Johor Polls: PSM Campaign Centres on Affordable Housing, Green Development and Youth Employment
JOHOR BAHRU, July 3 — The Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) has unveiled a three-pronged election platform for the Skudai state constituency, placing affordable housing, environmentally responsible development and employment opportunities for young Malaysians at the centre of its campaign for the Johor state election.
PSM’s candidate for Skudai, Amir Syafiq Ameer Soekre, said the party’s manifesto focuses on addressing issues that directly affect ordinary households, particularly younger families facing rising living costs and limited access to affordable homes and quality employment.
Speaking at a press conference today, Amir Syafiq said housing affordability remains one of the party’s top priorities, arguing that home ownership should be realistically attainable rather than remaining beyond the reach of many Malaysians.
He said PSM wants state policies to ensure that housing prices better reflect the income levels of average residents while introducing measures to keep rental costs within reasonable levels.
According to him, the party also intends to advocate for a larger supply of urban transit housing to assist young families and lower-income communities.
Amir Syafiq cited official marriage figures in Johor, noting that approximately 23,000 marriages are registered annually in the state.
Based on those figures, he argued that Johor requires around 23,000 affordable housing units each year to meet the needs of newly established households, many of whom fall within the middle-income category.
To help address the shortfall, PSM is proposing the construction of additional apartment blocks dedicated to affordable rental housing for young families and lower-income residents.
The party is also calling for unused commercial buildings to be converted into residential apartments as a way of increasing housing supply without relying solely on new developments.
In addition, Amir Syafiq said PSM wants greater transparency in the allocation and distribution of affordable housing to ensure eligible applicants receive fair access.
Environmental sustainability forms the second pillar of the party’s election platform.
Amir Syafiq said economic development should not come at the expense of environmental protection, adding that stronger enforcement is needed to prevent industrial pollution.
He proposed stricter monitoring of factories and data centres to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and standard operating procedures, particularly where industrial activities could affect rivers and surrounding ecosystems in the Skudai area.
The third focus of the manifesto addresses employment opportunities for young people entering the workforce.
According to Amir Syafiq, Malaysia produces approximately 200,000 new graduates each year, while only around 50,000 new jobs are created over the same period.
He said the imbalance contributes to growing employment challenges among young Malaysians and requires greater state involvement in industrial planning.
PSM is therefore proposing increased investment in industries linked to domestic manufacturing, including the production of electric buses and other locally based industrial activities.
Amir Syafiq said expanding such sectors within Malaysia would not only create more employment opportunities but also strengthen local industrial capabilities and reduce dependence on imported manufacturing.
He said the party’s overall objective is to promote policies that combine social welfare, sustainable economic development and environmental responsibility while improving living standards for ordinary Johoreans if entrusted with a mandate in the upcoming state election.
