PH’s Esma wants to create jobs in Rim, so youths don’t have to look elsewhere

 The candidate from PKR also says drainage and flash floods issues remain largely unresolved.

PH candidate Esma Eazreen Husin said being a Rim resident makes her easily accessible to constituents.

JASIN:

Pakatan Harapan candidate Esma Eazreen Husin has made slow economic growth and a lack of local job opportunities key issues in her campaign to wrest the Rim seat in Saturday’s Melaka state election.

Esma, of PKR, said she wanted to stimulate the local economy and create more jobs so residents, particularly young people, would not have to leave the area to earn a living.

“Economic growth here is slow, to the extent that young people have to leave the area to look for work,” she told FMT.

Esma also highlighted drainage problems and flash floods in several areas, saying they remained unresolved despite residents lodging complaints over the past few years.

She acknowledged that incumbent Barisan Nasional assemblyman Khaidhirah Abu Zahar had taken steps to address the problems, but said some areas still needed attention.

“I am not saying she has completely failed, but there are certain areas where these issues remain a problem,” she said.

Esma said she had visited several affected locations and would bring the residents’ complaints to the relevant ministries for solutions if elected.

As a Rim resident, she said, she would also be more accessible to constituents as they could approach her directly.

“I hope undecided voters will see me as a local who is easier to approach and engage with because I am based here,” she said.

Esma also said she wanted to focus on welfare, education, women and senior citizens.

This included helping women who struggled to generate income through home-based businesses.

Esma said she had reached nearly 80% of the residents through house-to-house campaigning, and the response had been positive.

Esma is in a straight fight against Khaidhirah, who won the seat in the 2021 state election with a majority of 1,327 votes.

Khaidhirah secured 4,037 votes, while Perikatan Nasional candidate Azalina Abdul Rahman received 2,710 and PH candidate Prasanth Kumar Brakasam garnered 2,163 in 2021. - FMT