For Sungai Bakap residents, it is about quality and cost of living
NIBONG TEBAL: The decline in work opportunities, increase in the price of essential items and water woes will give Sungai Bakap residents much to consider when casting their votes come polling day on July 6.
Sales adviser Hui Chong, 35, said while she remained in her hometown, her friends have all moved away in search for a better life.
“Many have moved away to the island side of Penang as they are able to earn more there.
“Here, someone in their 30s and 40s can earn around RM3,000 to RM4,000 depending on the job,” she said.
She added that with the ringgit value much lower these days, some of her friends have even moved to Singapore to get jobs.
“The idea is to work somewhere else as it improves their quality of life.
“Living here is no longer as cheap as it used to be.
“The cost of living is going up, especially for grocery items,” said Hui.
She said she is unsure if voting for either candidate would make a difference.
“We still have to work hard and manage our finances to live a comfortable life here,” she added.
Hawa Daliffah Ab Halim, 26, who runs an eatery in Sungai Bakap, said it has come to a point where she is only making ends meet.
“About two or three years ago we used to make enough to give out aid to others.
“Now, with the fluctuating prices of rations, it is difficult to make as much money. We use plenty of onions and chicken and they are no longer cheap.
“We cannot raise our prices as our customers are local folks who have their own struggles,” she added.
Hawa said another issue the locals faced here is the lack of streetlights.
“We have issues with snakes wandering onto the roads here.
“Without proper lighting, we do not see them and it is dangerous,” she said.
Then there are the water woes.
“Everyone knows how bad it is. Locals have been dealing with it for years.
“People do not realise how much it has affected the quality of life here,” she added.
Technician Aizat Sariff, 38, said in order to get a better job, one needs to venture out of Sungai Bakap.
“It is good that places like Batu Kawan have developed as there are job opportunities there.
“In Sungai Bakap, many run their own businesses, but for a technician like me, going a bit further makes a world of difference.
“I am lucky neighbouring areas have developed, otherwise I would probably have to move away to a different state or relocate to the island side of Penang,” he said.
Aizat said while Sungai Bakap is still an affordable place to live, the price of essentials has increased.
“I have two young kids and as much as we live within our means, expenses are going up.
“A bag of onions used to be RM4 but now it is RM8 for 1kg.
“Onions are a basic item for a household and we cannot stinge on it.
“These things worry me as I am a family man,” he said.
