Kluang's development fruit of BN govt's efforts
Datuk Md Jais Sarday (Bernama file pix)
By Suhainie Mohd Khalid
KLUANG, April 12 (Bernama) -- The problems faced by Kluang residents especially the frequent water supply disruption, flash floods and traffic congestion have been solved by the Barisan Nasional-ruled government over the last five years.
The district with more than 350,000 residents is rapidly developing with vibrant economic activities which are comparable to the development in the city of Johor Bahru.
For Kluang BN chairman Datuk Md Jais Sarday, who is Mahkota assemblyman, the party's defeat in the Kluang parliamentary constituency and Mengkibol state constituency during the last general general, election did not dampen his spirit to continue to carry out development in Kluang even though he was ?alone'.
He said that among his main focus after becoming an elected representative in 2008 was solving the frequent water supply woes which at that time was a major problem in the district especially during dry season.
The construction of Kahang dam, which was completed in May last year with the capacity of 21 million cubic metres to supply 100 million litres of raw water per day, is the answer to the water woes in Kluang, Md Jais said.
"With an allocation of RM100 million from the federal government, the dam is capable of holding water for up to 210 days (seven months) during dry season," he told Bernama.
Hit by massive floods in 1969 and 2006, the problem which had been haunting the residents of several areas in Kluang, especially in Taman Fajar, Taman Suria and Kluang Baru, has been resolved.
Md Jais, who is also state Housing and Local Government Committee chairman, said RM17.75 million was allocated by the Johor government through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to repair and construct the drainage systems at the areas and widen the Sungai Lambak and Kluang Baru.
Kluang's location, which connects the main routes to Johor Bahru (south), Kota Tinggi (southeast), Batu Pahat (west) and Mersing (east), caused traffic congestion especially at Jalan Batu Pahat heading towards the city centre, according to Md Jais.
The traffic problem has been solved with the opening of the 4.5 km Central Ring Road connecting Taman Kluang Barat to Taman Delima in February.
For the future planning, Md Jais said an Islamic Civilisation Park would be built on a 2.8-hectare land in Jalan Kluang-Mersing that would have a mosque, large hall, religious school and tahfiz centre.
A food court would be built in Kampung Paya, he said.
The Rumah Mampu Milik Johor (RMMJ) is proposed to be developed in Kampung Sembrong and Jalan Niyor, People's Housing Programme (PPR) in Taman Sri Kluang and a community hall in Taman Intan.
Based on the planned development and the success in solving the local issues, Md Jais expressed his confidence that the BN would recapture the Kluang parliamentary seat and Mengkibol state seat as well as defend the Mahkota state seat.
-- BERNAMA
