Kota Tinggi folk say the town area often gets flooded during a downpour. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/The Star
The 15th General Election has got the rural constituency of Kota Tinggi abuzz, due to the timing of the polls and the Barisan Nasional candidate picked to contest.
Locals say the town area will usually get flooded by Sungai Kota Tinggi overflowing when it rains during the monsoon season.
Almost all 10 districts were inundated during the major floods in Johor earlier this year, with more than 100,000 affected in Kota Tinggi and Segamat that were among the worst-hit.
Major flooding also occurred after the Tenang by-election in 2011, displacing almost 50,000, mostly from Kota Tinggi and Segamat.
The selection of Umno vice-president and former mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has also got people here talking.
Kota Tinggi incumbent Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique was dropped by Barisan in favour of Mohamed Khaled who ran for the Pasir Gudang parliamentary and Permas state seats in 2018 but lost in both constituencies.Mohamed Khaled is in a three-way fight, with Onn Jaafar from Pakatan Harapan-Amanah and Mohamad Ridhwan Rasman from Perikatan Nasional-Bersatu.
Locals interviewed by StarMetro seemed excited about the new faces being fielded.
They hope the new MP will resolve their problems, not just in the constituency but nationwide.
An arch welcoming motorists crossing the Kota Tinggi bridge into the district.
Security guard S. Maniapan, 37, said prices of food and basic necessities had increased, causing him to be more prudent about his spending.
“Food in Kota Tinggi used to be cheap where you could have a hearty breakfast for RM3, but not anymore.
“I spend RM20 daily just to buy breakfast and lunch; it is too much as I am not earning a lot,” he added.
Maniapan said developments taking place in Johor Baru and Pengerang, with Kota Tinggi located in between, had impacted the cost of living.
“Most of those working in Johor Baru and Pengerang will stay in Kota Tinggi as it is cheaper.
“But for those of us who work and live here, it is expensive,” he added.
Father-of-seven Abdul Kadir Mohamed, 51, said he moved to Sedili in Kota Tinggi from Jemaluang in Segamat as a child.
“Back then, Kota Tinggi still had thick forests. But things have changed with more industries coming into the district.
“This is good as it helps create jobs for the locals, but there must be a balance.
“With forested areas in Kota Tinggi making way for development, wildlife such as elephants will enter sites occupied by humans,” he noted.
Abdul Kadir hopes the new MP will strike a balance between development and preserving the natural environment.
Retiree Pang Eng Seng, 69, said the Kota Tinggi government hospital should be upgraded to cater to the growing number of people.
“Every month I need to travel to Johor Baru for my medical appointment at Hospital Sultan Ismail.
“It is very far and troublesome for my family members who have to send me there,” he added.
Pang said he would sometimes buy his medicine at a pharmacy in Kota Tinggi to save himself a trip to Johor Baru.
The Kota Tinggi parliamentary constituency has the Sedili and Johor Lama state seats, with a total of 60,891 voters.
More photos
Maniapan says the cost of living in Kota Tinggi is rising.
Abdul Kadir hopes for a balanced development.
Pang wants the Kota Tinggi hospital upgraded.
