Bernama