STRATEGICALLY located at the mid-way point of Kluang and Batu Pahat, the Ayer Hitam parliamentary constituency in Johor is synonymous with ceramic products and handicrafts.
This has earned it the moniker “Ceramic Town” as locals and tourists alike make it a point to stop by the many shops selling ceramic goods and home decorations.
Years ago, Ayer Hitam was called Simpang Pulai, named after a majestic pulai tree that stood in the middle of an intersection connecting Kluang, Batu Pahat, Yong Peng and Johor Baru.
Later, it was renamed Ayer Hitam – literally meaning black water, after murky waters flowed into the area from the mountains.
For school canteen operator Muhammad Shahrezan Abdullah, 40, and his wife Syahidatul Akma Abdull Halid, 37, the interesting background of their hometown is also a tourist draw.
“Upon turning into the Ayer Hitam exit from the North-South Expressway, the first row of shops selling ceramic products and handicrafts is just a stone’s throw away.
“The place is crowded on weekends and during festive seasons,” said Muhammad Shahrezan from Semarang, a residential area in Ayer Hitam.
Syahidatul Akma said businesses had suffered a blow due to the Covid-19 pandemic, including their canteen operations.
“We run the canteens at a school that has both primary and secondary students.
“Now that classes are back to normal, we face other challenges like the rising cost of raw materials and workers’ salary.
“Since we have to stick to the agreed prices when we submitted our tender in 2020, we cannot simply hike up our prices.
“We have no choice but to reduce portions, such as fried chicken cut into smaller pieces.
“We also sympathise with the students,” she said, adding that workers’ wages had gone up from RM30 to between RM45 and RM60 a day.
She said school canteen operators had been exempted from rent during the pandemic but payment would be resuming next year, which could affect her profit margin.
“I hope the next government will be able to tackle the rising cost of living and keep the prices of items low so that our children can eat better and small businesses like ours can survive,” said Syahidatul Akma.
Student V. Rajaaletchumi, 23, wants to see more job opportunities in Yong Peng where she lives.
“Many young people have gone to Johor Baru or Singapore in search of better jobs, including my sisters and some of my peers.
“I am also thinking about crossing the border to look for a job after I complete my bridal make-up course, because the opportunities here are limited,” she said, adding that many people had lost their jobs during the pandemic.
She said incumbent Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and Yong Peng assemblyman Ling Tian Soon had been actively assisting needy families during that period by handing out mattresses, diapers, face masks and daily necessities such as rice, cooking oil and vegetables.
“It is good to see elected representatives who help people regardless of their race or background and I hope they can keep it up,” said Rajaaletchumi, who is the youngest of six siblings.
Social worker Eh Bee Dong, 52, said Ayer Hitam needed its own hospital as a government health clinic was insufficient to cater to the needs of locals.
“The nearest hospital from Yong Peng is around 30km away in Batu Pahat.
“Besides that, I hope to see more new developments in Ayer Hitam as nothing much has changed in the past few years,” she said.
Eh added that having further developments could bring in more visitors to the area as Yong Peng was also known as Little Fu Zhou.
The town’s moniker reflects the majority of its residents whose ancestors came from China’s Fujian province and spoke the Fu Zhou dialect.
As such, Yong Peng is also home to many restaurants and eateries selling Fu Zhou dishes such as fragrant handmade puffs and biscuits.
The Ayer Hitam parliamentary constituency is made up of the Yong Peng and Semarang state constituencies.
In the 14th General Election, Dr Wee, who is also MCA president, won the seat with 17,076 votes against DAP’s Liew Chin Tong and PAS’ Mardi Marwan, who garnered 16,773 and 4,975 votes respectively.
In the upcoming 15th General Election (GE15), Johor DAP vice-chairman and former Paloh assemblyman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali will be contesting the Ayer Hitam seat.
Dr Wee reportedly said he was quite surprised by the announcement of Sheikh Umar as candidate instead of Liew, but welcomed anyone who wanted to contest.
“During the pandemic when the Health Department reported over 100 cases of Covid-19 in Yong Peng, we were the ones who actually went out and placed 58 food banks at several surau all over the area, consistently and not as a one-off aid.
“Where did they (Opposition) go during that time?” he questioned.
A total of 61,013 registered voters are expected to cast their ballots in Ayer Hitam on Nov 19, following the nomination day tomorrow.