On the right track

Famous for its scenic padi fields, the small rural town of Tasek Gelugor, bordering Kedah, is seeing bits and pieces of development which are gradually changing its ‘kampung’ image. The parliamentary constituency in north Seberang Prai is made up of three state seats — Teluk Air Tawar, Sungai Dua and Permatang Berangan. Tasek Gelugor consists of small villages surrounding the main town of Pekan Gelugor. The villages and settlements there include Kampung Air Melintas Kecil, Kampung Belukar, Kampung Lahar Tembun, Kampung Pengkalan Batu, Kampung Permatang Indah and Kampung Banggul. Locals say Tasek Gelugor got its name from a lake that was created from the overflow of a nearby river and the Gelugor tree which grew nearby the lake.

Tasek Gelugor’s main industry is agriculture. Padi fields can be spotted alongside the roads in Permatang Berangan and Sungai Dua. They have become a tourist attraction for out-of-town visitors who would pose for photos amidst the scenic backdrop.One of the biggest developments in Tasek Gelugor now is the Electrified Double Track Project from Ipoh to Padang Besar. As Tasek Gelugor is one of the towns that the train will pass through, a modern train station is being built. This will certainly stimulate development and benefit local people. The project undertaken by MMC-Gamuda Joint Venture Sdn Bhd (MMC-Gamuda) will enable Tasek Gelugor to have a train station supported by modern infrastructure.

Businessman Hor Su Jun, 57, said the town would become busier once the station was completed and operational. “The roads in Tasek Gelugor must be upgraded to support the volume of cars that will be crowding Tasek Gelugor in a few years’ time,” he said. A sundry shop owner, who wanted to be known only as Lee, 40 said business was becoming more competitive. “There are too many shops and the number of customers is still the same. We are hoping that once the station is completed, there will be more customers,” she said. Her brother, Gooi Po Sim, 50, said he was concerned about a new flyover built in the Tasek Gelugor Main Road over the railway tracks leading to the new train station.

“There are no proper signboards, white lines or traffic lights to guide traffic along the flyover,” he said, adding that many accidents had occurred along the flyover stretch since it was opened to the public six months ago. He said the flyover, which is only two lanes wide, would not be wide enough to support the volume of cars in the future. “Once the train station is built, there will be massive traffic congestions in the area,” he said. He suggested that the flyover be expanded to four lanes wide on each side. “We must anticipate such problems now and take the necessary steps. We must think far ahead if we want Tasek Gelugor to develop further,” he said.

Businessman Nor Azman Wan, 43, said traffic along the Tasek Gelugor Main Road, where his business is located, got congested particularly during peak hours. He said buses were providing good service in Tasek Gelugor and surrounding areas. At Sungai Dua, hawker Azman Ibrahim, 52, said there had been an increase in traffic since the Butterworth Outer Ring Road opened a few years ago. “It is now easier to access Sungai Dua from Prai with the highway. It is good for us because our business is getting better,” he said with a grin. Azman, who runs a ‘kuih’ stall, said there was a need for more facilities such as a hospital in Sungai Dua. “Currently, I have to drive to Seberang Jaya or Kepala Batas to seek treatment for my knee problem,” he said. “It takes about 15 to 20 minutes or between 5km and 10km to get to the nearest hospital,” he said. He said that having a hospital closer to home would certainly be welcomed.

In Teluk Air Tawar, housewife Suriani Hassan, 42, said the scenic beaches in the area were potential tourist spots. “The beaches along the coast of Taman Wira, Taman Robina and Taman Teluk Ai Tawar have great views of Penang island. “Apart from the beaches, the area is also famous for its seafood,” she said. Suriani said the cleanliness of the beaches had to be maintained. “Many visit the beaches and they tend to leave rubbish behind, making the areas an eyesore. “This issue needs to be looked at seriously if Teluk Air Tawar is to become a tourist attraction,” she said.

By SIMREN KAUR
simren@thestar.com.my

The Star Online - Wednesday 6 March, 2013