JOHOR BARU: Pakatan Harapan has unveiled its 10 points Johor state election manifesto pledging to raise incomes, improve access to affordable housing, develop human capital and ensure the state’s economic growth benefits all Johoreans.
The manifesto, themed “Johor Untuk Semua” (Johor for All), says Johor is well-positioned to become one of Malaysia’s most advanced states on the back of major investments, the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link and the growth of the digital and high-technology sectors.
Among its key pledges is a healthcare protection scheme providing coverage of up to RM100,000 a year for B40, M40 and persons with disabilities, as well as the revival of the Kad Sihat Johor programme, which it said would benefit about 500,000 people.
On housing, Pakatan pledged first-home deposit assistance of up to RM8,000, a rent-to-own scheme and the construction of 80,000 affordable homes over the next five years, with priority given to young families and second-generation Felda settlers. Housing, however, has also been a key priority under the current state administration.
The coalition also proposed a RM500mil Johor Youth Fund to support technical and vocational education and training (TVET), artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, digital skills, entrepreneurship and first-job guarantee programmes. It also pledged to provide gigabit internet access to all schools by 2030, establish AI and robotics laboratories in every district and strengthen collaboration between educational institutions and industry.
To spur economic growth, Pakatan proposed a RM1bil fund for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs while strengthening the agri-food, creative economy, high-technology, oil and gas, tourism and modern agriculture sectors.
It also pledged to halve waiting times at the Malaysia-Singapore checkpoints through the integration of the RTS Link, ETS, Bas.My and smart mobility systems, create 250,000 new high-paying jobs, raise Johor’s median salary by at least 30%, introduce 250 Taska Madani and workplace childcare centres, offer a RM50 monthly public transport pass for students, senior citizens and OKUs, launch a programme to encourage Johorean professionals working in Singapore and abroad to return home, and provide RM1,000 for every baby born in the state.
Meanwhile, state Pakatan chairman Aminolhuda Hassan expressed confidence that all 10 promises listed under its 100-day agenda could be fulfilled.
“We have a proven track record of delivering our commitments when in government and would work closely with the civil service and relevant stakeholders to implement them if given the mandate,” he added.
Aminolhuda said this in a press conference after the launching of Pakatan’s manifesto held at a hotel here on Friday (July 3).
