Kindly allow me, a wheelchair-bound disabled person, to relate my terrible experience in relation to an AirAsian flight I took, AK337, from Terengganu to Kuala Lumpur on Jan 31 at 9.20pm.

1.Firstly, I am shocked at the attitude of airport workers and other passengers who completely ignored my existence. Even though there were announcements to give priority to the disabled and the elderly, no one bothered.

As a result, I was made to be the last one to board the plane.

2. Secondly, I was shocked that when I arrived at the staircase ramp leading up to the cabin door, the cabin staff ordered me to get up from the wheelchair and walk up the stairs! This even after I explained to them that I was paralysed from the waist down.

Finally, only after some time, they agreed to carry me onto the plane. I would certainly like to know why AirAsia does not provide basic facilities for the disabled (i.e. lift ramps) to board their planes?

Even if they did not have a ramp lift service, they should have made some other arrangement as they knew a disabled person was booked for that flight.

3. In the cabin, I was again hit with a shock when the cabin crew head, an Encik Murad, very rudely directed me to occupy a seat which was of great inconvenience to me given my disability. Furthermore, AirAsia does not provide a special wheel chair to facilitate the transfer of the disabled from their wheelchairs to a fixed seat.

How can AirAsia operate an international airline service if they don't have the basic facilities to cater for customers with disabilities? If they don't have these basic facilities for disabled people, then they should not have sold me an air ticket at the first place.

3. Since there wan't a special wheel chair and it was impossible for me to sit in the second row, I asked Murad to allow me to sit in the front row where there was a bit more space. Unfortunately, Murad rudely disagreed.

In fact, he even threatened me verbally by saying and I quote, 'You want to board the flight or not?'

I then showed him my disabled person identification card issued by the Social Welfare Department to convince him that I am a person with a spinal cord disability and it was dangerous for people to carry me unnecessarily.

Again, Murad was very rude, saying, 'I don't want to see and I don't care about your disabled identification card'. I was treated as inferior compared to other passengers on board.

4. Murad insisted that he would not allow me to sit in the front row as their rules and regulations do not allow disabled persons a seat there. I cannot accept this excuse as on Jan 28, I boarded an AirAsia flight from KL to Terengganu at 7.10pm and was allowed to sit in the front row.

Did AirAsia impose a new rule and regulation within three days? How do they enforce that rule if they don't even have basic facilities for the disabled? I just can't imagine how they can use a tag line like 'Now everyone can fly' because the 'everyone' clearly excludes the disabled.

5. The disgusting way Murad conducted himself convinced me that I shouldn't continue my conversation with him. I then asked for the help of some passengers on board to carry me to the seat which Murad forced me to sit in.

After being seated, I asked him to handle my wheelchair carefully since I noticed he wasn't folding it properly. He rudely answered back and I quote, 'Why don't you come and fold it'. His behavior not only irritated me but also other passengers as well.

Doesn't AirAsia teach their crew how to handle passengers professionally? We are not freeloaders; like everyone else we pay for our tickets too. That fateful journey has made me realise that AirAsia and its staff clearly discriminate against the disabled.

I write this letter is to convey my deep dissatisfaction regarding AirAsia's deplorable service. I would really like for the management to consider improving their airport and onboard facilities for the disabled - not to mention better cabin crew training.