PAGOH, July 8 — Bandar Universiti Pagoh should be further developed with more sustainable urban facilities to transform it into a new engine of socio-economic growth, particularly for residents of the Bukit Pasir state constituency.
To that end, Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Muhd Najib Lep is committed to enhancing the education hub if elected in the upcoming Johor state election, saying it is crucial to ensure the economic benefits are felt directly by villagers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Muhd Najib, who is also secretary of the Pagoh division of Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), said the full potential of Bandar Universiti Pagoh, which is home to four higher education institutions, including the Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) Pagoh campus and the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Pagoh campus, should be fully harnessed.
However, he said the township appeared to have been left behind in terms of development as it still lacks essential amenities such as banking services and healthcare facilities.
“Bandar Universiti Pagoh is crucial, and its development must be expedited because it will generate income for the local community, including villagers, SMEs and small business operators, thereby improving their incomes and standard of living,” he told Bernama.
Beyond physical development, Muhd Najib, who won the seat in the 14th General Election (GE14), said providing affordable and conducive housing is among the key pillars of his agenda to help nurture an outstanding younger generation.
He believes that a conducive home environment can help ease the financial pressures faced by families while providing children with a more comfortable setting in which to study and excel.
Meanwhile, drawing on his nearly 13 years of experience in the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), Muhd Najib, who is also chairman of the Pagoh Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVATM), is committed to continuing his advocacy for the welfare of military veterans.
Among his key priorities is addressing the significant disparity in pension rates between military retirees who left service before and after 2013, which he described as substantial.
With polling day drawing near, he expressed confidence based on the positive feedback and strong support he has received while engaging with voters on the ground.
“Most of my work with the community began after my term as a state assemblyman ended. Alhamdulillah, the response and support I have received have been unwavering,” he said.
Muhd Najib will face a three-cornered contest in the state election against the incumbent Bukit Pasir assemblyman, Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh of Barisan Nasional (BN), and Mohd Idzharruddin Mohd Nasirruddin of Perikatan Nasional (PN).
The 16th Johor state election will see 172 candidates vying for 56 state assembly seats, with the outcome to be decided by 2,727,926 eligible voters this Saturday (July 11).
For the latest news on the 16th Johor state election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor/. — Bernama
Date: 8 July, 2026 3:00 pm
Source: Malay Mail
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