JOHOR BARU: Pakatan Harapan is rolling out a line-up of seasoned and credible leaders for the 16th Johor state election, with a clear goal of securing a state government that aligns with the Federal administration.
Pakatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who also serves as Home Minister, stressed that this alignment is vital to ensure that federal policies, many of which bring substantial benefits to Johoreans, face no roadblocks at the state level.
He pointed out that the collaborative synergy achieved at the federal level after GE15 has not yet taken root in Johor, simply because the current state government was formed earlier.
"Whatever form of cooperation emerges, the Federal Government’s priority is to ensure Johor remains a key player,” he told reporters outside the nomination centre at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bandar Dato’ Onn on Saturday (June 27).
Saifuddin was accompanied by PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari to lend support to PH's Puteri Wangsa candidate, Dr Maszlee Malik.
Saifuddin Nasution, who also serves as PKR election director, said the Pakatan-led Federal Government has already proven its mettle through a string of economic and development initiatives that directly benefit the people of Johor.
He cited the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) as an example, noting that it is already drawing impressive investment inflows. And that, he stressed, makes strong state-federal coordination more critical than ever.
To back this economic push, the Federal Government is finally taking concrete action on the decades-long congestion nightmare at the Johor Causeway.
Saifuddin revealed that the new National Integrated Immigration System (MyNIISe), worth over RM1 billion, will replace the outdated MyIMMs system to streamline cross-border travel.
"Beyond that, we're also rolling out AutoGates and opening a new international gateway through the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link in Bukit Chagar this December," he said.
The RTS Link is expected to carry 40,000 to 50,000 passengers daily at launch, with capacity eventually scaling up to 150,000 passengers at full operation.
The Johor state election is set for July 11, with early voting on July 7. - Bernama
