Tag: ph

PH’s Cheah Eyes RTS, JS-SEZ to Drive Kukup’s Tourism and Economic Growth

PONTIAN, July 8 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for Kukup, Cheah Chee Hong, has outlined plans to position the coastal constituency as a key beneficiary of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link and the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), saying both initiatives could unlock new opportunities for tourism and local businesses. Cheah said Kukup, known as the southernmost tip of mainland Asia, is well-placed to capitalise on the expected increase in visitors travelling through Johor from Singapore once the RTS Link becomes operational. He noted that the journey from Johor Bahru to Kukup takes about an hour, making the destination easily accessible to both local and international tourists seeking seafood, coastal attractions, and nature-based experiences. However, Cheah stressed that transforming Kukup into a thriving tourism destination requires more than promotional campaigns. He said long-standing infrastructure issues must first be addressed to improve the overall visitor experience and quality of life for residents. If elected in the Johor state election on July 11, Cheah pledged to prioritise the upgrading of basic infrastructure, including widening roads, improving street lighting, enhancing telecommunications coverage with better 5G connectivity, and strengthening waste management services. He also proposed introducing a more systematic waste collection programme by appointing more efficient contractors to ensure cleaner public spaces. To further boost tourism, Cheah said he hopes to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to develop a more organised and comprehensive promotional strategy for Kukup, rather than relying solely on social media campaigns. In addition, he proposed establishing a large night market near the Kukup International Ferry Terminal with between 100 and 200 stalls dedicated to local entrepreneurs. According to Cheah, the initiative would not only attract more visitors but also create greater business opportunities for residents by supporting local vendors and small businesses. "I want to create business opportunities, not just jobs," he said. Cheah will face Barisan Nasional candidate Israk Abdullah in the contest for the Kukup state seat. He also called on Johoreans living or working in Singapore to return home and cast their ballots on polling day, saying every vote would help shape Johor's future.  -- MINUTESMY 

PONTIAN, July 8 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for Kukup, Cheah Chee Hong, has outlined plans to position the coastal constituency as a key beneficiary of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link and the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), saying both initiatives could unlock new opportunities for tourism and local businesses. Cheah said Kukup, known […]

Johor Polls: PH’s Cheah Takes Different Tack, Focuses On Local Issues

JOHOR BAHRU, July 7  -- As the Johor state election campaign enters its final phase and political parties increasingly turn to national issues, Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Kukup seat, Cheah Chee Hong, has opted for a different approach by focusing entirely on local issues. He said voters now want to hear solutions to the problems they face every day rather than debates on national politics. "Today, I don't want to talk about politics or national issues because everyone already sees those every day on social media. I only want to talk about Kukup," he told Bernama when contacted here today. Cheah said that after more than a week of campaigning, he managed to visit various areas in Kukup and listened firsthand to residents' grievances before identifying the priorities that should be addressed if elected as their representative. According to him, among the issues most frequently raised were the long-standing problem of poor rubbish collection, weak internet coverage and unstable electricity supply, which has damaged residents' electrical appliances. He said resolving these basic issues must be the priority before Kukup can be developed into a national-level tourist destination. Cheah also outlined proposals to upgrade infrastructure, including roads, street lighting, parking facilities and tourism amenities, as well as strengthen cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) to promote Kukup. He said Kukup's strategic location near Johor Bahru, the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System, and its position within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone are advantages that should be leveraged to boost tourism and the local economy. Cheah also proposed establishing a large-scale night market to provide business opportunities for local residents, with the aim of increasing their income while attracting more tourists. He said he hoped his campaign, centred on solving local issues, would convince voters ahead of polling day, while also urging Kukup natives living outside the constituency to return home to fulfil their voting responsibility. Kukup is seeing a straight fight between Cheah and Barisan Nasional candidate Md Israk Abdullah. Early voting is today while polling will be held on July 11. -- BERNAMA

JOHOR BAHRU, July 7  — As the Johor state election campaign enters its final phase and political parties increasingly turn to national issues, Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Kukup seat, Cheah Chee Hong, has opted for a different approach by focusing entirely on local issues. He said voters now want to hear solutions to […]

Johor Polls: PH’s Record Proves It Delivers, Says Aminolhuda

JOHOR BAHRU, July 3 -- Pakatan Harapan's (PH) record of delivering all the pledges in its 100-day manifesto when it governed Johor after the 14th General Election (GE14) should serve as a benchmark for voters in the upcoming Johor state election, said Johor PH chairman Aminolhuda Hassan. He said the achievement demonstrated that PH not only made election promises but also fulfilled its commitments to the people. Among the 10 initiatives delivered under the 100-day manifesto were limiting the Menteri Besar's tenure to two terms, introducing the Johor Health Card (Kad Sihat Johor), implementing an open tender system and providing 10 cubic metres of free water to eligible groups. "We also delivered a takaful scheme for senior citizens, higher education incentives, licence fee exemptions for hawkers, a 50 per cent discount on outstanding rent for People's Housing Project (PPR) units, the vertical government quota and marriage incentives for young people," he said at the launch of PH's "Johor for All" manifesto here today. Also present were PH Presidential Council member Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, PKR secretary-general Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh, Johor DAP chairman Teo Nie Ching and Johor PKR chairman Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa. Aminolhuda urged Johor voters to turn out in large numbers on July 11 and give PH the mandate to form the state government. The Johor Amanah chairman said he was confident the manifesto launched today could be implemented by the coalition if it forms the next state government. "I am confident the (future) leadership will continue the work led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the federal level and deliver on what has been promised," he said. PH is contesting all 56 state seats in the Johor polls. -- BERNAMA 

JOHOR BAHRU, July 3 — Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) record of delivering all the pledges in its 100-day manifesto when it governed Johor after the 14th General Election (GE14) should serve as a benchmark for voters in the upcoming Johor state election, said Johor PH chairman Aminolhuda Hassan. He said the achievement demonstrated that PH not […]

Johor Polls: PH-led Gov’ts Deliver Strong Economic Growth – Amirudin

JOHOR BAHRU, July 3 — The Federal government, together with the Penang and Selangor state governments, has demonstrated the strength of Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) leadership by delivering robust economic growth, said PH Presidential Council member Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari. Amirudin, who is also Selangor Menteri Besar, said the MADANI Government led by PH and its […]

New Hospital To Be Built In Bandar Enstek To Ease HTJ Congestion — Dzulkefly

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 -- A new hospital will be built in Bandar Enstek, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, to meet the healthcare needs of residents in the Seremban district while easing congestion at the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital (HTJ). Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the proposed hospital in the northern Seremban corridor was appropriate in view of the area's rapid development, which had directly contributed to a sharp increase in population. He said the decision to build the new hospital followed the Health Ministry (MOH)'s review of the proposed Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital 2 (HTJ2) project in Rasah, as well as discussions with Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun on June 16. "The state government has also identified two 50-acre (20-hectare) parcels of land owned by the Federal Lands Commissioner in the area. "Accordingly, MOH will inspect both sites in the near future to determine the most suitable location before submitting an application for land-use conversion to the Department of the Director General of Lands and Mines," he said. Dr Dzulkefly said this in a written parliamentary reply uploaded to the Dewan Rakyat website in response to a question from Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) on the latest developments concerning the proposed HTJ2 project. He said that upon approval of the land-use conversion application, preliminary works on the project would commence immediately, including land surveying, soil investigation, preparation of the conceptual design, project cost estimation and the Value Assessment (VA) exercise. According to him, Aminuddin had also agreed for a 36.748 acres (about 14 hectares) Federal Reserve land in Bandar Seremban to be alienated for future healthcare projects, including an additional block for the existing Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital and a Centre of Excellence (COE). To a question from Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Pulai) on the government's initiatives to attract Malaysian medical and healthcare professionals working abroad to return and serve in the country, Dr Dzulkefly said the government through TalentCorp had implemented the Returning Expert Programme (REP). “The REP provides special incentives, including exemptions from income tax and excise duty on the purchase of locally manufactured vehicles,” he said. Dr Dzulkefly said the highest number of REP applications in the healthcare sector came from Malaysians working in the United Kingdom, Singapore and Australia, with medical specialists and doctors accounting for the largest group of applicants. On the recruitment of foreign healthcare personnel, he said foreign doctors and nurses had long been allowed to serve in Malaysia, subject to strict regulation by the Malaysian Medical Council and the Malaysian Nursing Board to ensure the quality of healthcare services. He said MOH currently appoints non-citizen medical specialists to meet service needs in critical disciplines and specific locations, while also engaging non-citizen graduate medical officers who are permanent residents and spouses of Malaysian citizens to undergo housemanship training at the ministry’s facilities. "As for the recruitment of foreign nurses to serve in MOH, the matter is still being studied in terms of its feasibility with the relevant ministries and agencies," he added. -- BERNAMA 

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — A new hospital will be built in Bandar Enstek, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, to meet the healthcare needs of residents in the Seremban district while easing congestion at the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital (HTJ). Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the proposed hospital in the northern Seremban corridor was appropriate […]

Johor Polls: Bukit Batu Residents Want Cost Of Living, Infrastructure Issues Addressed

KULAI, July 2 -- Rising cost of living, better job opportunities and improved infrastructure are among the key concerns of residents in the Bukit Batu state constituency ahead of the 16th Johor state election. Most residents met by Bernama hope that the elected representative and the state government to be formed after the election will prioritise resolving these issues, which they say have a direct impact on their daily lives. Taman Sri Pulai 1 resident Kelvin Chong, 58, said the state government, particularly the Bukit Batu elected representative, should focus on creating more quality job opportunities with competitive salaries to help the people cope with the rising cost of living.  “People are hoping for more job opportunities with better salaries. The cost of living in Johor is getting higher, and prices of goods are also affected by its proximity to Singapore,” said the businessman in the logistics sector. Vegetable and fruit seller Tew Chong, 48, expressed hope that more initiatives would be introduced to reduce production costs in the agricultural sector, allowing crop prices to remain reasonable. He said that the recent rise in the cost of fertilisers, pesticides, labour and transportation had forced sellers like him to increase the prices of vegetables and fruits to cover operating costs. “If production costs are reduced, we don’t have to raise prices significantly. This will also allow consumers to enjoy more affordable vegetables and fruits,” he said. Another resident, Muhammad Yusof Abdullah, 64, said efforts to upgrade infrastructure in the Bukit Batu constituency should be given attention, particularly the maintenance of roads, drainage systems and public facilities used daily by residents. The retiree said the rapid development in the area must be supported by better facilities to ensure the comfort and safety of residents. “For example, along Jalan Sri Putri, there are many potholes and uneven road humps that can cause vehicles to break down. We are also worried that something untoward may happen. If infrastructure can be improved, it will definitely bring more comfort to the people,” he said. The Bukit Batu state seat is witnessing a five-cornered contest featuring incumbent Arthur Chiong Sen Sern of Pakatan Harapan (PH), R. Kumaran (Barisan Nasional - BN), M. Premanand (Parti Ikatan Demokratik Malaysia - MUDA), G. Tamili (Parti Bersama Malaysia - Bersama) and Independent candidate Datuk Kamaruzaman Ali. Johor is holding its state election, with polling set for July 11 and early voting on July 7. -- BERNAMA  

KULAI, July 2 — Rising cost of living, better job opportunities and improved infrastructure are among the key concerns of residents in the Bukit Batu state constituency ahead of the 16th Johor state election. Most residents met by Bernama hope that the elected representative and the state government to be formed after the election will prioritise […]

PH offers sustainable development agenda, polishes Johor’s potential – Amirudin

BATU PAHAT, JUN 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 

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 […]

Johor’s Mega Infrastructure Agenda Requires State-federal Alignment – Mohamad

MUAR, June 30 -- The development of mega infrastructure projects in Johor to match regional growth, including that of neighbouring Singapore, requires close coordination between the state and Federal Governments to ensure the smooth implementation and allocation of billions of ringgit in investments. Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said alignment between both levels of administration is crucial, as major components of Johor’s transportation, logistics and border infrastructure fall under the direct jurisdiction of the federal government. He said strong cooperation between Putrajaya and Johor would serve as a key catalyst for delivering large-scale development projects that ultimately benefit the people of the state. “The railway system, roads, border facilities and immigration all fall under federal government jurisdiction. That is why Johor’s administration needs to move in tandem with the federal government so that development can be implemented more smoothly and harmoniously,” he told Bernama here last night. Earlier, Mohamad accompanied Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Simpang Jeram state seat, Nazri Abd Rahman, to a voter engagement session at the Gemilang Bakri Commercial Centre. Commenting on the four-cornered contest in Simpang Jeram, Mohamad expressed confidence in the political maturity of local voters, saying they tend to support coalitions viewed as capable of forming a stable government. “I am confident that regardless of the number of candidates contesting, voters will prioritise parties that are seen as capable of securing a governing majority,” he said, while expressing optimism that PH could maintain its momentum in the mixed constituency. He added that achieving victory in constituencies with diverse demographics depends on candidates’ ability to gain broad-based support across communities while preserving the agenda of unity and inclusivity. Welcoming the positive response from rural communities, Mohamad also called on PH machinery across Johor to intensify campaign efforts ahead of polling day. He described the encouraging reception towards grassroots engagement programmes and public outreach activities as a positive indication of continued support for political stability in the state. The Johor state election features 172 candidates contesting 56 state seats, with polling scheduled for July 11 and early voting set for July 7. To get the latest news on the 16th Johor General Election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor/.  -- BERNAMA 

MUAR, June 30 — The development of mega infrastructure projects in Johor to match regional growth, including that of neighbouring Singapore, requires close coordination between the state and Federal Governments to ensure the smooth implementation and allocation of billions of ringgit in investments. Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said alignment between […]

PH–Perpaduan Cooperation Seen as Strongest Strategy Ahead of State Polls

GEORGE TOWN, March 30 — Cooperation between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and parties under the Unity Government framework is viewed as the most effective and practical approach in facing the upcoming state elections (PRN). The collaboration is considered crucial in preventing vote fragmentation, which could lead to the loss of key seats and ultimately benefit opposition parties. Political observers note that a unified front would strengthen electoral positioning and improve chances of retaining power in several states. Despite differing views among component parties, the stance in Penang remains clear — unity is key to gaining public trust and support. Leaders believe that working together under a common platform will enhance stability and ensure continued voter confidence ahead of the polls.

BUKIT MERTAJAM — Cooperation between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and parties under the Unity Government framework is viewed as the most effective and practical approach in facing the upcoming state elections (PRN). The collaboration is considered crucial in preventing vote fragmentation, which could lead to the loss of key seats and ultimately benefit opposition parties. Political […]