MELAKA: Much political will is needed to ensure the rejuvenation of the Masjid Tanah constituency, says Muda’s candidate Muthalib Uthman.
Given that such efforts fell under the jurisdiction of the state and local councils, Muthalib said a proactive, creative and driven MP was needed to push for such initiatives to be carried out.
“That is why I released an action plan instead of a manifesto for Masjid Tanah.
“This action plan is also not something exclusive for Muda or Pakatan Harapan, but can also be used by the state and local authorities, or even the constituency's future MP as a reference to rejuvenate Masjid Tanah,” he told a press conference on Thursday (Nov 17).
Muthalib also stressed the potential candidate for Masjid Tanah to be given "a breath of fresh air" given its rich composition of youths, traders and local attractions.
“Masjid Tanah is located close to the Klang Valley and can be a strategic tourist location given its beautiful beaches and historical sites.
“There should also be an emphasis on two historical sites here, namely the Datuk Tua Megalith stones and also historical figure Datuk Dol Said’s tomb which can serve as focus areas for future studies and potentially be the main identity for the Masjid Tanah community in the future,” he said.
Another aspect Muthalib brought up was the forming of an umbrella brand dubbed Mastana, which would encompass various products sold here.
“Similarly, this initiative has to be undertaken by the state and local authorities.
“Small and medium enterprise traders here will greatly benefit from this as their products can then reach more markets.
“This is especially important as such businesses usually do not have large capitals to market their products to a bigger audience,” he said, adding that Mastana was how the locals addressed the constituency.
The biggest issue in the constituency, however, was Internet connectivity, Muthalib said.
“Masjid Tanah is not equipped with high-speed Internet facilities, with many areas also having unstable Internet connections.
“This deprives the community here of so many opportunities, including the ones listed earlier.
“The lack of quality Internet connectivity also makes it harder for traders to earn better incomes, as they are missing out on the ability to conduct live selling sessions on social media platforms,” he said.
If given the mandate, Mutalib said a full revamp of the Internet reach in the area would be carried out for the benefit of the people.
“The people in Masjid Tanah need access to better Internet services too, as it is not something exclusive to urban areas,” he said.
Mutalib is in a four-cornered fight for the seat, where he is taking on incumbent Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin from Perikatan Nasional, Abdul Hakim Abdul Wahid of Barisan Nasional and Handrawirawan Abu Bakar of Gerakan Tanah Air.
