By Muhammad Saufee Rosman
KULAI, June 30 (Bernama) -- Incumbent Bukit Batu Assemblyman Arthur Chiong Sen Sern is committed to continuing infrastructure development and strengthening the local economy as the core pillars of his agenda to improve the well-being of residents.
Chiong, 36, who is contesting under Pakatan Harapan (PH) in this upcoming Johor State Election, said the commitment would be translated into a dedicated manifesto to be launched soon, aimed at ensuring economic growth delivers tangible benefits to communities at the grassroots level.
Among his key priorities is upgrading road infrastructure, including submitting an application to widen Federal Route FT001 from two lanes to four in response to worsening traffic congestion.
“As an immediate measure, phased interventions will be implemented at hotspot bottlenecks, including the installation of smart traffic light systems to improve traffic flow.
“We want road users to experience improvements without having to wait until the full road widening project is completed,” he told Bernama recently.
Beyond infrastructure, Chiong said he aims to strengthen tourism as a new driver of economic growth in Kulai, particularly within the Bukit Batu constituency, through the organisation of activities and the development of more competitive tourism products.
He believes Johor has strong potential to attract visitors arriving through Singapore’s Changi Airport and encourage them to extend their journeys beyond Kuala Lumpur by stopping over in Johor.
“That is why I frequently urge Tourism Johor to introduce more tourism hotspots to encourage visitors to stop over and spend in Johor.
“This is important so that tourists spend time in Kulai, especially in Bukit Batu, which offers attractions such as Gunung Pulai and can generate greater economic activity for local communities,” he said.
On human capital development, Chiong said he plans to strengthen programmes that connect local talent with opportunities in the growing data centre industry, while expanding upskilling initiatives through HRD Corp to increase local participation in high-technology sectors.
“The high-tech sector is expanding rapidly in this area, and Bukit Batu is attracting foreign investment while offering strong supporting infrastructure,” he said.
He also highlighted social issues as part of his campaign agenda, including stepping up efforts to address vape use and drug abuse among youth through closer collaboration with relevant agencies.
To reach Bukit Batu’s 49,963 voters, Chiong said his campaign strategy combines direct engagement with residents and active use of digital platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram to connect with younger voters and those living outside the constituency.
Chiong faces a five-cornered contest in Bukit Batu against R. Kumaran of Barisan Nasional (BN), M. Premanand of MUDA, G. Tamili of Bersama and Independent candidate Datuk Kamaruzaman Ali.
The Johor state election will see 172 candidates contesting 56 seats, with polling day scheduled for July 11 and early voting taking place on July 7.
For the latest news on the 16th Johor state election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor.
-- BERNAMA
N51: BUKIT BATU : 49,963
1. R. Kumaran (BN-MIC)
2. Kamaruzaman Ali (Bebas/IND)
3. G. Tamili (Bersama)
4. Chiong Sen Sern (PH-PKR)
5. M. Premanand (MUDA)
(2022: Chiong Sen Sern: PKR: Majority: 137)
