HANG TUAH JAYA – A mobile service counter, improved public amenities and a community fund are among three pledges made by Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Jason Tze Xi Nathan to improve services and address residents' needs in the Pengkalan Batu state constituency.
The 31-year-old said the initiatives formed part of his personal manifesto, aimed at making it easier for residents to reach their elected representative and seek assistance.
His first pledge is to introduce a mobile service counter called 'Meet Jason', which would be set up at public gathering spots such as night markets, allowing residents to lodge complaints and access free legal services without having to travel far.
“I want to be an easily accessible elected representative, with a mobile counter set up at public gathering spots such as night markets, so people do not have to travel far to lodge complaints or seek free legal services.
“That is my promise to go on the ground every week because I am determined to be an elected representative who sits with the people in the community, rather than behind a desk in an office,” he said when met at the PH Main Operations Room on Nov 3.
For his second pledge, Jason, a lawyer, said he would prioritise public amenities through a maintenance and upgrading plan focusing on roads, street lighting and park safety.
He said Pengkalan Batu had several residential areas requiring systematic maintenance and upgrading, including improvements to facilities for senior citizens and vulnerable groups.
“During my visits to the community, I found that an apartment building predominantly occupied by senior citizens was poorly maintained, putting them at risk of falling. If elected, I want to prepare an action plan to identify problems and ensure that solutions are implemented.
“As an elected representative, I must be responsible to the residents and ensure that every issue is addressed as effectively as possible,” he added.
His third pledge is to establish a community fund to support residents' associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in organising activities that bring residents together.
Jason said the proposed fund would support smaller-scale programmes, including futsal, aerobics and other community activities involving people from different age groups.
“I want to obtain support from ministries and the private sector to establish the fund, with allocations of up to RM3,000 for each programme, depending on the activities organised.
“We do not want to focus only on large-scale events. Small activities at the community level should also receive support,” he said.
He also highlighted Melaka's potential to attract more young people, particularly due to its lower cost of living, but said this should be accompanied by competitive salaries.
The Pengkalan Batu state seat will see a four-cornered contest involving Siti Aisyah Mahmood of Barisan Nasional (BN), Goh Han Koon of Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama), Jason of PH and Norhizam of Bersatu.
The Election Commission (EC) has set Nov 14 as polling day for the Melaka state election, while early voting will take place on Nov 10.