HUGE SEAT WITH BIG PROBLEMS: Residents say current MP from PKR has only worsened the problem by bailing out suspects
KAPAR, with about 142,000 voters, has one major issue in the constituency -- gangsterism. Voters want more police patrols and help from the Federal Government to tackle it.
Businessman Chan Chun Wah, 40, said many people he knew had moved to Setia Alam, 5km away, for a safer living environment and also to escape the worsening traffic jam.
"One of the biggest concerns for us here are the muggings and robberies.
"We need more police patrols," he said at his shop.
T. Vengadasalam, 60, said not much development had taken place since Pakatan Rakyat won the seat in the 2008 general election.
The father of four, who sells cendol, said the town usually came alive during the Ponggal celebration.
"But the main issue we're facing is gangsterism.
"Police need to beef up security."
Cheng Wah Ang, 43, who owns a stationery shop, said rubbish collection was another issue of concern.
"Our rubbish used to be collected several times a week, but now it is only once a week.
"Roads are also not properly maintained.
"Many people are saying that things were much better when Kapar was under Barisan Nasional."
T.M. Anandan, 51, said the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BRIM) had benefited many locals.
He hoped the Federal Government would continue with the programme to help the poor.
He also urged the government to come up with special programmes, targeting Indian youth, and help to rehabilitate gangsters and former criminals in the area.
In the run-up to the 13th general election, several names have cropped up as candidates for the Kapar parliamentary seat, which has 72,000 Malay voters, 48,000 Chinese and 20,500 Indians.
"It is one of the largest constituencies in the country based on its number of voters.
A potential candidate is dentist Dr V. Nedunchelian, 45, who is hoping to stand under the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) banner.
"I want to go into politics to represent the people, my own people as I am from Kapar and I know the issues here well.
"All the previous representatives were outsiders, so they did not have the same concern."
"For example, Kapar is 26 times bigger than Putrajaya in terms of voters but we don't even have a government hospital here."
Dr Nedunchelian said gang fights and crime were the biggest concerns of locals.
He attributed them to urban poverty because of estates making way for development as well as a lack of parental guidance.
Asked on his chances of winning, Dr Nedunchelian said: "Given a chance, I will win regardless of who my opponent is.
"I have worked and served the people here since I was 17."
Other names like Umno's Sementa state assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rahman Palil and Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) director D. Ravindran have also cropped up as possible candidates.
MIC central working committee member A. Saktivel, 43, is also tipped to be the candidate for Kapar.
He has also been making his rounds in the constituency for the past 18 months.
The chemical engineer turned businessman said Kapar badly needed a hospital and better public transport.
"This is a semi-urban area with mostly middle- and low-income families.
"We have a government clinic but for major medical cases and emergencies, patients need to be rushed to Klang Hospital.
"The bus system, which is okay, needs to be upgraded."
The father of three said his chances of winning were good.
A Chinese businessman, who declined to be named, said previous members of parliament had failed to address the issue of gangsterism.
"The problem has become worse. It also does not help that the current MP S. Manikavasagam is always bailing out those arrested by police.
"This has reached a point where the police now seem hesitant to take action against criminals as the MP will be at the station the next day, demanding their release."
Raznah Tan, 62, who moves around with a walking stick, felt that there were many people who had been left out by Manikavasagam.
"I applied to his office for a wheelchair and was told that it had arrived.
"But until now, I have not been contacted."
Manikavasagam, when contacted, denied marginalising non-Indians in Kapar.
Instead, he said he had solved many social, poverty and land issues for Malays and provided monetary aid to 135 Chinese temples in Kapar.
Kapar, a traditional MIC seat, fell to PKR's Manikavasagam in the 2008 general election when MIC Wanita chief Datin Paduka Komala Krishnamoorthy lost by 12,297 votes.
The Kapar parliamentary seat has four state seats -- Meru, Sementa, Sungai Pinang and Selat Klang.
