Johor bahru: Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Pasir Raja state seat, Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, is banking on his extensive experience as a former elected representative and his long-standing relationship with the local community to emerge victorious in the 16th Johor state election.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the former Health Minister said his deep familiarity with the local community and understanding of residents' needs would enable him to provide more effective and continuous service if elected, as the relationship he built was not limited to election periods but was cultivated over many years through various human capital development and education initiatives.
Dr Adham highlighted that there are about 2,300 young people in Pasir Raja and the Tenggara parliamentary constituency studying at public higher education institutions whom they have continuously guided and provided with targeted assistance. He emphasized that these relationships are not seasonal and are based on personal connections with the families in the area, which forms the basis of his confidence.
He further stated that if given the mandate, he would continue efforts to strengthen education, particularly through intensive tuition programmes for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations he previously introduced, to ensure local students are not left behind in the state's development.
Dr Adham is also promoting a dynamic economic vision that would directly benefit young voters, who make up 54 percent of the electorate in the constituency. He pledged to ensure that the economic spillover from the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) would be extended to Pasir Raja through the development of the Johor River corridor, aiming to attract high-tech investments and create high-quality jobs for the youth.
He stressed his focus on a transparent development agenda, stating he had no intention of engaging in personal attacks. Instead, he aims to work hard with the campaign machinery, reach as many voters as possible, and explain the vision to ensure stability and prosperity for Pasir Raja.
The Pasir Raja state seat, with 29,818 registered voters, will witness a three-cornered contest involving Dr Adham, Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Mohd Fakharuddin Moslim, and Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Yuhanita Yunan when voters go to the polls on July 11, with early voting scheduled for July 7.