KLUANG, Nov 13 — Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate for Ayer Hitam, Muhammad Syafiq A. Aziz has launched his six-core manifesto for the constituency, including turning the Johor central zone into an agriculture-based tourism hub, to appeal to voters in the 15th general election (GE15).

The 34-year-old candidate said Ayer Hitam has various agricultural produce, such as durian, berangan bananas and various other crops that can become tourist attractions, as well as the livestock industry, which breeds rabbits, goats and cattle.

"All this can create agro-farm tourism capable of attracting tourists to stop and enjoy the agricultural products here and spend time with their families in homestays owned by the Ayer Hitam community,” he said during the launch of his manifesto here today.

The former secretary of the 16th Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian said that he aimed to make the Ayer Hitam Agriculture Institute into an institution of higher learning as it would spark development in the area.

He was also committed to ensuring youth could obtain their first house and would champion the building of affordable homes for youths in Ayer Hitam.

Muhammad Syafiq also expressed intentions of building halal hub cluster factories to boost small and medium enterprises that produce snacks and crafts in the area.

He added that the constituency had the potential to be a tourism, culture and sports hub through toe organising of cultural fiestas.

Muhammad Syafiq will be taking on Sheikh Omar Bagharib Ali (Pakatan Harapan) and incumbent Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (Barisan Nasional) for the Ayer Hitam seat.

Wee has held the seat for four terms, winning with a razor thin majority of 303 votes in GE14 against Liew Chin Tong (PH) and Mardi Marwan (PAS). — Bernama