YONG PENG: A total of RM52.94mil has been poured into Yong Peng over the past four years and three months, says caretaker Johor executive councillor Ling Tian Soon.
The Yong Peng assemblyman said the funds came from federal, state and other allocations with the help of Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
“People say Yong Peng has not changed for 20 years. But every year, I report to you what has been done and how much we have received,” he said at the Johor MCA fundraising dinner to rebuild the MCA Yong Peng branch building, which was destroyed in a recent fire on Thursday (June 25).
Ling said one of the key projects was the main road through Yong Peng town, which used to be mocked by outsiders as bumpy and uneven.
“Many years ago, people laughed and called it Jalan Goyang. They passed through Yong Peng without even realising there was a town here,” he said.
“Over the last few years, we resurfaced the whole stretch from one end to the border. We used RM23mil and three years of work to redo the road. The streets are brighter now, and what used to be overgrown has become a landmark for Yong Peng,” he added.
He said it was now time to push for another round of funding to further improve the federal road.
“If we get another chance, we will ask the Mentri Besar to help us make road even better and more beautiful,” he said.
Ling also pointed to improvements at the old market, which many residents remember as dirty, wet and unsafe.
“Last time, our mothers and grandmothers had to jump here and there to avoid open drains. The floor was full of holes and very slippery. The roof was not complete and there were canvas sheets everywhere,” he said.
“Today, the market is a new building – more comfortable, brighter and better planned,” he added.
Nearby food stalls and the back lane have also been rebuilt and tidied up, turning what was once a quiet stretch into a livelier area.
“Now there is a new row of small stalls, fully rebuilt, and the back lane has been cleaned up and beautified. Yong Peng folks can come here in the morning for kuih, mee, kuey teow and bihun – it has become a proper food spot,” he said.
Ling said new lighting and a town sign had changed Yong Peng’s image at night, and that more chain outlets and livelier Chinese New Year celebrations had added to the town’s appeal.
He took aim at critics who claimed Yong Peng had not developed.
“Some people put out statements and videos saying Yong Peng has not improved in 20 years. But young people from Yong Peng themselves are sharing photos and saying they feel proud of the changes in the past three or four years,” he said.
He also reminded voters that some of the loudest critics were already part of the Federal Government and had access to national resources.
“These people are already the government. From the Prime Minister down, they control the ministries and have the funds, but they speak as if they are the Opposition.
“In Yong Peng, I won’t dare say I scored 100 marks. But in these four-plus years, I have truly put in my love and my sincere feelings for this place,” he added, urging voters to judge based on work on the ground.
Paloh assemblyman and fellow caretaker exco member Lee Ting Han was also present at the event.
Nomination for the Johor election is on June 27, while polling will be held on July 11.
