Johor: Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Simpang Jeram seat Nazri Abd Rahman is determined to empower the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) agenda as a proactive measure to curb youth migration out of the district if he is given the mandate in the 16th Johor State Election.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Simpang Jeram incumbent said the move is planned by leveraging Muar's status as the country's largest furniture manufacturer, as well as its strategic location near the Pagoh Education Hub. He added that the initiative was important to ensure young people in the district obtain high-level industrial skills that would assure them of their livelihood without having to migrate to major cities.
Nazri expressed his vision to strengthen TVET, acknowledging that not all young people pursue higher education, and emphasized the need to empower those interested in acquiring skills so they can work locally. He noted that with available facilities and industries, along with a minimum salary of RM1,700, young people could comfortably live with their parents without the need for long commutes.
Earlier, Nazri, along with Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Datuk Mohamad Sabu, engaged with the public at a restaurant in the Gemilang Bakri Commercial Centre. He refrained from pre-empting the coalition's leadership regarding the Johor PH Manifesto details, which are expected to be launched soon.
Nazri also shared his experience working under the late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, which allowed him to utilize his technical expertise as an engineer to address public infrastructure issues in the constituency. This experience has fueled his commitment to continue the late Salahuddin's legacy of 'Rahmah' welfare, including the Tahlil Rahmah programme for underprivileged families.
Nazri described the four-cornered contest for the Simpang Jeram state seat as healthy competition, highlighting his personal connections with the other candidates from Barisan Nasional (BN), MUDA, and Perikatan Nasional (PN). He emphasized that family ties and friendships are more important than the competition for the state assemblyman position.
The Johor state election will feature 172 candidates contesting 56 seats, with polling day scheduled for July 11 and early voting on July 7.