Johor Polls: Guna Balakrishnan Wants To Resolve Long-standing Infrastructure Issues In Layang-layang

KLUANG, June 29 (Bernama) -- Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Layang-Layang state seat Guna Balakrishnan wants to focus on strengthening socioeconomic development and addressing long-standing infrastructure issues in the area.

He said a more comprehensive development approach must be adopted to ensure residents in the constituency, particularly farmers, smallholders and traders, no longer continue to face basic issues that hinder their well-being and economic opportunities.

Guna said that so far, his engagements with residents during the campaign for the Johor state election have shown that flash floods and inadequate street lighting are among the most commonly raised concerns, both of which have persisted for the past decade.

“This area is surrounded by FELDA settlement, plantations and villages. Unfortunately, over the past 10 years, there has been no growth in modern industries such as processing factories or semiconductor companies to create new employment opportunities for young people,” he told Bernama when met at Pekan Layang-Layang here today.

He said that, if given the mandate, one of his priorities would be to revitalise local economic activities so that residents, particularly youths, would no longer need to migrate elsewhere in search of employment.

Guna is facing Chua Jian Boon of Barisan Nasional (BN) and incumbent Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim of Perikatan Nasional (PN) in a three-cornered contest for the seat.

He added that he did not wish to focus excessively on political polemics or the strategies of his opponents, preferring instead to concentrate on engaging directly with voters.

He said the current campaign approach focuses on face-to-face interactions, with the aim of visiting every area within the constituency to hear first-hand the views and needs of the local community.

Entering the third day of campaigning, Guna said the moral support received had been very encouraging, but efforts needed to be intensified, including through digital platforms and social media, to broaden the reach of campaign messages and the aspirations of Malaysia MADANI among voters.

For the latest updates on the 16th Johor state election, polling for which is on July 11, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor.

-- BERNAMA

N27: LAYANG-LAYANG - 25,181 voters

1. Guna Balakrishnan    (PH-PKR)

2. Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim    (PN-Bersatu)

3. Chua Jian Boon    (BN-MCA)

(2022: Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim: BN-UMNO: Maj: 2,815)