KLUANG: Youth will be empowered with a better future in Johor, says Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

He said this includes employment opportunities in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and the Special Financial Zone.

“I negotiated with companies to ensure that we can improve the economy of local youth. I also met with investors to provide job opportunities for young people in Johor, including in Kluang," he added.

The Machap assemblyman said this in his speech at a meet-and-greet session with local youth at a restaurant here on Monday (Sept 16).

He added that the state government has done many things in this district, including providing infrastructure and youth complexes in addition to supporting the education sector.

On other issues affecting the area, Onn Hafiz also said the issue of low water pressure during Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha recently in several areas has also been resolved.

He then said that the acceptance of Barisan Nasional candidate Syed Hussein Syed Abdullah is a positive sign.

"Barisan made a wise decision to give an opportunity for a young leader to be a candidate. I am confident that if given the opportunity, Syed Hussien can serve Mahkota well," he said.

He then said that young people should vote for the Barisan candidate in the upcoming by-election.

On Sunday, Onn Hafiz was urging youth - which make up half of those registered in the Mahkota state constituency - to come out and vote.

He added that in about two weeks, Mahkota voters will be making an important decision by choosing their next elected representative.

"To the youth, come Sept 28 there will be an election where all voters in Mahkota should come out and vote," he added.

Onn Hafiz, who is also Barisan's election director for the Mahkota by-election, said this while making a video message for university students.

The upcoming Mahkota state seat by-election will be a straight contest between Barisan and Perikatan Nasional.

Syed Hussien - who also serves as the Kluang Umno Youth chief - aims to retain the seat for Barisan, while Perikatan is fielding fomer Johor FA footballer Mohamad Haizan Jaafar.

The Mahkota seat became vacant following the death of its assemblyman, Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, on Aug 2.

According to the Election Commission (EC), the electoral roll for the by-election includes 66,318 voters, consisting of 61,397 ordinary voters, 401 police personnel, 4,510 military personnel and their spouses, and 10 absentee voters abroad.

About 45,478 of them are voters between the ages of 18 and 40.

Early voting is scheduled for Sept 24, involving three centres with 11 stations. The main polling day on Sept 28 will see 20 centres and 109 voting stations in operation.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/09/16/mahkota-polls-johor-youth-will-be-empowered-says-mb