‘More schools needed for growing Mengkibol’

Gunung Lambak is a popular recreational area in the Mengkibol state constituency in Kluang. Gunung Lambak is a popular recreational area in Mengkibol state constituency, which includes Kluang town with its bustling commercial centres and famed coffee. — THOMAS YONG/The Star

MENGKIBOL constituents want their next elected representative to focus on the issues of rising cost of living, needing more schools to serve the growing population and sustain welfare programmes for senior citizens.

The constituency, which includes part of Kluang town, is home to bustling commercial centres and established neighbourhoods, aside from being the gateway to Gunung Lambak, a popular recreational spot that draws locals and tourists.

Homemaker Pang Siew Juan, said while Kluang was a comfortable place to live, the rising cost of living was becoming noticeable.

“Wantan mee and chicken rice was about RM5 a few years ago but now they cost about RM8 to RM10.

“Kluang is not as big as Johor Baru, so why are food prices comparable?

“There are cheaper options, but the food is usually less tasty and portions smaller,” she told StarMetro.

Pang said Gunung Lambak as well as Kluang coffee and traditional tau sah piah (flaky biscuits) helped boost tourism over the years.

She hoped the authorities would continue maintaining Gunung Lambak, where she goes for walks with friends daily.

Retiree RS Kasvan hoped to see better planned welfare assistance for senior citizens instead of one-off financial aid.

Like many elderly residents, he lives alone after his children moved away for work.

“My wife has passed away and my three children are working outside Kluang.

“Senior citizens contributed to the country during their working years, so I hope the government can come up with long-term plans to help us cope with the rising cost of living,” he said.

Sabrina Mustapa said residents of Kampung Abdul Rahman Yassin have long hoped for a new secondary school to cater to the area’s growing population.

The mother-of-four said her children had been unable to enrol at nearby SMK Abdul Rahman Yassin despite applying for two consecutive years.

“The school is a short walk from our house, but instead, I have to drive my children to another school about 15 to 20 minutes away every day.

“Residents have been waiting for a new secondary school for years,” the housewife said, adding that her children were already near school-leaving age.

Self-employed father-of-two Rahmat Abdullah, who lives in Taman Sri Kluang, said traffic congestion on Jalan Mengkibol worsened due to more housing developments in the area.

Sabrina: Residents have been waiting for a new secondary school for several years.

“It is the main route for many residents despite being a single carriageway in each direction.

“Every morning when I send my children to school, we get caught in traffic because there are no alternative roads.”

Rahmat hoped the road would be upgraded and another access route built as his area was becoming more populated.

There are 68,457 registered voters in Mengkibol made up of 55.9% Chinese, 29.9% Malays, 12.9% Indians and 1.1% other ethnicities.

In the 2022 Johor polls, Pakatan Harapan’s Chew Chong Sin was re-elected with a comfortable majority of 10,107, getting 19,813 votes.

His opponents Kelly Chye Pei Yee from Barisan Nasional received 9,706 votes while Perikatan Nasional’s Wong Chan Giap received 4,116 votes.

The 16th Johor state election on July 11 will see a straight fight between Pakatan’s Chu Poh Yee and MCA’s Barisan Nasional candidate, Warren Yap Zhi Peng.Both are first-time candidates.