Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged Johor residents to elect leaders who demonstrate integrity and wisdom whilst rejecting arrogance when wielding power. Speaking at a Pakatan Harapan rally in Muar on June 15, he cautioned that the selection of elected officials fundamentally shapes a state's trajectory and cautioned against factions that weaponise racial divisions to gain traction but abandon their public obligations after taking office.
Anwar stressed that successful politics depends on informed citizenry who reject messaging grounded in hatred or division. He urged voters to consider the broader implications for the nation's future, its children, educational institutions, and healthcare systems. Leaders must serve with humility following electoral victory, he said, concentrating on addressing the hardships faced by vulnerable populations rather than succumbing to ego.
A Pakatan Harapan victory in the Johor State Election on July 11 is essential for harmonising state policies with the Federal Government's development roadmap, according to Anwar. Coordination between both tiers of administration ensures that infrastructure projects, resource allocation, and economic benefits trickle down effectively to ordinary communities. The JS-SEZ venture and the expansion of Port of Tanjung Pelepas, projects spearheaded by the federal administration, exemplify what coordinated governance can achieve.
Whilst acknowledging the state government's cooperation, Anwar emphasised federal responsibility for project implementation and urged voters to demand that state representatives prioritise the needs of grassroots constituents. He appealed to Johor-based voters residing elsewhere to return and participate in the July 11 election, stressing that every ballot contributes meaningfully to reform efforts and equitable distribution of economic gains.
