Johor bahru: Amid the hectic pace of campaigning for the 16th Johor State Election, Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for Tenang, Elia Nadira Sabudin, is balancing another major commitment -- completing her PhD studies. The mother of four, who is pursuing a doctorate in Electrical Engineering (Control Systems) at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), said both her academic and political journeys are driven by the same aspiration: building a better future for communities through knowledge, education, and human capital development.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the 43-year-old Johor Amanah Women's Wing vice-chief said her mission extends beyond seeking voter support, as she hopes to use her academic and professional background to narrow the education gap between rural and urban communities. Elia Nadira emphasized her belief in the power of education to ensure that children in Tenang receive equal opportunities and are not left behind compared to their urban counterparts. Through her robotics education company, she conducts classes for students and teachers using a syllabus aligned with Ministry of Education (MOE) standards, exposing them to fields like coding.
Beyond her focus on education, Elia Nadira has also studied the district's development plan for northern Johor, aiming to strengthen the local economy through ecotourism. She highlighted the area's potential as a tourism hub, which remains underpromoted, and sees improved connectivity via the Electric Train Service (ETS) station in Labis as a catalyst for economic growth.
Elia Nadira, who previously contested the Bukit Pasir state seat, is set to face candidates with prior electoral experience, including a former assemblyman, in the race for the Tenang seat. Undeterred by her opponents' experience, she is motivated to offer a fresher, people-centred political approach, emphasizing a healthy and mature democratic process throughout the campaign.
In the 16th Johor PRN, Elia Nadira will compete against Barisan Nasional candidate Mohd Azahar Ibrahim, Perikatan Nasional's Normala Sudirman, and Independent candidate Siti Aisyah Zobir in a four-cornered contest. A total of 172 candidates are vying for 56 seats in the Johor election, with polling day scheduled for July 11 and early voting on July 7.