Children living in Kampung Baru Bemban haven’t been able to play at this overgrown and abandoned field for five years. – Photos: RONNIE CHIN/The Star
THE Tronoh state constituency in Perak is slated to see several projects to upgrade facilities such as drainage systems, playgrounds and markets this year.
Allocations have also been made for schools and for the needy to receive food aid boxes on a rotational basis.
Tronoh assemblyman Steven Tiw Tee Siang outlined both ongoing and upcoming plans for this Kinta Valley constituency which covers towns such as Batu Gajah, Pusing and Tronoh, as well as many villages.
He said two main projects were the upgrading of a field and a playground respectively at two new Chinese villages, Kampung Baru Bemban in Batu Gajah and Kampung Baru Bali in Tronoh.
The field at Kampung Baru Bemban has overgrown grass, dilapidated concrete structures and broken playground equipment.
Ten wall fans will be installed at the hawker centre at Plaza Batu Gajah.
He said that RM100,000 had been allocated by the Local Government Development Ministry for the project and works should start soon, to be completed in about two months’ time.
“The plan is to convert the area into a recreational park, with an outdoor gym, a jogging track, landscaping, and outfit it with new playground equipment such as swings and see-saws.
“The field has been abandoned for about five years and the children from the village have nowhere to play in the evenings.
“The grass is overgrown, and is probably home to snakes and other creepy crawlies.
“Villagers have been complaining about cows and buffaloes coming to the field and leaving behind dung.”
Tiw said there were about 400 households in the village and residents had been asking for the upgrade of the field for a long time.
Village chief Lim Hoy Piew, 56, said there were a lot of mosquitoes at the field.
He said it was very dangerous for the children or anyone to be at the field.
“I also hope in the next phase, some allocations will be made for new fencing around the field and the basketball court next to it, to prevent stray dogs, cats and cows from getting into the area.”
He said the residents were also happy that culverts were being replaced outside the entrance of the village, where flooding had been an issue.
Tiw (right) and Chan checking the drainage and culvert construction works to resolve flash floods at Kampung Baru Gunung Hijau in Pusing.
Off limits to children
Tiw said at Kampung Baru Bali, the 10-year-old playground equipment set was rusty and broken, which could cause injuries to children who play there.
He said the cost to upgrade a new set of equipment, to complete it with a shelter and flooring was approximately RM100,000 which had also been allocated by the ministry.
He said works would also be starting soon and residents had already been informed to keep their children away from the playground.
“This time, a shelter is going to be erected at the playground to prevent damage from the rain and sun.”
Village committee treasurer Ngoi Yoon Pin, 76, said the playground had been in this condition for four years.
He said the children in the village had been discouraged from playing there but the playground would sometimes be visited by children from the nearby villages.
“We are afraid that someone might get injured as the equipment is badly rusted and has sharp edges.”
Ngoi said he hoped the railings dividing the playground and a basketball court nearby would eventually be replaced as the current ones were old and rusty.
“I also hope the basketball court will be upgraded.”
An artist’s impression of the upgraded field at Kampung Baru Bemban, whichwill be turned into a recreational park.
Tiw added that besides these two villages, culverts and an improved drainage system were being constructed at Kampung Baru Gunung Hijau in Pusing.
Lim says residents in Kampung Baru Bemban are happy that culverts are being replaced outside the village.He said works were ongoing at a section known as Laluan 5 at the village, where the drains were too small and unable to handle the flow of water, especially during a heavy downpour.
“The drains are very old and there are a lot of cracks.”
He also said a section of a road at the village would also be resurfaced.
Tiw said the road was sandy with potholes as it had not been tarred for more than 20 years.
“Even before I became assemblyman, residents had been requesting for an upgrade of the road, but nothing was done.
“After I was elected, my first request was for the road to be resurfaced. Works should be completed by this year.”
Potential tourist attraction
Tiw said there were plans for the village to instal about 300 red lanterns during the next Chinese New Year at the Tham Sen Chinese temple in Pusing, to coincide with Visit Perak Year 2024.
Tiw showing the playground equipment at Kampung Baru Bali which is damaged and poses a danger to children.
He said the installation of the lanterns would be similar to the concept of the famous Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur.
“The allocation of about RM35,000 for the project will come from my office.
“The lighted lanterns would be on display two weeks before Chinese New Year, right up to the Chap Goh Meh.”
Tiw said there were no Instagram-worthy spots currently in Pusing.
Kampung Baru Gunung Hijau chief Chan says villagers are happy with the new drainage system and road resurfacing.“People coming back to their hometowns will be able to see the splendid display of the lanterns from 7pm to midnight and this will also be a good photo opportunity and an attraction for tourists,” he said.
Kampung Baru Gunung Hijau chief Chan Chin Fah, 61, said there were a lot of issues that were being resolved slowly.
He said the village was now cleaner and greener after several gotong-royong sessions, especially near the basketball and the community hall.
He said the issue of overgrown grass around the area was resolved recently.
“Villagers are happy with the new drainage system with work is still ongoing, road resurfacing, and the resolution of long-neglected issues.
“Rubbish collection is also prompt now, so people are happy with that.”
A file photo showing the drains being cleaned along the main road of Jalan Seputeh that were not cleaned properly and had caused flash floods each time a heavy downpour.
Tiw said flash floods had been occurring for more than 10 years along the main road of Jalan Seputeh, near Tronoh.
He said the issue was never resolved despite the submission of many complaints.
“A complaint regarding the issue was submitted to my service centre and I pursued the issue with the Public Works Department.
“Recently, maintenance and cleaning of the underground culverts were conducted.
“Besides collecting heaps of rubbish, a pail stuck in the middle of the culvert that was causing a major blockage was also removed.”
He said no flash floods were reported after the massive clean-up.
New fans for plaza
Tiw said another project approved under his service centre allocation was the installation of 10 wall fans at the ground floor of the Batu Gajah Plaza, located in Batu Gajah.
He said the two-storey plaza housed a hawker centre at the ground floor, while tailoring and beauty related shops were on the first floor.
“Currently, the stall owners at the ground floor have fixed ceiling and wall fans using their own money.
“However it is still very hot, and they requested for more fans. The cost of the fans, wiring and installation will come up to RM10,000.”
He said the additional fans would be installed by the end of the month.
Stall owner Wong Chon Heng, 43, said the heat at the plaza was unbearable.
“Customers are not comfortable sitting here, as it is very hot, especially in the afternoons.
“I paid to instal two ceiling fans, and one wall fan. It is good that more fans will be installed, as this will definitely help.”
Tiw said under the second phase of the project, there was a proposal for a ceiling to be installed under the roof of the plaza.
“This will help block the heat from directly coming into the plaza grounds.”
He said there were 10 shops each at the ground and first floor.
Tiw said his vision for the first two years was to ensure the upgrade of infrastructure in terms of roads, markets and drainage systems.
Overdue market upgrades
He said both the Pusing and Tronoh markets had not been refurbished for many years.
“The Pusing market has not been upgraded for more than 40 years.
Wong says he used his own moneyto instal two ceiling fans and a wall fan at Plaza Batu Gajah.“Having better amenities and a brighter ambience will definitely benefit traders as well as market-goers.
“As for the Tronoh market, the stalls need upgrading, the gutters need to be changed and the whole building structure needs a fresh coat of paint.”
He said proposals for the market upgrades had been submitted to the ministry.
Tiw said nine schools in the constituency had received a total of RM41,500 for several projects.
He said the recipient schools included SK Pusing, SJKC Kampung Bali, SJKC Kampung Nalla, SJKC Yit Chee, SJKT Tronoh, SJKC Yuk Kwan, SMK Seri Tronoh, SMK Pusing and SK Tronoh.
“The allocations are for upgrading school toilets, dancing rooms, hall sound systems and buying furniture for preschool classes.”
On another topic, Tiw said he had received a lot of complaints from constituents that they did not get an equal chance to receive food aid boxes distributed previously.
Tiw said since he took over, the names of those who were eligible were collected through walk-ins, community leaders, councillors and from non-governmental organisations.
“This way, more people will benefit from the food aid provided by the state government.
“I rotate between the areas where people require food aid. For example, the boxes will be sent out to people in Pusing for one month, followed by Batu Gajah the next month, and Tronoh after that.
“From last November until the end of last month, some 970 food aid boxes were distributed to the needy,” he added.
