Pakatan’s Simpang Jeram hopeful banks on TVET training to anchor young workers

MUAR, June 30 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Simpang Jeram seat Nazri Abd Rahman is determined to empower the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) agenda as a proactive measure to curb youth migration out of the district if he is given the mandate in the 16th Johor State Election.

The Simpang Jeram incumbent said the move is planned by leveraging Muar’s status as the country’s largest furniture manufacturer, as well as its strategic location near the Pagoh Education Hub.

He added that the initiative was important to ensure young people in the district obtain high-level industrial skills that would assure them of their livelihood without having to migrate to major cities.

“My vision is to try to strengthen TVET. We know that not all young people are highly educated. Those who are keen on skills, I will try to empower them so that they can work in their own area.

“With the facilities and industries available here, and a minimum salary of RM1,700, they will be more comfortable living with their parents in the village, without having to spend too much time commuting to and from work,” he told Bernama here yesterday.

Earlier Nazri, together with Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Datuk Mohamad Sabu, met with members of the public at a restaurant at the Gemilang Bakri Commercial Centre.

Commenting on his big offer in the Johor polls this time, the former Muar Municipal Council (MPM) civil engineer refused to pre-empt the coalition’s leadership regarding the details of the Johor PH Manifesto, which is scheduled to be launched soon.

Nazri, who is in the final stage of his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) studies in engineering, also shared his experience working under the guidance of the late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, the previous incumbent.

He said their partnership enabled his technical expertise as an engineer to be fully utilised in helping the late Salahuddin examine and resolve various public infrastructure complaints in the constituency.

Through that experience, Nazri, who began his political career with PAS in 1993 before joining Amanah in 2015, is now committed to continuing the late Salahuddin’s legacy of “Rahmah” welfare, including the Tahlil Rahmah programme for underprivileged families.

Commenting on the four-cornered contest for the Simpang Jeram state seat, Nazri described it as healthy competition, as he personally knows the other candidates.

“The relationship among the three of us is quite close, and it is impossible for us to be on bad terms or quarrel because our family ties and friendships are more important than our competition to become the state assemblyman,” he said.

Nazri will face candidates from Barisan Nasional (BN), Muda and Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the contest for the Simpang Jeram seat, which has 41,975 voters.

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.

N13: Simpang Jeram: 41,975 voters

1. Nazri Abd Rahman (PH-Amanah)

2. Datuk Azman Ismail (BN-Umno)

3. Ainie Haziqah Shafii (Muda)

4. Arshed Yahya @ Awang (PN-PAS)

(2022: Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub: PH-Amanah; Majority: 2,399)

(2023 by-election: Nazri Abd Rahman PH-Amanah; Majority: 3,514) — Bernama