BN does not deserve second chance over Johor development failures, says Lim Guan Eng

 

BATU PAHAT, July 8 — DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng has claimed that Barisan Nasional (BN) does not deserve a second chance to govern Johor, alleging the coalition failed to ensure balanced development and economic growth that benefits ordinary Johoreans.

Speaking at a ceramah in support of Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Penggaram state seat Felicia Poh in Taman Bukit Pasir here yesterday, the Bagan MP said voters should assess whether economic progress in the state had translated into a better quality of life for them.

“Whilst no one disputes that there is economic development and progress, the question Johor’s voters must ask is this: Have you benefited from all this progress and are you confident of enjoying a better life in future?” he said.

Lim claimed many Johoreans, particularly those outside the southern region, had not benefited equally from the state’s economic growth.

He said rising costs, including property rentals and food and beverage prices, had made some areas in southern Johor, especially Tebrau and Johor Baru, increasingly unaffordable for locals.

He alleged that Johor was facing a “two-tier economy” where economic growth was not equally enjoyed by wage earners and small and medium enterprises.

Lim said the state’s development challenges stemmed from failures at both macro and micro levels, claiming growth had been concentrated mainly in southern Johor while other districts were left behind.

“At the macro level, there has been no bold, inclusive and long-term vision for the state’s development,” he said.

He added that development should improve people’s lives rather than “price them out” of the places they call home.

Lim said true progress should not only be measured by the number of investments or buildings constructed, but by whether ordinary people could benefit from economic growth.

He also claimed the concentration of population in Greater Johor Bahru reflected the imbalance in development, warning that the trend could widen the economic divide and accelerate population ageing in other districts.

“This is the failure of the BN state government. Worse, BN does not even know they have failed or how they have failed,” he said.

Lim urged voters to support PH and give its Penggaram candidate Felicia Poh an opportunity to address economic issues affecting Johoreans.

The Johor state election will be held on July 11.