Voters hope incoming assemblyman will set sights on popularising local attractions in the hot seat
BUKIT Batu in Kulai has emerged as one of the most closely watched battlegrounds in the Johor state election, with a five-cornered contest expected to test the strength of both established and emerging political parties.
The spotlight on the constituency is partly due to the fact that incumbent Arthur Chiong Sen Sern of PKR retained the seat for Pakatan Harapan by just 137 votes in a four-cornered contest during the 2022 Johor state election, the slimmest majority among all 56 state seats.
Chiong secured 9,439 votes to narrowly defeat Barisan Nasional’s Datuk S. Suppayah, who garnered 9,302 votes.
Perikatan Nasional’s Tan Heng Choon obtained 3,989 votes while Warisan’s Lee Ming Wen received 1,349 votes.
With such a narrow margin separating the winner and runner-up, Bukit Batu has become one of the key constituencies to watch this election.
This time, voters will choose from five candidates: incumbent Chiong, R. Kumaran from Barisan, G. Tamili from Bersama, M. Premanand from Muda and independent candidate Datuk Kamaruzaman Ali, who is a former Bukit Permai assemblyman.
Bukit Batu was created following the 2004 electoral redelineation and was initially regarded as a Barisan stronghold.
The constituency was represented by Gerakan before Pakatan wrested the seat in 2013 through Jimmy Puah Wee Tse of PKR.
Although Pakatan has retained the constituency since then, the narrow result in 2022 showed that voters’ support could no longer be taken for granted.
With its razor-thin majority, Bukit Batu is shaping up to be one of Johor’s most fiercely contested constituencies, where even a small swing in votes can influence who wins.
Located between Johor Baru, Kulai and Kota Tinggi, Bukit Batu comprises established townships, traditional villages, plantations, a Felda settlement, industrial areas and rapidly growing residential neighbourhoods.
Among its best-known localities are the mural-rich Pekan Kelapa Sawit as well as Bukit Batu town, while the constituency also serves as an important transport corridor linking several districts in Johor.
The area is home to Gunung Pulai Eco Park, which attracts hikers, nature lovers and visitors especially during weekends and public holidays.
While development has accelerated over the years, many residents say infrastructure has struggled to keep pace.
Traffic congestion remains one of the biggest concerns, particularly along Jalan Kulai-Kota Tinggi.
Retiree Tan Wei Ming said many motorists exit the North-South Highway and use the federal road passing through Bukit Batu to avoid toll charges.
He said the situation became especially bad during weekends and long public holidays.
“The road is already old and cannot cope with the increasing number of vehicles.
“I hope it can be widened because the traffic jam is getting worse every year,” said Wei Ming.
Residents are also hoping that future development will place greater emphasis on quality-of-life improvements.
Housewife Lim Hui Ying said Bukit Batu would benefit from having more parks, recreational spaces and public facilities.
“We hope to see more places where residents can exercise and spend time with their families,” she said.
The lack of high-paying jobs is another issue that concerns voters.
Lorry driver S. Arvind Kumar said many young people were still leaving Bukit Batu to work in Johor Baru, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, due to better salaries.
He hopes more quality investments can be brought into the constituency to create better employment opportunities.
Others believe the area’s tourism potential has yet to be fully realised.
Trader Muhammad Firdaus Ahmad said attractions such as Pekan Kelapa Sawit and Gunung Pulai Eco Park saw many domestic visitors but could be promoted more actively to international tourists.
“If these places are highlighted better, more foreign tourists may come and that will help boost the local economy,” he said.
Beyond tourism, Bukit Batu’s strategic location within the Johor Baru-Kulai growth corridor also presents opportunities for future investment in industry, logistics and services.
Bukit Batu is a Chinese majority seat comprising 52.24% of voters, with Malays at 37.34%, Indians (8.51%) and others (1.91%). It has a total of 49,963 voters.
The Election Commission has set July 11 as polling day, with early voting on July 7.
Johor last held a state election on March 12, 2022, when Barisan secured a two-thirds majority after winning 40 of the 56 seats.
Pakatan won 12 seats, Perikatan Nasional secured three and Muda won one.
