JOHOR BARU: Affordable housing, environmental protection and better job opportunities for young people form the core of Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s (PSM) election pitch as it seeks to make an impact in the Johor polls.
Unveiling the party’s manifesto, PSM’s sole candidate, Amir Syafiq Ameer Soekre, said the proposals were shaped by the concerns of residents in Skudai, where he is contesting.
Leading the manifesto is a commitment to improve access to affordable housing, including measures to keep rental rates in line with income levels.
“We are also proposing more transit homes for young families,” he said, noting that Johor records an estimated 23,000 marriages each year.
The manifesto’s launch yesterday was attended by PSM chairman Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj and deputy chairman S. Arutchelvan.
Amir Syafiq said environmental sustainability was another key priority, with the party calling for stricter controls on industrial development without compromising residents’ quality of life.
“This includes tighter standard operating procedures for factories and data centres, as well as stronger efforts to keep rivers clean and reduce the risk of flooding,” he said.
The third pillar focuses on employment, particularly for the estimated 200,000 youths who graduate every year, he said.
On the campaign, Amir Syafiq said his team had covered nearly half of the Skudai constituency so far.
With more than 106,000 voters in the constituency, he said the campaign has focused on high-traffic public areas such as markets.
“Physically, there is still a long way to go, but we have been encouraged by the response online.
“Our social media platforms have been seeing good engagement,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Jeyakumar said the party would continue relying on grassroots outreach through walkabouts at food courts and coffee shops throughout the campaign period.
“We are not able to go door to door, so we focus on places where we can meet more people at one time.
“We have also been invited to (Malaysian United Democratic Alliance) Muda’s ceramah, where our candidate and leaders will be speaking,” he said when asked about the party’s plans for the super weekend.
