Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik aims to make the Johor constituency a PKR fixed deposit, and for Pakatan Harapan to capture both state seats under it.
Maszlee is widely expected to contest the Layang-Layang state seat while the neighbouring Machap seat is speculated to be contested by Muda.
"We will make Simpang Renggam a PKR constituency. We will make it a PKR fixed deposit.
"We will make Layang-Layang PKR's, and Machap will be a Harapan state seat," he told a group of over 50 supporters in Simpang Renggam today.
Prior to 2018, Simpang Renggam was a Gerakan safe seat. However, Maszlee – who was at the time part of Bersatu – wrested the seat in the 14th general election winning 50.6 percent of the vote in a three-cornered fight.
However, BN retained both Layang-Layang and Machap albeit with slim majorities and just 47 percent of the vote in each seat.
Four-horse race
Simpang Renggam is a mixed constituency, with Maszlee stating that the racial breakdown is 53 percent Malay, 35 percent Chinese, and 14 percent Indian.
The Johor polls are expected to be a three or four-horse race between BN, Bersatu-led Perikatan Nasional, Harapan, and possibly Pejuang.
Maszlee said Harapan has done much for Simpang Renggam, solving problems that had been plaguing constituents for years.
The former education minister cited as an example frequent water disruptions that residents faced especially during festive seasons such as Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali.
"Are there any more water problems?" Maszlee asked, with his supporters replying that it was no longer an issue.
He added that residents in the past also often suffered odour pollution from the CEP Estate Sanitary landfill - which Harapan promised to shut down.
"Did we close (the landfill)?" Maszlee asked and the supporters replied in the affirmative.
The landfill ceased operations in March 2019.
Fulfilled promises
Maszlee said during Harapan's tenure, fast-food chain McDonald’s opened an outlet in the constituency, and served as an important hangout and meeting spot for youths, entrepreneurs, and families.
The lawmaker added that he had also promised to bring a university to Simpang Renggam.
However, he said his plans to open a UiTM branch there were dashed when the Harapan government collapsed in 2020.
"But we still fulfilled our promise, and today the first Open University branch in Malaysia is in Simpang Renggam," he said.
Speculation is rife that PKR will push Maszlee to become Harapan's menteri besar candidate in Johor, although the latter has downplayed such rumours. - Mkini
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