BATU PAHAT: The image of Parit Yaani as a cowboy town will soon be a thing of the past as a structured development project will be implemented there soon.
The project will include building various facilities that have been planned by the government that are welcomed by the residents there as they are uncomfortable with the town being known as a cowboy town.
Sri Gading member of Parliament Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said RM5 million has been allocated to implement the project, which would include the construction of a commercial complex, that will make the town as competitive as its neighbours like Parit Raja and Parit Sulong.
He said the construction of the complex is expected to begin early next year and will be undertaken by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara).
“A 1.21ha piece of land located in the town will be used for the project.
“The population of Parit Yaani has risen, therefore causing an increase in the demand for facilities.
“The development project for the town would not only involve the building of new and modern commercial and residential premises but also other facilities like banking.
“The absence of banking facilities here forces the residents here to travel to Yong Peng, Parit Sulong or Batu Pahat whenever they have any financial matters to attend to,” said Aziz.
He said a new RM27 million secondary school will be build in Parit Yaani to accommodate the increasing number of students in the surrounding areas of the town.
Aziz said that once completed the school will ease the residents, whose children now have to go to a secondary school in Tongkang Pechah, which is 10km away.
“If everything goes according to plan, the school is expected to be completed by the end of 2016 and can be used for the 2017 school session. The implementation of these projects would hopefully bring prosperity and provide convenience
to the residents in the area,” said Aziz.
Parit Yaani village head Jailani Awi said the development project is something the residents have been waiting for as they were confident that it would change the town’s image.
“Besides making the town more structured, I am confident the project will place Parit Yaani on par with other small towns, which have been also been going through transformations for some time now,” said Jailani. By Mustapha Ismail