JOHOR BAHRU – Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Puteri Wangsa state seat, Teow Chia Ling, has pledged to prioritise efforts to address traffic congestion, upgrade public infrastructure and strengthen healthcare facilities if given the mandate in the 16th Johor state election.
She said her four years of experience serving as a local councillor in the area have given her a clear understanding of the issues faced by residents, although her previous jurisdiction did not fully cover the larger Puteri Wangsa constituency.
“One of the main priorities that needs urgent attention is the traffic congestion frequently seen at several key locations.
“I have observed many issues here, especially road congestion. So my target is to find ways to reduce traffic jams, whether by opening new roads or coordinating traffic light systems.
“Whatever can be done to ease traffic flow, I will work on it for the comfort of residents,” she said when met after the nomination process at SMK Bandar Dato Onn on Saturday.
Teow added that Puteri Wangsa’s growing population requires more comprehensive and higher-quality public facilities.
She said several existing facilities are already ageing, while there is also a shortage of covered halls and suitable recreational spaces for the community, particularly youth.
“We need more facilities such as covered halls for sports and community activities.
“In addition, I also want to push for improvements in recreational facilities, including more exercise equipment in public parks, especially for senior citizens,” she said.
On healthcare, she said it is also a key priority given the mismatch between the area’s large population and available medical facilities.
She said there are currently only two health clinics in the area, while Hospital Sultan Ismail (HSI) continues to handle a high patient load.
“I plan to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, including establishing community clinics in selected areas so residents can easily access basic treatment without having to travel far.
“My goal is to ensure residents of Puteri Wangsa enjoy a more comfortable, peaceful and harmonious life with adequate facilities,” she said.
Teow, who is from MCA, will contest in a five-cornered fight against Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Dr Maszlee Malik; Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) candidate Rashifa Aljunied, who is also the chief of the Puteri Wangsa constituency service centre; Nicholas Paul Vincent from Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama); and independent candidate Wang Wee Siong, in the Johor state election.
In the 2022 Johor state election, Puteri Wangsa was won by Muda, which fielded its then president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz.
Amira won in a six-cornered fight with 22,884 votes, defeating BN’s Ng Yew Aik with a majority of 7,114 votes.