The old ways are no longer working. We need a new deal. Reject the old, give the new a chance. In 2018, Pakatan Harapan became the government but a group of greedy politicians betrayed the people’s trust. The answer is not bringing back the discredited Barisan Nasional or the incompetent Perikatan Nasional. The new hope is still Pakatan Harapan.
I am tasked to contest in the seat of Perling in Johor Bahru to demonstrate that Pakatan Harapan is serious about governing the state, again. As the government-in-waiting, these are the issues we want to resolve for the people, especially to those in Perling and southern Johor.
𝟭. 𝗥𝗲-𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿-𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿
We urge the government to re-open the Johor-Singapore border safely and immediately through the Covid-19 “test and release” measure. This means those who tested negative should be allowed in without undergoing quarantine. The Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) should also be extended to personal vehicles such as cars and motorcycles, instead of confining to buses and flights only.This could alleviate the economic problem in southern Johor. The federal and state government must address the problem of inflation. While price of goods in southern Johor is almost the same as that in Klang Valley, the wage level is much lower.
𝟮. 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀, 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺
Not just in Perling but Johor needs a dynamic state government to grow the economy and ensuring all Johoreans get equal opportunities to live a better life.It needs quality investments from both domestic and foreign investors.All government agencies must be effective and efficient in attracting investments, technology and skills that would bring better jobs and better pay for Johoreans. There should be no corruption at all levels as corruption. It gives bad name to the state, it adds to costs of doing business and it makes it difficult for young people to enter the business world.
𝟯. 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴
We will try our best to work with local authorities to solve traffic congestion and lack of parking at various places in Southern Johor. In the long run, greater Johor Bahru area needs an efficient public transport system to include enough buses that are clean and on-time, and other transport modes, especially after RTS is completed in 2026.Johoreans understand what a good public transport system is all about. Many of them have experienced public transport in Singapore. We can do it here in greater Johor Bahru. We need a more coordinated urban planning and housing management. The contradiction between oversupply of (mostly high-end) properties and young people not able to afford to own a house must be dealt with. A rental market that protects the owners and the tenants should be developed by the state government.
𝟰. 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
Perling and greater Johor Bahru require better urban planning that protects the environment and climate, as well as pre-empting and mitigating floods, as well handling reclamation of lands with utmost care.Some people do not know that Johor Bahru downtown is also part of the Perling constituency. I have been passionate about the revival of inner cities. Heritage buildings are charming if given the right spruce up and a new purpose. The state government and local authorities can collaborate more with owners and other stakeholders to revive the downtown. Cultural heritage is our common treasure.
𝟱. 𝗔 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗷𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
While Putrajaya controls all the powers, it doesn’t necessarily understand the needs of Johor. The bureaucracy in Putrajaya often hinders the potentials of Johor to grow and thrive. Greater Johor Bahru is one of the nation’s main metropolitan areas. Central and northern Johor are the capitals for plantation, agriculture, and food security.The interests of Johor were neglected under UMNO-Barisan Nasional administration because Johor UMNO was subservient to its political masters in Putrajaya.A new and fairer federal-state relationship would entail the federal devolving powers of healthcare and education, as well as partial roles of economic development, to the Johor state government. These tasks could be paid for by having federal government sharing income taxes collected from within Johor with the state government.
𝗔 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
For Perling voters, whether you or your family members or your friends, who are commuting daily or weekly in Singapore, I share your pain of having to endure stagnant wages against increasing prices. I understand when Perling and southern Johor people say: In Singapore, the problem is not money but other aspects of life. In Johor Bahru, other aspects of life are not the problem because money is the only problem. Let us work this out together. With the five action plans as well as the need for continued services to the people, I humbly hope the voters of Perling and Johor will choose for the best, clean and caring government in this state election.
Liew Chin Tong
DAP National Political Education Director
Johor DAP Chairman
