Hulu Bernam folk want development

RESIDENTS of Hulu Bernam are in desperate need of a hospital, a bus terminal and banks in their town.

Sundry shop owner Chew Cheong Soon, 48, from Kampung Hassan, said because Hulu Bernam is located on the northern part of Hulu Selangor, bordering Tanjung Malim in Perak, the residents plight was often overlooked and that the town has not changed for the last 30 years.

“We have to go to Tanjung Malim to get a bus and have to seek medical treatment at the Kuala Kubu Baru hospital.

“Many Hulu Bernam residents travel frequently to Tanjung Malim to do their banking and for other services.

“I hope that the state government will look into our problems,” he said.

Rubber tapper Ravinder Ramasamy, 43, from Kampung Hassan in Hulu Bernam, who has three school-going children, said the life here was good.

However, he said it was quite hard to survive on a RM600 monthly income and he had to do odd jobs to manage. He is the sole bread-winner in his family.

“I hope the elected representative will provide more jobs and business for the people in Hulu Bernam. I also hope to get a piece of land that I can cultivate and earn extra income for my family,” said Ravinder.

Kwan Than Fatt, 47, who sells chicken in the Hulu Bernam market, said as most of the land here was Malay Reserve land, many farmers could not buy the land and had to rent it.

“The Government should provide us with opportunities to cultivate the land here,” he said.

Hulu Bernam comprises mostly farmers, retirees, small traders and has a few factories.

There are Felda settlers in Sungai Tinggi, Sungai Tinggi Selatan and Kampung Suharto and the other areas are Kalumpang, Kampung Kilang Papan, Hulu Bernam town, Gedangsa, Kampung Hassan, Sungai Seliseh and Kampung Serigala,

The Felda settlers, located about 20km away from Hulu Bernam town, cultivate palm oil and tap rubber and the average income is about RM600 monthly.

In Kalumpang, Gedangsa, Kampung Hassan, Sungai Selisih and Kampung Serigala, farmers cultivate crops to sell to the local market or send it to Kuala Lumpur.