PH CANDIDATE FOR MEROTAI LAUNCHES MANIFESTO BUILT AROUND FIVE CORE THEMES

TAWAU, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for Merotai, Datuk Ruji Ubi, has launched his manifesto for the 17th Sabah State Election, built around five core themes for the constituency's development.

The manifesto, titled 'Demi Merotai Sejahtera' (For a Prosperous Merotai), focuses on education, the economy, healthcare, social well-being, as well as infrastructure.

“My vision is to transform Merotai into a Centre for Civilisation and Knowledge Development, an idea born from my consultations with local religious leaders. A pressing issue is the lack of secondary schools, which forces many of our children to endure long commutes to Tawau Town or Felda Umas,” Ruji said at a press conference today.

On economic development, he emphasised creating job and business opportunities for rural youth. “We will work with agencies like the Labour Department to host regular career fairs and stimulate employment,” he explained.

Addressing healthcare, Ruji pledged to establish a haemodialysis centre in Merotai to meet the growing demand for this critical service, saving patients the burden of travelling for treatment.

"Just imagine, patients from Kijang, Brumas and Umas must travel to Tawau, having to leave as early as 4 or 5 am to undergo hemodialysis there. Then they have to repeat it on the third day," he said.

On the social aspect, Ruji pledged to convert the PH operations room in Tanah Merah into a permanent, fully-functional Merotai constituency service centre if he is elected.

To improve accessibility, he also promised to launch scheduled mobile service-centre operations in key localities like Kampung Haji Matahir and Kampung Kijang, bringing administrative services directly to people’s doorsteps.

"In terms of community facilities, I am proposing the establishment of recreational centres and a mini sports complex. Merotai currently has little more than a plantation field for this purpose, and realising this vision requires an assemblyman with the commitment and strong federal connections to secure the necessary funding," he added.

Finally, under the infrastructure theme, Ruji committed to a series of tangible upgrades, including the installation of solar-powered street lights, construction of jetties, road repairs, improved drainage and resolving the constituency's persistent clean water supply issues.

Ruji emphasised Merotai's significant economic potential, stating that its strategic location, comparable to thriving areas like Benoni and Papar, could be fully unlocked through a successful transformation of Merotai Town.

He added that the state elections are a critical juncture for the constituency's future.

"The representative chosen this time will determine the future of the next generation. We cannot have a government for the next five years that simply repeats or inherits the same old problems. We have all witnessed the shortcomings. What we need now is drastic and radical change," he stressed.

The Election Commission has set Nov 29 as the polling day, with early voting on Nov 25. 

For comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of the election, visit the Bernama PRN portal at https://prn.bernama.com/sabah/index.php.

N72: MEROTAI: SABAH: 26,179 voters

1. Rhyme @ Reymie Kassim (PIS)
2. Hasan Haris (PN-PAS)
3. Sarifuddin Hata (Warisan)
4. Datuk Ruji Ubi (PH-PKR)

(2020: Sarifuddin Hata: Warisan Plus-Warisan: Majority: 1,587)

-- BERNAMA