Johor polls: Ling Tian Soon banks on ‘Jalan Koyok’ upgrade as key achievement in Yong Peng

BATU PAHAT, July 3 — Once mocked by residents as ‘Jalan Koyok’ owing to its heavily patched condition, the road transformation has now become one of the highlights in Yong Peng state assemblyman Ling Tian Soon’s report card in his bid to secure a second-term mandate in the Johor state polls.

Ling, who is known as Ah Soon among locals, said upon being elected as a representative in 2022, he prioritised long-delayed basic development, particularly upgrading infrastructure as a catalyst for local economic growth. 

“I used quite a big amount of development funds to repair the road, about RM23 million over three years, covering from Ayer Hitam to the border of Segamat. In the Chinese community, there is a saying: ‘when roads are well built, the economy will also move’,” he told Bernama here recently. 

Ling, 42, who is also the former state Health and Environment Committee chairman, said the transformation has begun to boost investor confidence, with more major logistics and courier companies choosing Yong Peng, located about 100 kilometres from Johor Bahru city centre, as their operational base. 

He added that a leading e-commerce platform is also planning to build its largest distribution hub in Yong Peng, which is expected to create more job opportunities for youths. 

“Yong Peng is centrally located in Johor and only about an hour from the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP). This strategic location offers significant advantages for the logistics and manufacturing industries,” he said. 

He said Yong Peng is at a turning point towards becoming a new industrial town, as more investors are beginning to acquire land for industrial development. 

On his new manifesto, which will be launched this Saturday, Ling said it will focus on three main pillars: strengthening infrastructure, enhancing social safety nets, and boosting the economy through the tourism sector. 

He added that facilities for senior citizens, young families and newlyweds will also be improved to encourage more young people to continue living in Yong Peng. 

Commenting on his confidence in defending the Yong Peng seat, Ling said he is leaving it to voters to assess his performance over more than four years in service. 

“I have presented my report card to the people. Whether I pass or excel, let the voters decide,” he said. 

Ling said he has built a close relationship with the local community over the past 16 years, starting when he handled parliamentary affairs in Ayer Hitam under its Member of Parliament and MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. 

“Since then, I have always been on the ground meeting the people. The relationship built is not only during elections,” he said. 

Ling, who won the Yong Peng state seat for the first time in the 2022 Johor state election, said his strength lies in his consistent grassroots approach, earning him the nickname ‘YB Kedai Kopi’. 

“Almost every day I stop by coffee shops, stalls or mamak restaurants to meet residents. Our relationship is no longer just between a representative and voters, but more like a family,” he said. 

In the upcoming Johor polls, Ling will defend the Yong Peng seat in a straight fight against Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Yong Hui Yi. 

For the latest updates on the 16th Johor state election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor/.

N19: Yong Peng: 34,023

1.    Ling Tian Soon (BN-MCA)

2.    Yong Hui Yi (PH-DAP)

(2022: Ling Tian Soon: BN-MCA: Maj: 2,741) — Bernama