Catching up with progress

PADDY fields, mangrove swamps, rolling hills and pristine beaches herald the natural beauty of Balik Pulau.

The parliamentary constituency consists of three state seats - Bayan Lepas, Pulau Betong and Teluk Bahang.

The rustic countryside exudes a relaxed lifestyle of tranquility and peace, and well known for its mouth-watering durians and laksa stalls.

Balik Pulau, which means ‘the other side of the island’ in Bahasa Malaysia, is undergoing rapid development and is slowly shedding its image as a quiet backwater.

The traditional kampung houses are still all over the place but rows of spanking luxurious houses are coming up in some areas.

Slow and easy lifestyle: The town of Kuala Sungai Pinang in Balik Pulau

It has pristine beaches in Pantai Kerachut and Pasir Panjang which are favourites among locals.

The beaches are usually quiet unlike the beaches in Batu Ferringhi which are frequently swarmed with tourists.

The tranquility of the area is enough to attract anyone who prefers serenity compared to the hustle and bustle of city life.

There are many fishing villages untouched by development. An example is the picturesque Kuala Sungai Pinang which has mangrove forest.

Here, one can see fishermen laying traps for crabs and mending nets in their boats at dilapidated wooden jetties.

Balik Pulau is being turned into an education hub with several international colleges planning to open its campuses there.

Besides Mara Junior Science College and the Prince of Wales Island International School, it is also home for several institutions such as Mara Higher Vocational Training Institute and Island College of Technology.

The development of the RM120mil Escape Theme Park in Teluk Bahang has boosted tourism.

Escape Adventureplay, which is the first phase of the Escape Theme Park opened its doors to the public in November last year while the entire theme park spanning 17.8ha is expected to be completed in 2017.

Upmarket homes: One of the new housing projects in the Balik Pulau parliamentary constituency

Real estate prices in Balik Pulau have shot up as more people are buying luxurious houses there.

The completion of the much-delayed road upgrading project costing some RM60mil has made the town more accessible from Bayan Lepas.

The project was once dubbed the ‘sickest’ road project in the state since there were repeated changes to contractors who could not complete the work on time.

Although initially it was supposed to be completed in two years, it took some five years to complete the stretch from Teluk Kumbar to Pekan Genting.

Now, it is a breeze to travel along the 3.3km stretch which has several flyovers.

There is no doubt that Balik Pulau is set to be a ‘hotspot’ for developers in the next few years.

Locals are concerned over the mushrooming of luxurious houses.

“I don’t think many locals can afford to buy houses which are above RM500,000,” said security guard Raja Shaharuddin Raja Ahmad, 43, who stays in Sungai Rusa.

Wider and safer: The completion of the upgraded road link between Teluk Kumbar and Pekan Genting has shortened travelling time

“I am not against such development. All we want is more affordable homes for locals,” he said.

His wife Normaziah Abu Bakar, 40, concurred with her husband saying the state government should step in help low-income people to buy their own houses.

Another local factory worker Ahmad Sapuri Yahya, 39, from Kampung Masjid said he preferred the construction of low-medium units to three-storey bungalows.

A similar view was expressed by housewife Koay Swee Kim, 36 from Pondok Upeh who said that instead of building more affordable housing on the northeastern side of the island, such units should be built here.

Koay said all efforts must be taken to preserve the lush greenery of the area.

Fishmonger Chee Khoon Seong, 60, said he was unfazed by the rapid development in the area, saying it was unavoidable.

“However, I’m more comfortable living in a kampung lifestyle,” he said.

Accountant Alan Low, 33, said the price of properties in Balik Pulau were cheaper than other parts of the island.

“For RM500,000, one can buy a two-storey landed property here. In George Town or other areas, one can only buy a condominium with that money,” he said.

All the seats in the parliamentary constituency are expected to be keenly contested by candidates from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. - The Star