Azman said his focus would be on strengthening youth development through the expansion of the Halal Hub industrial area in Serkam, particularly by creating employment opportunities linked to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
He said the second phase of the industrial development, which was still under construction, could provide more job opportunities for local youths.
"We have recently seen the development of the second phase of the Halal Hub industrial area.
"When young people say there are limited job opportunities, this is one of the areas we want to develop, particularly through the Halal Hub and TVET.
"Although it is still under construction, our focus is to ensure that young people in Serkam will benefit from the development," he told reporters during a campaign visit to Pantai Siring here.
Apart from employment, Azman said he was also concerned about the lack of affordable housing in Serkam, which had forced many young residents to move elsewhere after getting married.
He said the shortage of suitable housing within the constituency was among the issues he hoped to address if elected.
"One of my aspirations is to ensure that young people who get married do not have to move away from Serkam.
"We see many of them leaving because housing options within the constituency are limited.
"Although there are affordable houses in Scientex, the area is quite far from the main Serkam area and is located near the boundary with Merlimau," he said.
Azman said he would explore the possibility of identifying suitable land for more affordable housing developments, particularly for those in the B40 income group.
"We want to identify more land that can be developed into affordable housing so that young families can continue living within the Serkam constituency," he said.
On his campaign strategy, Azman acknowledged the importance of reaching out to younger voters, some of whom might not be familiar with him despite his long-standing ties to the constituency.
He said he had lived in Serkam for decades and was encouraged by the response he received during his first two days of campaigning.
"Most people here already know me because I have lived in Serkam for decades.
"However, there may be some younger voters who are not familiar with me. That is why we need to find ways to approach them.
"If we want to connect with young people, we need to understand their interests and approach them in a way they can relate to," he said.
On tourism development, Azman said Pantai Siring had considerable potential as a tourist destination, particularly during weekends and school holidays when the area attracted large crowds.
He said land acquisition for a proposed road improvement project had been completed, including the payment of compensation to affected landowners.
However, funding was still needed to widen the road and improve access to the beach.
Azman said further development would require careful planning as much of the surrounding land remained privately owned.
He also hoped to improve infrastructure and development in Pekan Umbai. - NST
