Healthcare facilities, jobs, flood mitigation on voters’ wish list
Ahead of state polling day tomorrow in Johor, voters in Jementah are calling for practical improvements to address their daily challenges.
For residents in the predominantly rural constituency, concerns over job opportunities, healthcare access, flood mitigation and the rising cost of living remain their key priorities.
Located north of the Segamat district, Jementah is one of the two state seats under the Segamat parliamentary constituency.
The area was also the site of the historic Jementah Civil War on Oct 25, 1879, one of the significant events in modern Johor history.
The constituency comprises Jementah town, traditional villages, new housing areas, plantations and agricultural land, with many residents relying on farming, trading and small businesses for their livelihoods.
According to the latest electoral roll, Chinese make up the largest voters at 49.16%, followed by Malays (41.60%), Indians (7.80%) and other ethnic groups (1.44%).
The diverse demographic makeup means candidates will need to appeal across communities while addressing issues affecting residents regardless of race.
Over the years, the seat has witnessed keen electoral contests as Johor’s political landscape evolved, with voters increasingly placing emphasis on governance and constituency development.
Although agriculture is an important economic driver, many younger residents leave Jementah in search of better employment opportunities in larger towns, Johor Baru and even Singapore.
Retiree Goh Pei Yi, 65, hopes healthcare services in Jementah can be further improved.
Although the town has a government health clinic, it only operates during office hours, she said.
“We hope another health clinic can be built in Jementah.
“The existing clinic closes at 5pm. If there’s an emergency, we have to travel to either Hospital Segamat or Hospital Pakar Sultanah Fatimah in Muar.
“Both hospitals are quite far from Jementah,” she said.
Goh said expanding healthcare services or extending the clinic’s operating hours would provide greater peace of mind, especially for senior citizens and families with young children.
Fruit trader Ong Chee Seng, 42, said attracting more investments should be among the government’s priorities, as limited employment opportunities had driven many young people to seek better-paying jobs elsewhere.
“There should be more investments in Jementah because many young people have to leave to find work.
“There are not many job opportunities here, so many choose to work in Singapore because of the higher salaries,” he said.
Ong said attracting more industries and businesses would not only create more jobs but also encourage younger residents to stay in their hometown.
For trader Mohd Yusof Rosli, 44, recurring floods is a major concern.
He urged the government to expedite flood mitigation projects to reduce impact of floods that frequently hit the area during the northeast monsoon.
“Segamat is usually among the first districts to be affected whenever there is flooding,” he said, adding that several villages in and around Jementah had experienced recurring floods over the years.
Housewife K. Priya Devi, 32, meanwhile said the rising cost of living weighed heavily on households.
“Even though Jementah is a small town, we are not spared from the high cost of living.
“The prices of goods have gone up and it affects our household expenses,” she said.
She hopes more initiatives can be introduced to help families cope with increasing prices of daily necessities.
The concerns raised by residents reflect wider challenges faced by many semi-rural constituencies, where economic opportunities have struggled to keep pace with the aspirations of younger generations.
While neighbouring economic centres continue to attract investments, many residents are hoping similar growth can reach Jementah to create more stable, better-paying jobs closer to home.
For local traders and business owners, stronger economic growth would also mean increased consumer spending and more vibrant commercial activities.
Johor last held a state election on March 12, 2022, when Barisan Nasional secured a two-thirds majority after winning 40 of the 56 seats.
Pakatan Harapan won 12 seats, Perikatan Nasional secured three seats while Muda won one seat.
In Jementah, Pakatan’s Ng Kor Sim (DAP) garnered 8,877 votes and won the seat with a narrow majority of 714.
Barisan’s See Ann Giap (MCA) received 8,163 votes, while Perikatan’s Maimunah Safwah Musa (PAS) obtained 4,654 votes.
For this election, it is a three- cornered fight in Jementah with incumbent Ng going up against See again. Joining in the fray is Perikatan’s Saifullah Abdul Wahab (PAS).
