Johor bahru: Five Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidates contesting state seats in the Greater Johor Bahru zone have put family welfare at the centre of their campaign in the upcoming Johor state election. The candidates for the Tiram, Skudai, Stulang, Perling, and Johor Jaya state seats said their proposal to develop age-friendly communities and improve access to childcare centres serves the dual purpose of easing the pressures faced by young working families in the city.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Skudai state seat candidate J. Kartiyaini highlighted the need for a comprehensive intervention plan in response to an increasingly ageing population. Senior citizens now account for nearly 30 per cent of the population in densely populated areas like Skudai and Perling. She emphasized PH's commitment to creating communities where senior citizens can live comfortably and with dignity if they form the Johor government.
Kartiyaini added that PH plans to upgrade public infrastructure, improve coordination among welfare agencies, and enhance the role of senior citizen activity centres (PAWE) with more competitive budget allocations from the state government. This initiative aims to provide better care for senior citizens and ensure that families can work or study with peace of mind, knowing their elderly relatives are well cared for.
Nor Zulaila Abd Ghani, also known as Lily, who is contesting the Tiram state seat, stated that a comprehensive family support ecosystem requires prioritizing childcare. Johor is home to over one million children who need access to safe and quality care. She committed to increasing the number of childcare centres near workplaces, which would ease the burden on parents.
Beyond domestic welfare, the PH candidates in the Greater Johor Bahru zone have identified improvements to the public transport system, flash flood management, and smoother cross-border traffic flow as key priorities. They emphasized pursuing these commitments collectively by leveraging close coordination between the state and federal governments.
In the Johor state election, PH is fielding candidates in all 56 state assembly seats, comprising 20 candidates from PKR, 19 from Amanah, and 17 from DAP. A total of 172 candidates are contesting 56 state assembly seats. Early voting is set for tomorrow, with polling scheduled for July 11.