K KANGSAR POLLS Kuala Kangsar finally has its first university - Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah - following Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's announcement to upgrade Kolej Universiti Islam Sultan Azlan Shah (Kuisas).

But this has created mixed feelings among the folks of Kuala Kangsar, where 32,949 voters would cast their ballots this Saturday.

Few expressed gratitude and support for BN, even though the government hastened to grant the university status within the two-week campaign period.

Locals struggling to make ends meet told Malaysiakini the university was not their top priority.

Non-Malays also expressed doubt that their children would be able to enrol in the government-funded institution.

They said their first concern was surviving the goods and services tax (GST) price hikes while earning monthly salaries as low as RM450.

Their main call was for the government to abolish or at least curb inflation. They also wanted the government to inject new life into the 'dying' royal town.

The local economy, which is mainly based on agricultural activities such as rubber and palm oil, was hit badly when commodity prices plunged.

'Too poor for university'

Sabri Din, a 72-year-old retiree, admitted he could not afford to send his daughter to university.

"She is the sole breadwinner in the family," he told Malaysiakini.

"I once worked as a rubber tapper, but I cannot work now due to my health condition.

"After completing her secondary school, my daughter began working in a textile shop with a monthly wage of RM700. We barely make ends meet," he said.

He said his 18-year-old daughter had tried to apply to various universities and colleges, but, after giving it much thought, decided not to pursue her studies.

But Sabri said he was touched by what he felt was the government's concern for the community.

"BN is the first party I've ever known and it has been close to my heart," he said.

He urged the government to help him by providing more cash allocation and fulfil its promise to assist him in repairing his worn, leaking house.

Meanwhile, Cham Tuck Qi, 58, said he looked forward to the day his family of six would finally have a university graduate among its midst.

Two of Cham's daughters started working after completing secondary school, while the youngest was only 13.

"I cannot afford to pay for them to further their studies," he said, adding that his priority was to put food on the table with his daily wage of RM80.

"The economy is really bad, so I do not get construction jobs as regularly as before," he said.

On the other hand, Jaya Angel, 38, dismissed the university, saying her main concern was the post-GST price hike.

"I have a 17-year-old daughter, but I doubt non-Malays will get to enter the university," she said.

Jaya said her daughter would only be able to study in a private institution. But this was not something her family could afford.

"I had to get another part-time job after GST was enforced. I work as a hotel staff in the morning and a full-time waitress at a fast-food outlet in the evenings.

"Seriously, my family expenditure increased at least 10 percent after the implementation of GST. I can't save a single sen in the bank, even though both my husband and I work two jobs," she lamented.

Jaya said she earned RM900 a month and worked part-time at a hotel for RM35 a day.

"The fast-food shop I work at offers the highest pay in town. Other shops offer as low as RM450 per month or daily wages," she said.

Like Jaya, 40-year-old Wong was doubtful many Chinese would stand a chance to enrol at the new university.

"I am not requesting for an equal chance (with Malays) in construction and education, but at least treat us more fairly," he said.

"We are Malaysians, don't treat us like second-class citizens.

"Everyone is suffering due to the falling commodity price and price hike. When the people cannot afford to buy, the business community will be affected too," he added.

'Give us holistic development'

Wong said if the government truly wanted to help the local community, it should develop the royal town thoroughly.

"I want to see Kuala Kangsar developed into a better town, where we have day and night activities to support the economy," he said.

G Meganathan, 39, a hotel worker, said he wanted to see the constituency prosper, befitting its royal town status.

"Kuala Kangsar is dying. We do not have a shopping centre and cinema. We have to go to Taiping and Ipoh to buy clothes during the festive season or to watch movies," he said.

"In Ipoh, I was once offered RM1,800 per month as a wielder," he said, adding that he chose to stay in Kuala Kangsar to take care of his parents.

"The university is not my main concern. My first concern is the price hike, followed by the hospital and overall development," he said.

Meganathan said the hospital was in dire need of an upgrade.

"My friend once broke his hand following an accident and had to be sent to Ipoh. I have to send my grandmother to Ipoh to treat her diabetes," he said.

However, Ahmad Ali, 50, welcomed the constituency's first university, saying it would benefit the locals.

But, he remained sceptical about whether the government would fulfil other promises in the near future.

BN candidate Mastura Mohd Yazid had pledged to upgrade Kuala Kangsar Hospital into a specialist hospital, widen the road from Manong to Kuala Kangsar, and develop the Sungai Perak riverside into a tourism spot and building the Manong bridge.

The prime minister approved RM43.5 million for the bridge's construction, while Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam announced a RM2 million allocation to upgrade the hospital.

But Ahmad said he was still waiting for the government to deliver its numerous promises to construct the bridge over Sungai Perak, which, when completed, will connect the Manong town centre to Kampung Seberang Manong.

"I live in Manong and own a five-acre durian farm at Kampung Seberang Manong.

"I gather the durians on an annual basis and have to drive one hour to get there. A ferry ride only takes 15 minutes," he said.

Ahmad said many people from Manong bought rubber farms across the river as the land price was cheaper there.

"Many rubber tappers who live in Manong have to wait for the jetty to reach the rubber farms," he added.

Mastura faces PAS' Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad, Amanah's Ahmad Termizi Ramli and Independent candidate Izat Bukhari Ismail Bukhari at the June 18 polls.

The by-election was triggered upon the death of Mastura's husband Wan Mohammad Khair-il Annuar Wan Ahmad in a helicopter crash on May 5, during the Sarawak polls campaign.

Kuala Kangsar has 32,949 registered voters of which 22,496 are Malays, 7,757 Chinese, 2,287 Indians, 330 Orang Ali and 29 Sarawak and Sabah bumiputera.