CALONKINI | As a teenager in Johor Bahru, Naim Jusri dreamt of owning his own business one day, selling cars or car accessories.

But everything changed in 1998, when then deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, the man Naim had grown up watching table the federal budget yearly, was sacked by his boss Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The country was thrown into turmoil, and information from abroad fanned flames in Naim's heart. He was only 15 years old.

"We were in Johor Bahru, so we got BBC radio, and Channel News Asia, the information coming from Singapore was eye-opening.

"My family and I went to Dataran Merdeka to join the protest... I still remember it, the sea of people at Masjid Negara, the chants of 'Reformasi' and 'Undur Mahathir' (step down Mahathir)," Naim told Malaysiakini in an interview in Muar on March 16.

It was a life-changing moment for the Muar native, who joined Anwar's party PKR 10 years later in 2008 following the political tsunami.

He had worked with PKR's Batu Tiga assemblyperson Rodziah Ismail, and from 2014 to 2015 was a Shah Alam city councillor.

Now at the age of 35 with four children, Naim is set to be PKR's candidate for the Sungai Balang state assembly seat, the last bastion of support for BN in Muar at both the state and parliament levels.

Sungai Balang is currently held by Zaiton Ismail, who won in 2013 with a 1,635 vote majority.

Naim is hoping that his prior experience in Selangor, as well as Pakatan Harapan's manifesto and sentiments against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, will help tide him over in this upcoming polls.

This is his story in his own words.

WHOEVER SUPPORTS NAJIB, such as Muar MP Razali Ibrahim, will cause more damage to our country.

This is why we need to reject BN even though we may think that their candidate has done a lot, but they are a party to the destruction of our country.

MUAR IS THE KEY TO PUTRAJAYA because if we can win Muar, we can change the government in Nusajaya, and in Putrajaya, and change the prime minister from Najib to Mahathir.

MAHATHIR IS NOW PART OF REFORMASI... In 2003 we managed to get him out of office even though he said he stepped down voluntarily, but he saw that if he contested again he would have lost then, and now he is involved in reforming the country.

JOHOR IS RIPE FOR CHANGE, for Harapan to take over in the coming election.

MUAR HAS A LOT OF potentials, but our youths are forced to move to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur to look for jobs. We want the voters of Muar to have their children live nearby because there are jobs here.

We can build up the tourism industry just like Malacca... there is a lot of history in Muar that we can capitalise on.

THIS IS A CHALLENGE, but we as the youth need to face our challenges even if it is impossible.

WE WANT THE PEOPLE TO CHANGE, no matter who contests, we want things in Johor to change. That is my goal.

I WANT TO BE LIKE ANWAR IN THE FUTURE and how he opened a path for youths. From young, I felt he was a role model for youths.

When I was in Standard Two I was watching him table the budget. At the time Malaysia was the Tiger of Asia. He was an example for youths.

I DID NOT COME FROM A POLITICAL FAMILY. My parents were active in NGOs, they were members of Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM, now Ikram).

My family helped me a lot and gave me a lot of exposure. We would exchange views, our concerns for the people and the country's future.

The ones who give us the strength to move forward are our family and friends.

MAYBE AFTER POLITICS I WILL OPEN MY SHOP, but the road is still far ahead. To return to business is something that needs to be considered, and my passion now is to help the people.

CALONKINI introduces new faces from all sides of the political divide who are potential candidates for the 14th general election.

The interviews are not an endorsement by Malaysiakini.

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