Wednesday February 27, 2008
The ‘kingmakers’ of Bukit Bendera
By ANTHONY TAN and CHRISTINA CHIN
SOME 40 years ago, nine blocks of flats and 101 terrace houses were built to meet the housing needs of the lower income community of Rifle Range. Back then, the one and two-bedroom units were mainly occupied by small Chinese families who got around on their humble "kap chai" motorcycles.
Not many owned cars, so the 1,000 parking bays were more than enough for occupants of the 3,624 units.
Four decades down the road, the terrace house tenants have been evicted to make way for a mixed development project; redevelopment of the Rifle Range flats are being considered; and existing residents are getting impatient in their wait for proper and adequate parking bays.
Despite being considered a slum, many of the residents are reluctant to move out of the high-density units. Many of them are parents and grandparents now and have gotten used to the convenience of living there.
Almost every unit has undergone some sort of renovation and instead of just being greeted by the sight of colourful laundry, air conditioning and satellite dishes now welcome visitors – clearly a sign of improved living standards.
While most of them have opted to remain in Rifle Range, the younger generation have no qualms about moving out.
Many believe that the voters of Rifle Range – a densely populated housing area under the Kebun Bunga constituency, would be the “kingmakers” of Bukit Bendera.
Comprising mainly of lower and middle-class as well as an ageing population, about 8,000 Rifle Range residents are as registered voters.
Said businesswoman Lynda Goh, 33: “I grew up here and my 60-year-old mother still lives here. There have been some improvements in terms of hygiene and facilities but really, nothing much has changed.”
As with several senior citizens interviewed, Goh’s mother M.Z. Foo claimed that she had yet to decide on which party to vote for.
“Rifle Range may not have changed much but I am happy here. I will definitely cast my vote but I just don’t know which box I am going to mark,” she said.
For 65-year-old Ong Ah Han, the opposition is all about talk.
“No action – they keep on talking and making empty promises but cannot deliver when it matters.
“I have been living here for 35 years. Rifle Range residents have given the DAP several chances to serve us but we never saw any results.
“At least with Barisan Nasional, our children get scholarships and we have obtained our strata titles. Most of what we have asked for, we have received so I can’t complain.
“Recently, PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim gave a ceramah here. Though he managed to get everyone excited, I don’t think it would translate into votes. We are not so easily brainwashed by clever oratory,” he said.
Barisan candidate Quah Kooi Heong, who is defending the Kebun Bunga seat, said that though 60% of the Rifle Range residents were senior citizens, they were educated and aware of current issues.
“Barisan has done a lot for the residents in terms of upgrading the area and solving the community’s problems.
“I don’t deny that there is more to be done but they have to understand that there are budget constraints to consider. We have to prioritise,” he said.
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