Cost of living, an immediate problem for Lembah Pantai poor

Every morning, Zuraliati Zulkifli sets up her little stall beside the Petronas petrol station in Pantai Dalam, Kuala Lumpur. 

There, she sells petai and local cakes and cookies, also known as kuih-muih.

There are no days off for the 49-year-old, a single mother who does everything she can to keep her family afloat.

She has seven children, the youngest of whom is still in school.

While she has any number of problems to deal with, the biggest are financial. 

Zuraliati has lived at the Sri Cempaka low-cost flats in Lembah Pantai for six years now, and as the country gears up for its 15th general election (GE15), she has her own small wish list for whoever forms the next government. 

"We would like leaders who can see the people's hardships and who do something about it.

"The way the economy is going now, everything is more expensive. With RM100, I used to be able to fill an entire trolley – but now, I'm lucky if I can get even a few things." 

At the Pantai Permai apartments, meanwhile, security guard Rosli Hashim is hoping for much the same. 

"Before polling day, the candidates should visit the area and stand out by helping the people here," the 48-year-old said. 

Permila Dewi, a senior citizen who has lived in Lembah Pantai for 20 years, said she too hoped for more help for those in need. 

"Right now, I get no help at all," Permila, who runs a small business, said. 

"Even when there was the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia, I didn't get anything. I went to apply for it and they asked me all sorts of questions but in the end, I got nothing."

According to the 2020 census, there are just over 148,000 residents in Lembah Pantai, comprising 69.4% Bumiputera, 23.2% Chinese and 6.7% Indian.

The median household income is RM9,801 while the average household income is RM13,081.

But side by side with the luxury condominiums and grand commercial centres stand the humble shacks of the B40 or Bottom 40 group. 

A large part of the parliamentary constituency in fact comprises low-cost flats which can be seen from the New Pantai Expressway.  

The cost of living is among the issues which candidates looking to wrest the Lembah Pantai seat will have to address. 

The seat has been held by PKR for three terms now: two under Nurul Izzah Anwar and one under Fahmi Fadzil. 

Zuraliati said she wanted a leader who would help regardless of political allegiance.

"We who live here only want the political commitment of whoever wins the seat," she said. 

"We will look at who we find appealing, not someone who will abandon us after polling day." 

While neither Zuraliati nor Rosli has any complaints about the incumbent, Baharudin Md Som, who lives at the Kerinchi low-cost flats, said he would prefer a local to run for election. 

"If no one from Lembah Pantai is fielded, I don't think I will vote," he said. 

"Locals have a better understanding of the situation here, and it's easier for us to talk to them if we have any requests." 

Cost of living aside, there is also the perennial problem of parking. Meanwhile, the lifts at low-cost housing areas frequently break down, and there are also complaints of drug problems among the youth. 

At GE15, Barisan Nasional is expected to nominate Umno Lembah Pantai division leader Ramlan Askolani as its candidate while Perikatan Nasional is likely to nominate Fauzi Abu Bakar of PAS.

There has been no confirmation so far of whether Fahmi will defend his seat.