In the lead-up to Malaysia’s 13th general election on May 5, TODAY’s team of reporters will visit the country’s small towns and rural areas to uncover the issues on the minds of the voters.

KLANG — Klang, dubbed the “royal town” and the former capital of Selangor, has seen better days.

Hooliganism and crime are on the rise, the streets are dirty and the clean water is in short supply, the residents said.

As Malaysia prepares for what political pundits have touted to be one of the most keenly contested elections ever, the headlines have been dominated by political rhetoric and the tussle for major states and cities.

But as the Klang residents whom TODAY spoke to pointed out, these elections are more than just about fireworks and sideshows. They are about electing the candidate or party which would improve their lives, or at least make the alleys cleaner and safer, for instance.

Klang town is located about 37km away from Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, and has a population of over one million people.

It is part of Selangor’s Klang district. The district’s three parliamentary seats of Kapar, Kota Raja and Klang are currently held by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition. The state of Selangor is also under opposition rule.

Sitting at a coffee shop facing the old Klang bus terminal in the town centre, Mr Sara, a 72-year-old retiree, lamented how the area will be flooded when there is heavy rain. “We cannot put our leg on the roadside; they (the municipal council) don’t clean up the drains,” he said.

He was also dissatisfied with the level of hygiene in some of the coffee shops and public toilets in the vicinity. Klang town is now “very dirty”, he said.

Mr Sara and several other residents also voiced their concerns over how certain parts of the town have been overrun by gangsters.

“Gangsterism … is becoming worse,” said a 60 year-old man working in a bookshop, who declined to be named.

A taxi driver, Mr Rajali, 57, who was taking a break from work at the taxi station located at the old bus terminal, said that from time to time, the town faces a water shortage. Reroofing work at the taxi station has also stalled, he said.

While the residents TODAY spoke to all agreed about the improvements needed in the town, they were divided over whether the country’s ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition or the opposition, which has been administering both the town and the state since the 2008 elections, are best placed to address their concerns and deliver what residents are pining for.

Mr Sara, who receives RM300 (S$122) a month in aid from the government, said the BN has been “actively” helping the poor.

“So far, five years, (the opposition) has been running the show (in Selangor), but we are still not happy,” said Mr Sara.

Mr Francis Maraisusai, 44, who is unemployed and suffers from a lung ailment, criticised the opposition for making “empty promises”.

“Today, they will make one promise, tomorrow they will make a different promise,” he added in Malay.

Mr Ahmad, 60, a bus operations officer, added: “Last time (the opposition) said if they won, they will help needy citizens like us, but there have been no changes. Look at the water situation — there are so many cuts to the water supply.”

But the 60-year-old bookseller noted that the past five years under the opposition have resulted in more consistent water supply and cleaner streets. Likening political parties to shirts, the opposition supporter hopes the ruling party will topple. “One shirt, how long can you use it? Seven years only, then you have to change,” he said.

Mr Rajali added that he has no issues with the opposition administration, adding that he was happy with the provision of free parking for taxis at the old bus station now.

Mr Saiful Nizam, a 29-year-old businessman, pointed out that residents here have a “more satisfactory life now”, citing the free provision of water, the increase in number of traffic lights and the reduction in potholes on the roads.

Also, those in business do not have to lobby the state government to get contracts, unlike previously, he claimed.