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Kota Kinabalu: For a disabled woman to be carted in a wheelbarrow to get the Government's RM500 Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M) aid in Semporna is indeed degrading.Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) KK Division Chief, Christina Liew, said she was shocked to see the picture of a woman being wheeled in a wheelbarrow, published on the front page of the Daily Express on Wednesday.

"What a shame and loss of human dignity! Would other women fancy being in the shoes of the poor lady?

Women leaders in Sabah have talked so much about raising women's self-esteem but sadly, the reverse has been done.

"Being disabled does not warrant such treatment on the basis of equality.

We have wittingly or unwittingly devalued a woman's worth.

This should not have happened," she said in a statement.

While commending the men (in the picture) for their chivalrous act, Liew said it was, however, devoid of decency and dignity.

"Surely, there is a more presentable way of ferrying the disabled lady.

Why can't the elected representative concerned (Datuk Nasir Sakaran) or relevant authority arrange for the RM500 aid to be delivered to her at her home, instead of subjecting her to indignity and inconvenience?" she asked.

Daily Express had also received numerous text messages from women readers, expressing their sadness and disgust.

One such text read: "I am sure the Government could think of a better way or procedure for the disabled persons (OKUs) category.

I am sad to see the disabled woman losing her dignity."

Another text stated that OKUs have a right to decent treatment as we are all equal under the law.