The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- Traders appeal to delay project
- Pahang MB: Budget answers many issues
- Those who get government help should use it for their own good
| Traders appeal to delay project Posted: 02 Oct 2012 06:40 AM PDT AYER HITAM: Traders at Jalan Johor have appealed to the state government and local council to delay drainage upgrading works at their stalls before they relocate to a permanent business location. Lee Chew Bee, 59, said she hoped construction of the bazaar at Bandar Baru Ayer Hitam could be completed as soon as possible for them to move there before the project begins. She said some traders here have to relocate their stalls because they were built over the drain. "We are appealing to the authorities to look into our plights because we are afraid it will affect our livelihood. "Where can we move since the bazaar is not ready? It is difficult for us to move in and out and we have children to feed as well as loans to pay," said Lee, a trader here for more than 20 years. Ayer Hitam traders association chairman Zailan Judin said about 18 traders, mainly selling ceramic, foods and local produced dried food, were directly affected by the drainage upgrading works. He said part of the stalls, which existed since 1980s, have to be demolished to give way to the drain construction projects. "We are not against the project because the town especially the nearby village will be hit by flash flood during heavy down pour, moreover, the raining season is near. "It will be the best solution if the bazaar in Bandar Baru is ready for us to move there, but it will not be ready in anytime soon. "We are willing to cooperate, however, we hope the drainage project can be done as soon as possible and it must be completed according to the schedule so that it will not affect our business much," he said when met at his stall. Yong Peng District councillor Ong See Tian said the RM350,000 flood mitigation project to upgrade 280m of drain underneath the stalls supposed to commence anytime soon but have to put on hold till all parties reach an agreement. He said a meeting would be carried out with all stakeholders soon to find the best solutions. Local community leader and former district councillor Lau Kim Huat said residents and traders staying along Jalan Johor near the Jalan Batu Pahat junction always face flash floods and such situation has been going on for many years. He said part of the road would be covered with water and lots of rubbish would be washed to the ground when flash flood happened. He added that in 1999, the state government had approved a new township with building of commercial lots in the nearby area. The traders at their temporary site along Jalan Johor currently supposed to move there once it is completed, he said. However, the bazaar project was delayed about eight or nine years before the construction started recently, he added. |
| Pahang MB: Budget answers many issues Posted: 02 Oct 2012 06:40 AM PDT KUANTAN: The Pahang Mentri Besar express satisfaction with Budget 2013, saying that it a budget eagerly awaited by the people. Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said the budget was not aimed at the general election as it had always been the Government's responsibility to help the people. "Every group in this country will benefit from this budget and as for the common people, they stand to gain a lot," he said after watching a live telecast of the tabling of the budget last Friday. Adnan added that it was not a populist budget as shown by the Prime Minister's decision to reduce the sugar subsidy. On the move to develop four new padi granaries including in Pekan and Rompin, Adnan said the state's long awaited request had finally been granted. "The farmers in those two areas can expect a lot of incentives as encouragement to strive harder. The decision to expand the padi granaries is a very strategic move, as it will ensure food security in a time where supply may run low," he said. Adnan also commented on the Rapid Kuantan bus service, which would begin operation on Dec 1, saying that the first phase would cover a route from the Universiti Malaysia Pahang campus in Gambang to Kuantan. "The project will be implemented in three phases and the buses come in good condition and are comfortable. Some of the routes are still being studied but the sure thing is trips will be frequent," he said. As for the PR1MA housing project, Adnan said it would not face any hitch as the state had plenty of locations for it to be carried out. "The people's concerns are the high cost of living and housing. I think this budget is good as it has addressed both issues," he said. |
| Those who get government help should use it for their own good Posted: 02 Oct 2012 06:40 AM PDT YONG PENG: Those who received government's aid in terms of goods and equipments are urged to appreciate and value the help that they have. Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said he hoped no recipients, who received the direct help under various allocations by the government, would take the goods or equipment in exchange of cash. "Don't sell the fertilizers because it is for your own use," he said after presenting equipments for agriculture and small industry to local folks here recently. The event was held after Dr Wee chaired the Ayer Hitam parliament agriculture development council meeting at SK Yong Peng. A total of 59 people received various equipments worth RM56,700 such as sewing machines, oven, fertilizer, pesticide, grass movers and others. Dr Wee, who is also Education deputy minister, said it was an annual event in the constituency to help the needy ones. At present, he said he had received more than 600,000 applications, however, there were only budget enough for 50,000 applicants. Zailan Karton, 70, said he would not trade his pesticide sprayer and grass mover for money. "I have applied those equipment for more than a year. "Before this, I have to loan grass mower from neighbours and it cost me RM40 each time to work on 2ha plantation and I have to pay extra if I want to work on area larger than 2ha. "The fee does not include fuel cost," he said. Another recipients Zabidah Karto, 55, said she did not expect to get an oven. "I will use is to bake cakes and sell for extra income," she said, adding that she was using normal wok to make cakes before receiving the oven. At the event, Dr Wee also announced Batu Pahat Tengah Farmers' Organisation Authority Malaysia Norazman Budin would replace Syed Mustafa Syed Zain, who retired rececntly, as the council's secretary. |
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