Residents happy with development and infrastructure in constituency

JUST put up your shophouse in Labis town for sale today, and it will be snapped up the next day.

But the properties are not cheap though, with each unit going for RM300,000 or more.

A three-room single storey terrace house meanwhile costs between RM140,000 and RM150,000.

Newspaper vendor, Tien Soon Chang, 82, said the price of land and property had gone up a lot in the last 10 years.

And he attributed the development and buying power to a thriving economy in Labis, a predominantly agriculture area.

Located between Yong Peng and Segamat, the road ( Jalan Segamat)to Labis from both ends are flanked by huge tracts of oil palm plantations.

Soon Chang said the people in Labis were hardworking and thrifty, and they have the money to invest in properties when they spot a good one.

Relating his own experience, Soon Chang said he sold his eight acres of rubber smallholding for RM144,000 or RM18 per acre 10 years ago, and bought a shophouse for RM290,000 along Jalan Segamat.

"Today, the land price is RM80 per acre and the shophouses there are going for RM500,000 a unit," he said.

A typical day for Soon Chang starts at 5am,when he and Kai Kian leaves their house in Labis new village to open their newspaper stall.

"The people here start their day early," said Soon Chang who usually calls it a day by 3pm.

He and Kai Kian would go to his grandson's shophouse along Jalan Segamat to have lunch.

Soon Chang said he worked 365 days a year, adding that he could always find time to go to the church after he closed his stall for the day.

Soon Chang who has stayed in the village since he was three years said life in Labis was good, and multi-ethnic Malaysians were living in harmony all the while.

One of his Malay customers at the newspaper stall praised Soon Chang for his enterprising spirit.

"He will deliver the papers to his customers waiting inside their cars," said the customer who preferred anonymity.

Soon Chang was a tailor since he was 18.

"The tailoring business was good until the 1980's, and I used to have seven to eight workers in the good old days " he recalled.

He gave up his tailoring business and took over the newspaper stall operated by his wife when she died 11 years ago. On how to make life better for the people in Labis, Soon Chang said the Government had continued to upgrade the basic facilities in the constituency.

"Life here is simple and good" he added.

Meanwhile Mohamed Haari who was impressed by the new health clinic in Labis town said it meant a lot to the folk there.

"This clinic is very much better than the previous one.

"It is spacious,and we do not need to wait long to get treatment," said the 45-year-old farmer and father of five.

The facilities at the RM20mil clinic which was operational a year ago include a 24-hour-emergency service, X-ray department, a pharmacy and a family health care clinic.

But it is the availability of doctors daily that means a lot to Labis folk.

"There are two doctors at the clinic everyday.

"Prior to this, doctors will only be available for a few days a week, and we have to go to Segamat Hospital for an X-ray and it is quite far away," Mohamed Haari said of the clinic which was mooted by former Labis MP and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek a few years ago.

Labis MP Datuk Chua Tee Yong said the clinic has treated 4,000 patients since its opening last November.

"Besides the healthcare services which are available between Monday and Friday, the 24-hour-emergency service is also very important to the people," he added.

Meanwhile, rural development also continues to feature prominently in Labis; with RM500,000 being spent for upgrading works in the first half of this year.

Chua said RM300,000 were spent on road works, and the balance went to street lights.

Yong Soo Boon said he was happy with the upgrading works.

"The street lights for instance are for the safety of residents," said Yong from Chaah.

However, he said there were still some streets and back lanes which needed more street lights, citing those in Taman Soon Chong and Taman Jati as examples.

Labis folk are also increasingly health conscious and many are making a beeline to the park —Darling Walk- in Chaah since its opening in March.

Yong Soo Foon, 27, said: "We see many villagers doing all kinds of exercise at the park daily."

The exercise equipment costing a total ofRM15,000;like the double sky walker, air walker triple twister, hi swing and leg press were popular, he added..

Besides using the equipment, some folk also did line dancing and tai chi, Yong added.

Chua also advised Labis folk to exercise regularly to stay healthy and fit.

Besides, exercising outdoors was also a good opportunity to spend quality time with family members and friends, he said.

-The Star-

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