MELAKA: Pakatan Harapan has pledged to allocate 30 per cent of local authority work contracts to youths if it wins the Melaka election.
Melaka PH chairman Adly Zahari said the proposal was among the coalition’s key commitments under its “Melaka Rumah Kita” manifesto, aimed at creating more economic opportunities for young people.
He said the initiative would enable more youths to venture into business, gain valuable experience and access employment opportunities.
“We are proposing that 30 per cent of local authority work contracts be allocated to young men and women, opening up employment, business and experience-building opportunities for the younger generation,” he said.
Adly was speaking at a press conference to launch PH’s manifesto here today.
He said the proposal was one of three main pillars of the manifesto, alongside transforming Melaka into a smart state and strengthening its tourism industry.
Under the Smart Melaka initiative, PH aims to accelerate digital transformation through the adoption of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to improve efficiency, safety and residents’ quality of life.
He said digitalisation would also create economic opportunities, improve employment prospects and widen access to knowledge across different segments of society.
On tourism, Adly said PH was targeting 25 million tourist arrivals by 2032 to position Melaka as a more competitive international tourism destination.
He said efforts to strengthen the tourism industry would generate economic opportunities and increase income for local communities.
The manifesto also outlined 12 aspirations covering housing, employment, entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, public welfare, infrastructure and good governance.
Among the commitments were special grants for women entrepreneurs, better access to financing for small businesses and the expansion of government childcare facilities to support working women.
Adly said PH would also prioritise quality employment opportunities, particularly for younger workers, to ensure they could secure better incomes rather than simply have access to jobs.
Other proposals included introducing AI-based traffic management systems to ease congestion at major traffic hotspots and turning idle land into productive agricultural areas to strengthen food security.
PH also pledged to improve access to housing through people-friendly ownership and rental schemes, while simplifying government procedures to make public services more efficient.
Adly said the manifesto was drawn up based on feedback from residents, traders and other stakeholders across the state.
He said the coalition would organise further sessions throughout the campaign period to explain its proposals and allow voters to assess its commitments.
“We are launching these aspirations early, just four days after nomination day, so that they can be discussed and evaluated by the people.
“Our priority is to address the issues raised by the people, particularly the cost of living, and to improve their quality of life,” he said.