Software consultant K. Eugene, 63, said development should not come at the expense of existing residents.
“There needs to be a balance. Residents should not have to sacrifice their rights or quality of life just because the area is being developed,” he said.
Eugene, who has lived in Kim Teng Park for more than three decades, said residents have been living with uncertainty for years following proposed land acquisition attempts in the neighbourhood.
“There should be proper engagement with residents before decisions that affect our community are made.
“We should not only be informed after everything has already been planned,” he said, referring to the acquisition attempts involving homes in Kim Teng Park, the city’s oldest housing estate.
Eugene also highlighted worsening traffic congestion and illegal parking by commuters travelling to Singapore.
“Many park their vehicles in our residential area before crossing into Singapore for work, sometimes leaving them there for days,” he said.
“I hope future development will be better planned, with greater consideration for the people who have lived here for decades, while also addressing issues such as traffic, parking and ageing infrastructure,” he said.
He added that frequent water supply interruptions was another concern for the locals.
Business consultant Ng Miao Ling, 30, said Stulang has grown into a vibrant and convenient place to live, with good access to shops, restaurants, schools and essential services.
“I think Stulang has developed positively, and I hope future developments will continue to be well planned, with adequate infrastructure and proper maintenance to support the growing population,” she said.
Ng, however, feared the existing roads might not be able to cope with the rapid pace of development, especially with several high-rise residential projects currently under construction.
“Even now, Jalan Sutera, particularly Jalan Sutera 3, is heavily congested during peak hours.
“I cannot imagine how traffic will be managed once thousands of additional households move into the area.
“I hope the authorities will upgrade the road network, improve traffic flow and enhance public infrastructure so that development remains sustainable and Stulang continues to be a comfortable place to live.”
Ng wants the incoming representative to continue engaging with residents and address traffic congestion beyond the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (BSI CIQ) Complex.
“We appreciate the efforts to ease congestion at the CIQ, as we know managing cross-border traffic is not an easy task.
“However, I hope similar attention will also be given to the roads connecting the CIQ with Sentosa and Pelangi, especially with the Johor-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link expected to bring even more traffic,” she added.
Assistant sales manager Tan Sheau Hui, 53, said the changing character of Stulang has affected the quality of life of long-time residents.
“Many houses are now rented out to people working in Singapore or have been converted into business premises.
“The neighbourhood is no longer as peaceful as it used to be.
“But it has also become more convenient, as there are more places where residents can shop and buy what they need.”
Tan highlighted that traffic congestion, particularly during weekends, has also become a major concern.
She said the needs of Stulang’s ageing population should be given greater attention, including better accessibility to facilities and amenities for senior citizens.
“Many residents here are getting older.
“We need elderly-friendly facilities and a market nearby so senior citizens can meet their friends and buy their daily necessities without having to wait for their children to bring them out,” said Tan.
Businessman Khairul Nizam Ishak, 57, said bottlenecks near the Permas Jaya Bridge have become a daily problem.
“Traffic congestion, especially around the Jalan Bakawali junction, will only get worse as the area continues to develop.
“I hope a long-term solution can be found soon,” he said.
Khairul said more should be done to narrow the economic gap and improve the living conditions of lower-income communities in the constituency.
“I hope the next assemblyman will ensure development benefits all sections of the community and that more assistance reaches those who genuinely need it.”
Khairul noted that social issues, including drug abuse and theft involving youths, also required greater attention from the authorities.
“I hope future lawmakers will work closely with the relevant agencies to tackle social problems and create a safer environment for residents,” he said.
Stulang is an urban seat with 60,029 voters.
About 52.52% of its voters are Chinese, 38.41% are Malays, 4.91% are Indians and the remaining 4.16% are of other races.
The Stulang state seat was formed during a redelineation exercise in 1994. It was first contested in the 9th General Election in 1995.
In the previous state election, Pakatan Harapan’s Andrew Chen Kah Eng from DAP won the seat with a 2,866-vote majority over Ang Boon Heng from Barisan Nasional (MCA), Yap Ching Youis from Perikatan Nasional (Gerakan), Muhammad Saiful Bahari Sahari from Parti Bangsa Malaysia and Independent candidate Moharam Baharom.
On nomination day on June 27, the seat was confirmed to see a four-cornered contest between incumbent Chen, Bong Seng Heng from Barisan Nasional (MCA), Roland Lim Chin Eng from Perikatan Nasional (Bersatu) and Stanley Tan Boon Heng from Parti Bersama Malaysia.
