Looking ahead to ‘greater Gopeng’

Tan wants improved infrastructure for areas around Gunung Rapat, Simpang Pulai and Teja. — Photos: RONNIE CHIN and MANJIT KAUR/The Star

SIMPANG Pulai, a quiet town a decade ago, is a bustling commercial area today with developments in and around the township on the southern border of Ipoh, Perak.

The former tin-mining town, sandwiched between Ipoh and Gopeng, is also where visitors from the northern parts of the country exit the North-South Expressway to head to Cameron Highlands via the Pos Slim route.

It is a 15-minute drive from the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in Ipoh and about 18km from the city centre.

Among its increasing number of housing estates is the integrated green township of Bandar Seri Botani, which has a private hospital, international and vernacular schools and various businesses.

With the growing population, many folks say Simpang Pulai lacks modern infrastructure while repairs are badly needed for some old facilities.

Simpang Pulai assemblyman Wong Chai Yi, whose jurisdiction includes Gunung Rapat and Ampang Baru in Ipoh, said funds had been allocated for schools, repairs to infrastructure, and upgrades to sports facilities at three Chinese new villages in Simpang Pulai, Gunung Rapat and Ampang Baru.

She has several plans for the town, but for a start, she has sought allocation for the crucial upgrading of several roads as well as efforts to reduce traffic congestion on Jalan Sultan Nazrin Shah, the main road from Ipoh to Kampung Kepayang.

Part of the 500m stretch at Gunung Rapat Chinese New Village that will be resurfaced.

The road, she said, was badly congested because it was part of Federal Route 1, which connected to other towns such as Gopeng, Kampar, Tapah and Tanjung Malim as well as to neighbouring state Selangor and Kuala Lumpur city.

This road is also connected to the North-South Expressway.

“The Public Works Department (JKR) has informed me about its short- and long-term plans for the road,” said Wong.

“For now, the plan is to instal smart traffic lights costing RM1.5mil along a 6km stretch of Jalan Sultan Nazrin Shah, starting from Sungai Rokam (Ipoh) right up to Simpang Pulai toll.

“During peak hours, it takes some time before we are able to turn into Bandar Seri Botani.

“The smart traffic lights could significantly improve traffic flow,” she added.

Exercise equipment will be added at the field and the roofed basketball court will be upgraded at Simpang Pulai Chinese New Village soon.

For Bandar Seri Botani, Wong said Persiaran Lapangan Siber 1 required repairs because it had potholes and uneven stretches.

She said the population of Bandar Seri Botani was reaching almost 20,000 and increased traffic over the years meant the roads needed upgrading as well.

About 1km of Persiaran Lapangan Siber 1 would be resurfaced, she said, elaborating that works were expected to be completed by this year.

A roundabout along that road is also badly congested during peak hours, she said.

“Many accidents have been reported at the roundabout as it is located at the bottom of a slope and cars that travel above a certain speed are unable to stop in time,” she noted.

Wong added that there was a public-private partnership plan to build an alternative road in the area.

Jovi Yip, 41, whose restaurant faced the roundabout, said accidents took place at the roundabout almost daily.

“Motorists speed downhill and sometimes, those who are not aware of the roundabout end up crashing into other cars.

“It will be good to have speed humps and breakers there,” added Yip.

The roundabout in Bandar Seri Botani is situated at the bottom of a slope.

Village development

Wong said RM800,000 had been secured via Local Government Development Ministry for upgrading of roads, drains, fields and sports facilities in the new villages.

For Simpang Pulai new village, she said two basketball courts would be upgraded with the addition of exercise equipment on the field.

Resurfacing of a 500m stretch of Persiaran Simpang Pulai 3 connecting nearby Taman Bersatu and Jalan Simpang Pulai-Lahat had also been planned, said Wong.

“Work on the two basketball courts would cost RM160,000, while the road upgrade would cost RM180,000.

“One basketbal court has a roof while the other is open-air.

“The floor of the open-air court will be replaced, while concrete fencing will be built around the covered basketball court to prevent vandalism and damage to the infrastructure,” she added.

The open-air basketball court in Simpang Pulai Chinese New Village will be repaired.

Wong said a non-governmental organisation had agreed to sponsor some exercise equipment on the same field where these basketball courts were located, next to the children’s playground.

“There is a jogging track on the field already.

“The exercise equipment will benefit local folk, especially the senior citizens.”

She said that next on the list was to replace the leaky awning at the Simpang Pulai wet market.

The drains would be upgraded while the ventilation would also be improved, she said, adding that she hoped the allocation would be approved quickly.

Expressing happiness on the planned upgrades, villager Choh Kam Kok, 51, said he went to the field most evenings to watch basketball games.

“During rainy days, the surface gets slippery and players are unable to continue with the match,” he added.

Another villager, Chong Siew Lin, 75, said she used the field regularly for qigong exercise with her friends every morning.

In the evenings, she take walks on the field.

“The exercise equipment will be very useful. I cannot wait for it to be installed,” she added.

School upgrades

Wong said seven primary schools in her constituency recently received touchscreen digital smart boards, namely SJK (C) Gunung Rapat, SJK (T) Gunung Rapat, SK Seri Ampang, SK Wirajaya, SK Taman Bersatu, SJK (C) Bandar Seri Botani and SK Rapat Setia.

Each school received two units of the smartboards at a cost of RM12,000 per pair.

Two secondary schools, SMK Rapat Setia and SMK Seri Ampang, received equipment for their screening room, and design and invention room, respectively.

“The RM140,000 for smart boards and equipment for the two secondary schools are funds set aside from me and Gopeng MP Tan Kar Hing.

“Besides that, infrastructure upgrades at another seven schools were also carried out, including repair of toilets, replacement of leaking roofs and corridor upgrades,” Wong said.

Tan told StarMetro that he hoped there would be at least three new schools established in five years, with one in Bandar Seri Botani.

“Currently in Bandar Seri Botani, there are only Chinese and international schools.

“There is a need for both a primary and secondary school here,” he said.

According to his projections, the population in this housing estate will increase by another 10,000 people.

Wong and Leow looking at a road and drains to be upgraded at ampang baru Chinese New Village.

Improving nearby areas

For Gunung Rapat new village, which is the largest new village in the Simpang Pulai constituency, Wong said several roads would be resurfaced along with road humps built.

Persiaran Gunung Rapat 6 and Jalan Gunung Rapat 3 will be upgraded at a cost of RM200,000.

The village is home to the popular heong peah (fragrant biscuits) cottage industry, where the crispy, flaky pastry delicacy is highly sought-after by locals and tourists alike.

Wong said she was also seeking allocation from the ministry to upgrade the Gunung Rapat wet market with new flooring, drains and improved stalls in the vegetable section.

For Ampang Baru new village, she said the road and drains in front of SJK (C) Sin Min would be upgraded because of frequent flash floods during heavy rain.

The cost was expected at RM170,000, she disclosed, saying that all projects were expected to be completed by year-end.

She also said the basketball court in Ampang Baru would be repaired with added facilities.

Simpang Pulai Village development officer Leow Yoon Min said six wall fans would be installed at the basketball court.

“There is a piece of land adjacent to the court that will be transformed into an open-air badminton court,” he added.

Tan, who is former Simpang Pulai assemblyman, spoke about his vision for Gopeng constituency, which encompasses Simpang Pulai, Teja and Sungai Rapat state constituencies.

“Without proper allocation for developments, we will be lagging behind.

“I am discussing with several government agencies on whether we can have something like a greater Ipoh infrastructure plan, similar to the greater Kamunting plan.

“With Ipoh getting more developed, the spillover effect will reach the surrounding areas of Gopeng and Kampar,” he said.

Tan said with the upcoming planned projects of the West Ipoh Span Expressway from Gopeng to Kuala Kangsar, new hospital in Kampar and new housing projects mushrooming, connectivity upgrades were definitely needed.

He hopes for a bigger budget from the Federal Government to have better basic facilities, health clinics and schools.

Tan also said that for the eco-tourism sports area in Gopeng, there were many limitations and issues of access and problems concerning land matters.

Ampang Baru village wet market needs repairs too.

“Currently, the place is popular with backpackers and small groups of tourists.

“In order to get premium tourists, there is definitely a need for better infrastructure, safety and access routes,” he said.

He revealed that Ipoh City Council and the Public Works Department had presented a plan for the construction of an elevated road into Gunung Rapat while removing traffic lights and turning some roads into one-way streets for smoother traffic flow.

He also highlighted that many Malay traditional villages did not have multi-purpose halls.

“Such halls are important to hold community events and weddings,” he said.

He added that he was helping to identify land to be gazetted for this purpose.

Tan is also scouting for land to build community halls in Bandar Seri Botani and Rapat Setia.

“It will be ideal to get a proper football field, as well as a sports complex in Bandar Seri Botani.

“I am working towards that idea as well,” he added.