ALOR GAJAH, Nov 12 — The Lendu state constituency, covering 7,059.3 hectares ,is a village area in Masjid Tanah town and has the potential to develop in line with the rapid progress in technology.
Secretary of the Development and Coordination Committee (Japerun) for the Lendu state constituency, Abdul Kadir Jailani Aseli, said Lendu had the potential to be developed for tourism because of its historic attractions, like the Masjid Lama and Jam Merdeka.
In fact, he said, the name Masjid Tanah was derived from Masjid Lama because the building is made of clay.
“What is special about this Lendu state constituency is a town called Pekan Masjid Tanah and the Jam Merdeka, ”he told Bernama, here.
Abdul Kadir Jailani said visitors in Lendu could stay at homestays in Seri Tanjung where they could experience and enjoy the village atmosphere and go to Tanjung Bidara and Pengkalan Balak, which are nearby.
He said Lendu had 12 villages, 21 parks, 10 health centres and 42 houses of worship, comprising mosques and temples, as well as 24 schools, including kindergartens.
There is yet a skill-based training centre is Lendu to provide training for the locals, he added.
He said Lendu, like many other state constituencies in Melaka, also had its problems, which included flash floods.
One of the residents, Saadiah Puteh, 65, said floods occurred more often lately.
“I don’t know if it’s due to drainage or other factors. The area will be flooded whenever there is heavy rain,” she said.
Food trader Kamarudin Mat Akhir, 80, suggested that more traffic lights should be installed in the area especially at road intersections in the villages.
“Road crashes often happen because motorists have no patience. They can’t wait to overtake other vehicles and always drive fast,” he said.
Another food trader, Adham Mohamed, 57, wants more businesses to be opened in Lendu to provide employment opportunities for the locals, especially the young people.
There will be a three -cornered fight for the Lendu state seat involving Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali, representing BN, Major (Rtd) Abdullah Mahadi, of PN, and Mohamad Asri Ibrahim of PH.
The Election Commission has set Nov 20 as polling day for the Melaka state election and Nov 16 for early voting.
The election is called following the dissolution of the state assembly on Oct 4 after four state assembly members withdrew support for Sulaiman’s leadership.
Lendu has 10,561 voters.
Sources: BERNAMA