Johor polls: Can Johor sustain progress while ensuring no one is left behind?
Questions remain over whether the development spillover can be enjoyed by all Malaysians or only limited to areas in the southern state.
JOHOR BAHRU - Johor is on the right track to emerge as the country’s new economic powerhouse through the implementation of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link and the growing influx of foreign investments, including data centres worth billions of ringgit.
However, amid these prospects, questions remain over whether the development spillover can be enjoyed by all Malaysians or only limited to areas in the southern state.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities director Assoc Prof Dr Mazlan Ali said the Johor state election this time is not just about choosing a state government, but also determining the direction of Johor’s development for the next five years.
He said voters need to evaluate parties and candidates based on their ability to implement policies that can translate investments into quality jobs, increased incomes and opportunities for the people, rather than just relying on political rhetoric.
"The elected government must also practise transparent governance so that large-scale development projects are free from leakages and abuse of power. The success of JS-SEZ and the RTS Link must benefit small and medium enterprises (SMEs), local entrepreneurs and rural communities, in addition to addressing the challenges of rising house prices and cost of living,” he told Bernama here today.
Mazlan said that Johor’s development cannot continue to be concentrated in the southern part of the state, but must instead be expanded to other districts through more balanced investments, infrastructure development and quality job opportunities.
UTM Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities lecturer and researcher Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Azhar Abd Hamid said Johor has all the ingredients to emerge as a developed state by 2030.
He said its success, however, depends on effective leadership and the wisdom of voters to choose elected representatives who can "work”.
He said strategic projects such as the JS-SEZ, RTS Link and data centre development provide a solid foundation for the state’s growth, but stressed that progress should not be measured solely by the value of investments.
"A developed state is one that succeeds in increasing people’s incomes, productivity, quality job opportunities and well-being,” he said.
He said human capital development through reskilling and upskilling programmes, in addition to infrastructure improvements, are among the key prerequisites to achieving the Johor Maju 2030 target.
Azhar also acknowledged that the development gap between districts still existed, but noted that each district has its own economic strengths that should be further enhanced, including Segamat in the agricultural sector, Batu Pahat as an industrial hub, Muar in the furniture industry and Mersing in the tourism and fisheries sectors.
He stressed that the state government should also create more job opportunities in all districts to reduce the migration of workers to the Klang Valley and Singapore.
On the role of voters, he said elected representatives should be chosen based on their credibility, service record, knowledge and integrity, rather than political sentiment alone.
"Elected representatives are policymakers who determine the direction of the state. That’s why voters must choose candidates who are knowledgeable, have integrity and prioritise the interests of the people so that the benefits of development can be shared fairly by everyone,” he said.
Polling is on July 11, with early voting fixed for July 7. - BERNAMA
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