PERIKATAN Nasional’s (PN) manifesto for Johor’s upcoming state election is based on eight main pillars, under which are 24 strategies and 145 initiatives.

       Speaking on the manifesto – with the tagline ‘Integrity, Efficiency and Caring’ – PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin assured the electorate that its 56 candidates standing in the elections on March 12 are dedicated to serving the people of Johor.

       “PN pledges to continue to uphold the principle of the constitutional monarchy and create an efficient and corruption-free state government administration with integrity, which is able to stimulate rapid economic growth while caring for the welfare and prosperity of Johoreans,” he said.

       Determined to lead a clean, efficient and caring government for the people, PN’s pledges for Johor includes:

       1. Integrity and corruption-free leadership

       > To strengthen leadership, integrity and governance to create a corruption-free state government

       > To improve the efficiency of the state government’s service delivery

       PN will form a government that always supports leaders with integrity and corruption-free, as well as enhance the efficiency of the state government’s service delivery by strengthening governance of state government-owned agencies and companies.

       2. Economic integrity

       > To steer Johor’s economic future

       > To empower micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) as economic catalysts

       > To generate quality and high-income employment opportunities

       PN will prepare a comprehensive and holistic Johor Economic Decade Plan 2022 to 2032 to strengthen the state’s economic future, by focusing on strategic and high-impact industries.

       Efforts will also be intensified to empower Johor as the country’s food production and digital hub.

       This will also be supported through the digitisation of the MSME sector, with the provision of the MSME hub and the MSME Prihatin scheme, alongside full exemption of business license fees for MSMEs in Johor for five years.

       3. Prioritise issues related to the cost of living

       > To reduce the cost of living

       > To increase the income of targeted groups

       PN will continue working to reduce the cost of living for Johoreans, including a free water scheme providing 20 cubic metres of water to low-income households, expanding the Prihatin Rakyat Sales Programme, continuing the regular distribution of Johor Prihatin food baskets and strengthening the coordination for aid distribution to those in need.

       Special assistance will also be offered to hawkers via the abolition of licence fees and rental on local PBT sites for five years, as well as to registered fishermen affected by development projects along the coast of the Straits of Johor.

       PN also urges the Federal Government to reopen the country’s borders in order for Johor to reap economic benefits from neighbouring Singapore, especially in the tourism and retail sectors.

       4. Concern for the people

       > To empower the role of youths in state development

       > To enhance women’s participation in the economic sector

       > To strengthen family and community institutions

       > To empower people with disabilities

       > To boost the prosperity of the Felda community

       PN will undertake various assistance programmes and skills training, as well as providing advisory services.

       The Youth State Legislative Assembly and the Johor Youth Leadership Foundation will be established to foster future youth leaders, while laptop and cash assistance will also be provided for youths furthering their studies.

       Youths and women entrepreneurs, as well as cooperatives in the MSME sector will also be key focus groups, alongside the wellbeing of the elderly and people with disabilities and the socioeconomic progress of the Orang Asli.

       The PN government has written off RM8.3bil in debt and provided a guaranteed RM9.9bil sukuk issuance to rehabilitate Felda nationwide. Apart from providing facilities and infrastructure in planned Felda areas, PN will look into the completion and saving of new generation Felda housing projects.

       Felda residents’ involvement in high-value agricultural activities will be intensified through the use of the latest technology, as well as comprehensive marketing strategies to increase income. Land premium for land lots approved under the Felda New Generation Land Lot Ownership Programme will be set at RM1.00 per sq m.

       5. Social welfare

       > To shape the next generation of Johoreans leaders through quality education

       > To improve health service delivery

       > To improve access to affordable housing

       > To strengthen public safety and order

       > To strengthen the unity of Bangsa Johor

       PN will ensure that quality education is provided to future leaders of Johor, with focus on providing digital facilities and technology, as well as increasing access to education for all citizens, including access to quality religious education.

       Health services will be enhanced via the construction of infrastructure and the provision of the Johor Prihatin Takaful Scheme and the Johor Prihatin Card for low-income groups, while the distribution of affordable housing will be made transparent and the supply increased by refurbishing abandoned projects and adding transit houses.

       The Johor Harmony Fund initiative, the Johor Prosperity Programme and the empowerment of the rukun tetangga community will also be implemented to increase unity.

       6. Infrastructure efficiency

       > To strengthen infrastructural efficiency

       > To expand the supply of electricity and clean water

       PN also pledges to increase infrastructural efficiency through the construction and upgrading of roads and bridges, railways, public transport and airports. Along with the need for internet access, the 5G internet coverage will be accelerated and free wifi hotspot facilities will be made available at public hotspots.

       7. Invigorate the tourism sector

       > To drive the Johor tourism industry

       Leveraging on Johor’s unique blend of nature and historical heritage, PN seeks to create high-value tourism products that can boost the state’s tourism sector. These include promoting agro-tourism through the Johor Agro Visit Programme with farm stay packages or agricultural training, as well as capitalising on world-class facilities for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.

       8. Environmental sustainability

       > To prioritise environmental sustainability in state development

       To meet the challenges of climate change via proactive action, PN will focus on accelerating the implementation of flood mitigation projects, while preparing a master plan for the state government to increase disaster preparedness in the face of natural disasters.

       This includes upgrading drainage and related systems in high-density areas to overcome flash floods, as well as intensifying longer-term efforts to restore and conserve the ecosystem of river and coastal areas to sustain areas affected by natural disasters.