The key to winning Bukit Bendera
Stories by CHRISTINA CHIN
sgchris@thestar.com.my Photos by GARY CHEN
RIFLE Range residents may be an ageing population but they have been — and will remain — the 'kingmakers' of the Bukit Bendera parliamentary constituency in Penang.
With a high concentration of some 13,720 voters in the Kebun Bunga state constituency, the nine blocks of 17- and 18-storey flats are seen to be the pulse of Bukit Bendera.
The veterans: Rifle Range remains one of the most densely populated housing developments in Penang with most of its population comprising senior citizens.
Hence, Phak Cheng Por as the locals would have it called, never fails to attract the attention of politicians on both sides of the divide.
Indeed, the huge chunk of voters may well determine the fate of any aspiring politician, especially in a nail-biting electoral battle.
And keeping the residents happy can help to swing the votes and result in a thumping win for the hopeful MP.
While the Federal Government has pledged to improve the water pressure at Rifle Range flats — a nagging issue faced by the residents — the state authorities have announced plans to repaint the buildings at an estimated cost of RM2.7mil, of which 80% would be borne by the Penang Development Corporation.
Initially, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had said the balance of 20% would have to be paid by the residents themselves, but that was before two anonymous donors contributed a total of RM200,000 to the project.
Repainting the blocks is slated to start in the next six months with a linear park in the planning.
The private sector has also chipped in to help improve the living conditions there. Recently, the old basketball court was upgraded at a cost of RM40,000, courtesy of Dell and another anonymous donor.
Elaborating on the state government's plans, Penang Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the immediate priority was to fix the basic facilities — things that go unnoticed unless you are a Rifle Range resident.
Top on the list is to replace the sewerage and water piping system and lifts.
"Just the pipes will cost more than RM1mil. We are doing this in stages," he said.
Residents' major grouse are the faulty lifts.
Rubbish strewn along the common areas a usual sight.
Cars parked haphazardly at Rifle Range flats.
As it is, there are no immediate plans to demolish the blocks which consultant architects have reportedly said were still rock solid.
Furthermore, most of the units are now privately owned.
Through the years, the living conditions in Rifle Range have deteriorated and the place has been unfairly dismissed as a slum.
It was under the late Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Wong Pow Nee that the development took shape.
Rifle Range was a crucial housing project at the time, especially for workers of the nearby textile factory.
The rental was cheap and the location convenient but today, cleanliness is a problem.
Another headache facing the state are some 100 dilapidated, abandoned units.
The state government has refurbished half of the abandoned units for the relocation of squatters from other areas but there are some 50-odd units left to spruce up.
The ageing population is also a problem.
Rifle Range is still one of the most densely populated low-cost housing developments in the state but most who live there are senior citizens.
Indeed, the Rifle Range project has left an important legacy for the current administration.
You can build public housing anywhere but good public transportation, convenient amenities and job opportunities are a must.
"Rifle Range has all that. The common areas may have deteriorated but it is not a slum. People say parking is a problem but I disagree.
"If you come at night, when most residents are home, you will see that the car park is not full," he added
