SHAH ALAM - Attracting high-value investments and expanding small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to create better-paying jobs for young people are among Datuk Azman Abidin's priorities if he is elected as the Paya Rumput representative in the Melaka state election.
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate said the constituency already had several industrial areas with numerous SMEs that could be expanded through new investments to stimulate local economic growth.
He said attracting investors from higher-value sectors would broaden career opportunities for local youths, many of whom currently worked outside the area.
"So I believe the entry of investors into higher-value sectors will be able to broaden career options for local youths who are currently working outside the area.
"If there are job opportunities here for these young people, they will not migrate elsewhere. But we need to look at what we can offer them," he said today.
Azman, who is also the prime minister’s political secretary, expressed concern over poverty among residents in the constituency, particularly families who continued to struggle to meet their daily needs despite receiving financial assistance.
He said he had visited dozens of dilapidated homes since campaigning for the Melaka state election began on Oct 31, with some residents sharing their financial difficulties.
"I see that poverty, particularly among the lower-income B40 group, remains quite critical here. Some of them do receive assistance from the Social Welfare Department or the Melaka Islamic Religious Council, but it is still insufficient.
"So I see efforts to attract new investments and expand small and medium industries (SMIs) as one of the ways out of poverty for these families, as the job opportunities created could help their children contribute to household income," he added.
Azman said expanding industrial activities and attracting fresh investments could provide families with additional income opportunities through employment for younger household members.
Azman, who is contesting for the first time, faces a three-cornered contest in Paya Rumput against Perikatan Nasional's (PN) Rafie Ahmad and Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) candidate Abdul Rashid Abu Bakar.
The Election Commission has set Nov 14 as polling day for the Melaka state election, with early voting scheduled for Nov 10.