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LETTER | As a registered and eligible voter from Negeri Sembilan, I am very keen to know who will be the new member of Parliament for a region that used to be prominently known as a tourism spot many years ago.

Though I will not be voting in the PD by-election, I wish that an experienced politician, who has a convincing reputation, can win the historic by-election. In this case, there are only two "winnable candidates" that could have the "recipe" to redevelop Port Dickson to be another "windy beach spot" that can pull millions of foreign and local tourists including those who are banned from travelling abroad.

The by-election is not just about electing the “successor" to the 93-year-old man who defeated Najib Abdul Razak in the unforgettable May 9 polls. It must also be about choosing a capable and "not-just-talk-big" politician who can relive the glory days of Port Dickson as a monumental tourism spot into the history books of New Malaysia.

I have no interest in predicting who will win the by-election but as a non-partisan professional whose motherland is in Negeri Sembilan, I don't want the electoral promises that had been loudly shouted during the campaign to fade into the clouds of selfish political ambitions.

Port Dickson should be redeveloped and rebranded with the aim of attracting more and more tourists to come and experience the uniqueness offered by the land. Matters like the cleanliness of beaches, the development of public infrastructure and the restructuring of tourism businesses should be the main agendas for the to-be-elected member of Parliament.

The new MP will also have to closely collaborate with the chief minister of Negeri Sembilan in efforts to redeveloping potential tourism businesses that can give returns of investment to the state. A tourism business does not just bring in money to owners but also consistently creates purchasing power for locals by providing them with sustainable employment that suits their skills.

Tourism, as we believe, is one of the "make money" businesses, especially in the hospitality line. I expect that with "walk-the-talk" efforts geared up by the future MP, the state government and the relevant ministries, Port Dickson can garner millions of ringgit through tourism.

There are many unemployed graduates of tourism-related courses in Port Dickson that are desperately in need of stable jobs.

Regardless of the by-election winner, he has to ensure that sufficient and relevant employment can be permanently provided for these young graduates especially those who have been “alarmed” by the government to repay their PTPTN debts.

Be it Pakatan Harapan or an independent candidate, the politician who will be announced as the winner will have high hopes placed upon him to transform Port Dickson into a globally-known tourism spot in the near future.

May the 75,770 registered voters of Port Dickson be sane in choosing who will be their “wakil rakyat” for the next 5 years.


The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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