BATU PAHAT, July 2 — Pakatan Harapan (PH)’s presence in the Johor State Election (PRN) is aimed at offering a more sustainable development agenda and not at disrupting the existing harmony in the state.
PKR Vice President Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said Johor was a state that had great potential to be developed, but its administrative methods needed to be improved so that it was not only focused on certain districts.
He, who is also the Menteri Besar of Selangor, said the development pattern in Johor is currently seen as uneven, as the economic focus is more towards the Johor Bahru district, thus creating a gap with other districts.
“Johor is like other parts of the country in the north, east and west. The income gap between residents, for example, is quite significant between Johor Bahru and Segamat. That is why we have come to bring change and then govern Johor well,” he said when speaking at the Jelajah Ke Depan Undi Harapan, in Pekan Senggarang here, last night.
Also present was the Deputy President of the National Trust Party (Amanah) Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof .
Amirudin, who is also PKR’s Election Director, said Johor recorded a high amount of investment last year, which was RM101 billion, but the rate of new job creation was still seen as low compared to Selangor.
“Last year’s investment in Selangor was RM83 billion but we created 60,000 new job opportunities, (while) in Johor it was lower, maybe not even 30,000 or 40,000 or less,” he said.
In this regard, Amirudin said that if PH is given the mandate to govern, the coalition will ensure that high-impact investments are coordinated with the support of the Federal government, through initiatives such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
“This is important to create high-paying job opportunities, so that our young people no longer have to commute to Singapore every day to earn a living,” he said.
Amirudin said the future state government under PH leadership would adopt an open leadership strategy to ensure Johor emerges as a southern jewel that is the pride of Malaysia and its people.
A total of 172 candidates are contesting in the Johor state election which will be held on July 11, while early voting is on July 7.
— BERNAMA
