IN PALOH, a small town on the outskirts of Kluang district, residents often joke that everyone knows everyone else.
That close-knit spirit, together with a laidback lifestyle and strong sense of community, is what many say makes the town special.
As Johor heads to the polls on Saturday, residents expressed hope that future development would preserve Paloh’s peaceful charm while addressing long-standing concerns such as floods, improving public amenities and creating more opportunities for younger generations.
Construction worker Mohd Sahrizam Md Salleh, 35, said one of Paloh’s greatest strengths was the unity among its multi-racial community.
“People of all races can sit together over a meal here. We are quite united, and that is the most important thing.
“There are no major issues here apart from the annual floods,” said the Kampung Muhibbah resident.
Mohd Sahrizam said his home would typically get inundated twice a year, around February and December during the rainy season.
“Back in 2010, water levels reached about 1.8m. It damaged over RM10,000 worth of furniture and electrical appliances, and forced my family to spend a week at a temporary relief centre.”
As Paloh lacked entertainment options, he said residents would usually gather at Dataran Paloh for evening walks and exercise with children playing at the playground, or spend time chatting over coffee at a local kopitiam.
Mohd Sahrizam also hopes Paloh’s pre-war buildings, including its old cinema and historical shoplots, would be preserved as part of the town’s heritage.
Law student K. Diviyasini, 26, hopes Paloh can attract more lifestyle businesses without losing its small-town identity.
She said more unique cafes would provide locals with places to gather while also drawing tourists travelling on the Electric Train Service (ETS), as KTM has a Intercity railway station in Paloh.
“It is very convenient to come here by train and the station is a stone’s throw away from the commercial area.
“My hometown is beautiful, but many young people have to leave because there are more education and career opportunities elsewhere,” she said, hoping that future development could also create more reasons for young people to stay.
Diviyasini, who returned to Paloh while preparing for her Certificate in Legal Practice examination, said she would be heading back to Kuala Lumpur to continue her education.
Noodle shop operator Mok Choi Peng, 58, said Paloh’s peaceful atmosphere and food scene had become increasingly popular with visitors from other parts of Johor and even Singapore.
She said many of Paloh’s colourful murals were painted by former residents who had gone on to build successful careers elsewhere, but continued contributing to their hometown.
“People come from Kluang, Batu Pahat, Yong Peng, Johor Baru and Singapore to enjoy our small-town atmosphere and local food, especially mee suah soup and the classic kopitiam experience.
“If someone asks about another shop, we will still recommend good food even if it is from our competitors. That is just our way here,” she said.
Meanwhile, retiree MR Vijayan, 65, said he hoped the state’s Bas Muafakat Johor free bus service would continue as it had become a lifeline for many residents.
The Taman Kota Paloh resident suffered a spinal injury three years ago and now relies on the service to attend follow-up appointments at Hospital Kluang.
“It takes about an hour to travel the 30km journey, but the free bus has helped us tremendously as I need to go for follow-up checks once every three months,” he said.
With all four of his children working outside Paloh, Vijayan and his wife also use the bus weekly to travel to Kluang town for groceries.
For many residents, Paloh’s greatest appeal is not found in rapid development or modern attractions, but in its close-knit community, rich heritage and peaceful pace of life.
Paloh has one of the lowest number of registered voters in Johor at 25,419, of whom about 46.8% are Malays, 34.8% Chinese, 15.4% Indians and 2.9% others.
In the 2022 Johor polls, Barisan Nasional’s Lee Ting Han wrestled the seat from incumbent Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali of Pakatan Harapan in a four-cornered
contest.
Lee is seeking to defend the seat in the 16th Johor election in another four-cornered fight, this time against Pakatan’s Dr A. Ruban (DAP), Perikatan’s
DS Jeevan (Malaysian Indian People’s Party) and Independent candidate G. Kamaleswaren.
