Johor Polls: Agriculture sector among focus of Sungai Balang candidates

MUAR, March 3  -- Issues concerning the local economy and people's income are among the focus of two candidates contesting in the Sungai Balang seat in the Johor state election.

The two said they have their own missions to improve the well-being of the people, including by focusing on the agriculture sector, which is the economic mainstay of the local population.

Selamat Takim, who is representing Barisan Nasional (BN), said he wants to help the farming community widen the market for their produce.

“With the cooperation of agencies such as the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority and Farmers Organisation Authority, I will do my best to help in the marketing aspect, as well as promotion of Small and Medium Industry products,” he said.

Selamat, who is Muar UMNO division secretary, said efforts would also be focused on turning Sungai Balang into a tourism hub, as the coastal area is known for its mussels.

For Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Datuk Zainudin Sayuti, his priority is to help boost the income of Sungai Balang residents, whose livelihood has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and address the issue of more expensive goods.

"I want to protect the well-being of villagers who find their income affected because the price of goods has increased but their agriculture produce is difficult to be marketed.

“This is among the grouses I heard on my campaign rounds, so I hope to help develop the local economy by setting up an agriculture product collection centre, for example,” he said.

Sungai Balang is seeing a four-cornered fight involving Selamat, Zainudin, Parti Pejuang Tanah Air's Intan Nadira Shafika Mustafa Kamal and PKR's Abdullah Sahid.

Polling is on March 12 and early voting is on March 8.

— BERNAMA