Batu Pahat has all but needs to give attention on the rising cost of living
by The Star
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Published: Thursday March 14, 2013 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Thursday April 18, 2013 MYT 12:53:43 AM
BATU PAHAT: This district was once known as “Little Paris of the East” with hair saloons offering not just a trim, but massage and sexual services as well.
The name Batu Pahat means “chiselled rock” in Malay. The origin of this name can be traced back to a legend in the 15th century; when the invading Siamese troops were chiselling rocks at a rocky spot in the coastal village of Kampung Minyak Beku, in hope of getting fresh water during their retreat.
However, over the years, this trading town known for its textile, food processing and packaging industries, had rapidly grown and is now regarded as one of the most developed districts in the state.
This district is also home to at least 25 public listed companies on Bursa Malaysia.
Located in the northwest of Johor, this area is synonymous with Umno founder Datuk Onn Jaafar.
This place is also often regarded as the birthplace of politicians from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat and even well known businessmen.
Before the opening of the North South Expressway, this town used to be a transit point for people travelling from the north to Johor Baru.
However, as the district is located next to a river and is regarded as below sea level, it was regularly hit by flash floods.
The Batu Pahat parliamentary is carved out of three state seats namely Penggaram, Senggarang and Rengit.
This town has undergone rapid development in the last 10 years and while many of the problems including massive flooding has been resolved, people are hoping for better and wider roads in the town, improved infrastructure, better parks and assistance to ease the rising cost of living.
For retired teacher Ooi Suet Wah, 69, flooding used to be a major problem forcing many homes to put up make-shift barriers at the entrances of their houses to prevent flooding.
“It was during Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s time as an assemblyman here when the problem was resolved due to flood mitigation problems.
“Nowadays were only have flash floods whenever it rains heavily and when the tide is high,” she added.
The Government spent over RM100mil since 2004 to deepen and widen four rivers in the district as part of the flood mitigation projects and about RM70mil to upgrade drains around Jalan Sultanah, Jalan Bakau Condong and Parit Dhobi.
Ooi, who has four children including two in the United States, said water quality was another problem in the district and many homes had to fix more than one filter.
“Nowadays the water is much better and we also do not experience frequent water disruptions like before,” she said, hoping for better roads and assistance to tackle the rising cost of living in the town especially groceries, vegetables and fish.
For 47-year-old kindergarten teacher, K. Shanti, who moved to the town after her marriage, Batu Pahat is a good place to live with people who are friendly and helpful.
Shanti, whose husband passed away some time ago and she is the sole breadwinner taking care of five school going children, hopes that the government would provide more assistance to the welfare of single mothers.
“My earning is barely enough for our daily expenses and I really need financial help especially for my children’s education,” she added.
For production operator, Noreza Khamis, 35, everything was good in Batu Pahat except for the high cost of living.
“The prices of groceries and food is so expensive and we hope the government will help us to overcome inflation.
“We also hope for more affordable houses to be built here because housing prices are too high,” she added.
On training programmes, Mohd Nasrol Md Diah, a 33-year-old self-employed, hopes for more such projects to help young entrepreneurs.
He said besides good infrastructures here, focus should also be given for youth-related development programmes including in the information technology field.
Mohd Nasrol hoped for more programmes such as Rakan Muda programme could be intensified to get youths involved in not just activities but also social and community work.
On the cleanliness of the area, cake shop assistant Lim Tian Soo, 53, feels that the local council should be prompt in rubbish collection.
“I am worried that if the rubbish is not collected on time, it will pose health problems to the locals as well as attract animals to scavenge and mess up the area,” he added.
Twenty-two-year-old J. Singam, who works as a technician, feels that the development taking place in Batu Pahat would be good for the people but hoped for better roads especially leading out of Batu Pahat.
“The roads leading out of Batu Pahat are often congested as there are too many traffic light junctions here.
“Some roads in the housing estates are also riddled with pot holes and hopes that the local councils will move round patching them up,” he said.
Singam described Batu Pahat as a Bandar yang sudah berjaya (a developed town) with almost everything from a 24-hours Mc Donalds, hotels and malls.
He hoped that the council would also help maintain the cleanliness of their only beach in Minyak Beku, which was a popular spot for locals as there was also a lighthouse in the area.
Batu Pahat will be a hot seat this general election with both Barisan Nasional and the opposition going all out to win over both the urban and village folks in this constituency which comprises 86,678 voters.
Updated: Thursday April 18, 2013 MYT 12:53:43 AM
BATU PAHAT: This district was once known as “Little Paris of the East” with hair saloons offering not just a trim, but massage and sexual services as well.
The name Batu Pahat means “chiselled rock” in Malay. The origin of this name can be traced back to a legend in the 15th century; when the invading Siamese troops were chiselling rocks at a rocky spot in the coastal village of Kampung Minyak Beku, in hope of getting fresh water during their retreat.
However, over the years, this trading town known for its textile, food processing and packaging industries, had rapidly grown and is now regarded as one of the most developed districts in the state.
This district is also home to at least 25 public listed companies on Bursa Malaysia.
Located in the northwest of Johor, this area is synonymous with Umno founder Datuk Onn Jaafar.
This place is also often regarded as the birthplace of politicians from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat and even well known businessmen.
Before the opening of the North South Expressway, this town used to be a transit point for people travelling from the north to Johor Baru.
However, as the district is located next to a river and is regarded as below sea level, it was regularly hit by flash floods.
The Batu Pahat parliamentary is carved out of three state seats namely Penggaram, Senggarang and Rengit.
This town has undergone rapid development in the last 10 years and while many of the problems including massive flooding has been resolved, people are hoping for better and wider roads in the town, improved infrastructure, better parks and assistance to ease the rising cost of living.
For retired teacher Ooi Suet Wah, 69, flooding used to be a major problem forcing many homes to put up make-shift barriers at the entrances of their houses to prevent flooding.
“It was during Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s time as an assemblyman here when the problem was resolved due to flood mitigation problems.
“Nowadays were only have flash floods whenever it rains heavily and when the tide is high,” she added.
The Government spent over RM100mil since 2004 to deepen and widen four rivers in the district as part of the flood mitigation projects and about RM70mil to upgrade drains around Jalan Sultanah, Jalan Bakau Condong and Parit Dhobi.
Ooi, who has four children including two in the United States, said water quality was another problem in the district and many homes had to fix more than one filter.
“Nowadays the water is much better and we also do not experience frequent water disruptions like before,” she said, hoping for better roads and assistance to tackle the rising cost of living in the town especially groceries, vegetables and fish.
For 47-year-old kindergarten teacher, K. Shanti, who moved to the town after her marriage, Batu Pahat is a good place to live with people who are friendly and helpful.
Shanti, whose husband passed away some time ago and she is the sole breadwinner taking care of five school going children, hopes that the government would provide more assistance to the welfare of single mothers.
“My earning is barely enough for our daily expenses and I really need financial help especially for my children’s education,” she added.
For production operator, Noreza Khamis, 35, everything was good in Batu Pahat except for the high cost of living.
“The prices of groceries and food is so expensive and we hope the government will help us to overcome inflation.
“We also hope for more affordable houses to be built here because housing prices are too high,” she added.
On training programmes, Mohd Nasrol Md Diah, a 33-year-old self-employed, hopes for more such projects to help young entrepreneurs.
He said besides good infrastructures here, focus should also be given for youth-related development programmes including in the information technology field.
Mohd Nasrol hoped for more programmes such as Rakan Muda programme could be intensified to get youths involved in not just activities but also social and community work.
On the cleanliness of the area, cake shop assistant Lim Tian Soo, 53, feels that the local council should be prompt in rubbish collection.
“I am worried that if the rubbish is not collected on time, it will pose health problems to the locals as well as attract animals to scavenge and mess up the area,” he added.
Twenty-two-year-old J. Singam, who works as a technician, feels that the development taking place in Batu Pahat would be good for the people but hoped for better roads especially leading out of Batu Pahat.
“The roads leading out of Batu Pahat are often congested as there are too many traffic light junctions here.
“Some roads in the housing estates are also riddled with pot holes and hopes that the local councils will move round patching them up,” he said.
Singam described Batu Pahat as a Bandar yang sudah berjaya (a developed town) with almost everything from a 24-hours Mc Donalds, hotels and malls.
He hoped that the council would also help maintain the cleanliness of their only beach in Minyak Beku, which was a popular spot for locals as there was also a lighthouse in the area.
Batu Pahat will be a hot seat this general election with both Barisan Nasional and the opposition going all out to win over both the urban and village folks in this constituency which comprises 86,678 voters.