The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- Residents happy with development and infrastructure in constituency
- Association celebrates fifth anniversary
- Villagers protest against proposed landfill
| Residents happy with development and infrastructure in constituency Posted: 27 Nov 2012 07:26 PM PST JUST put up your shophouse in Labis town for sale today, and it will be snapped up the next day. But the properties are not cheap though, with each unit going for RM300,000 or more. A three-room single storey terrace house meanwhile costs between RM140,000 and RM150,000. Newspaper vendor, Tien Soon Chang, 82, said the price of land and property had gone up a lot in the last 10 years. And he attributed the development and buying power to a thriving economy in Labis, a predominantly agriculture area. Located between Yong Peng and Segamat, the road ( Jalan Segamat)to Labis from both ends are flanked by huge tracts of oil palm plantations. Soon Chang said the people in Labis were hardworking and thrifty, and they have the money to invest in properties when they spot a good one. Relating his own experience, Soon Chang said he sold his eight acres of rubber smallholding for RM144,000 or RM18 per acre 10 years ago, and bought a shophouse for RM290,000 along Jalan Segamat. "Today, the land price is RM80 per acre and the shophouses there are going for RM500,000 a unit," he said. A typical day for Soon Chang starts at 5am,when he and Kai Kian leaves their house in Labis new village to open their newspaper stall. "The people here start their day early," said Soon Chang who usually calls it a day by 3pm. He and Kai Kian would go to his grandson's shophouse along Jalan Segamat to have lunch. Soon Chang said he worked 365 days a year, adding that he could always find time to go to the church after he closed his stall for the day. Soon Chang who has stayed in the village since he was three years said life in Labis was good, and multi-ethnic Malaysians were living in harmony all the while. One of his Malay customers at the newspaper stall praised Soon Chang for his enterprising spirit. "He will deliver the papers to his customers waiting inside their cars," said the customer who preferred anonymity. Soon Chang was a tailor since he was 18. "The tailoring business was good until the 1980's, and I used to have seven to eight workers in the good old days " he recalled. He gave up his tailoring business and took over the newspaper stall operated by his wife when she died 11 years ago. On how to make life better for the people in Labis, Soon Chang said the Government had continued to upgrade the basic facilities in the constituency. "Life here is simple and good" he added. Meanwhile Mohamed Haari who was impressed by the new health clinic in Labis town said it meant a lot to the folk there. "This clinic is very much better than the previous one. "It is spacious,and we do not need to wait long to get treatment," said the 45-year-old farmer and father of five. The facilities at the RM20mil clinic which was operational a year ago include a 24-hour-emergency service, X-ray department, a pharmacy and a family health care clinic. But it is the availability of doctors daily that means a lot to Labis folk. "There are two doctors at the clinic everyday. "Prior to this, doctors will only be available for a few days a week, and we have to go to Segamat Hospital for an X-ray and it is quite far away," Mohamed Haari said of the clinic which was mooted by former Labis MP and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek a few years ago. Labis MP Datuk Chua Tee Yong said the clinic has treated 4,000 patients since its opening last November. "Besides the healthcare services which are available between Monday and Friday, the 24-hour-emergency service is also very important to the people," he added. Meanwhile, rural development also continues to feature prominently in Labis; with RM500,000 being spent for upgrading works in the first half of this year. Chua said RM300,000 were spent on road works, and the balance went to street lights. Yong Soo Boon said he was happy with the upgrading works. "The street lights for instance are for the safety of residents," said Yong from Chaah. However, he said there were still some streets and back lanes which needed more street lights, citing those in Taman Soon Chong and Taman Jati as examples. Labis folk are also increasingly health conscious and many are making a beeline to the park —Darling Walk- in Chaah since its opening in March. Yong Soo Foon, 27, said: "We see many villagers doing all kinds of exercise at the park daily." The exercise equipment costing a total ofRM15,000;like the double sky walker, air walker triple twister, hi swing and leg press were popular, he added.. Besides using the equipment, some folk also did line dancing and tai chi, Yong added. Chua also advised Labis folk to exercise regularly to stay healthy and fit. Besides, exercising outdoors was also a good opportunity to spend quality time with family members and friends, he said. |
| Association celebrates fifth anniversary Posted: 27 Nov 2012 07:33 PM PST BATU PAHAT: About 100 dragon and lion dance lovers from Singapore and various parts of Johor enjoyed a night of cultural performances at the school hall of SJK (C) Cheng Siu. Batu Pahat Lion Dance Association hosted the event, which marked the fifth anniversary of the organisation. Eight dance teams from the island republic, Johor Baru, Kulai, Muar, Batu Pahat, some of which had headlined at the state, national and world arena, performed at the event. "Malaysian Chinese should be proud of their cultural heritage and take measures to preserve it," said Batu Pahat 1MCA Medical Foundation bureau chief Dr King Ban Siang. Also present were Penggaram assemblyman Datuk Koh Chee Chai and other Chinese community leaders. Koh said that in Malaysia, cultural and traditional dances that existed for over 5,000 years were commonly performed at weddings, anniversary and festival celebrations as well as government related functions. "The dances are recognised and accepted by our community of various races and backgrounds," he said at the event that was launche by MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. "We are proud that in Malaysia, we get to learn our mother tongue, respect each other's festivals, culture and tradition. "We should appreciate our culture and tradition and protect it always," he added. Commenting on the event, association chairman Lee Wee Chung said the association was established in 2007 when a group of lion dance lovers approached him to form an organisation. It was formed with the help of Koh. Lee added that three years ago, Dr Chua had allocated some funds to build a roof over a basketball court in Taman Banang. "It gave us a lot of encouragement as we were allowed to practise the dance at any time without having to worry about the weather. "Through the establishment of the association, we are able to help preserve our culture and tradition," he said. Lee added that they were grateful as they received plenty of support from parents, school teachers and the public. "We have participated in various competitions locally and abroad; although the outcome were not significant, we have definitely made a good start," he said. |
| Villagers protest against proposed landfill Posted: 27 Nov 2012 07:30 PM PST BATU PAHAT: Kampung Mohd Noor villagers are putting up a fight against a proposed landfill near their homes. They gathered recently, carrying banners with signs calling the government to scrap the plan. The group said they were afraid that the landfill would pollute the water, air and land. "The biggest worry is the water besides the smell from the dump," said village headman Zaliman Basar. He said the villagers were not given much information on the operation of the landfill. "The government must guarantee that our lives will be freed from such problems and assure us of the measures taken. "Otherwise, forget about the project," said Zaliman. It was reported earlier that the government was developing a new landfill at Bukit Payong. The RM20mil facility — built on a on a 40ha plot — would be ready by the end of next year, said Penggaram assemblyman Datuk Koh Chee Chai. Currently, all waste collection from the district were sent to the Simpang Renggam dump site, which was almost at its maximum capacity, said Koh. It would be the first landfill for Batu Pahat and is expected to start in early 2014. The landfill will receive waste collection from Yong Peng, Labis, Kluang and Segamat. Zaliman said villagers had protested the project since 2011; a letter had been sent to the Johor Mentri Besar office back then. "We received a reply, saying that a task force would be set up to study the project, but until today, we know nothing about the results," he said. "We only want the Mentri Besar's assurance," he said. Former village head Abdul Samad Faharan, said they were worried about the effects of the project. "For the past three years, we have had sleepless nights, not being certain about what will happen to us and the future generation. "We want the landfill relocated to an area where there are no residents," he said, adding that he hoped their elected representatives would help them resolve the matter. |
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