State polls: Ease of mobility, improving local govt services key points in Subang Jaya Muda manifesto

SUBANG JAYA: Muda’s candidate for Subang Jaya, Zayd Shaukat Ali, has unveiled his manifesto, which highlights three key commitments for voters in the Selangor state constituency.

The Subang Muda chief and Selangor party secretary said he would be going by the name “Zayd Shaukat” on the ballot paper.

The manifesto, which was unveiled on Zayd’s social media platforms, lists ease of mobility, improving local government services and building local communities as his priorities should he be elected.

Called “promises to the people”, Zayd’s manifesto included prioritising pedestrians and people with disabilities to ease accessibility within the constituency, improving first- and last-mile connectivity within the public transport system and improving infrastructure for both pedestrians and personal mobility devices.

Speaking at a separate interview with StarMetro, Zayd said: “One of the biggest issues in Subang Jaya is traffic congestion.

“If we improve first- and last-mile connectivity and ease of mobility, such as making van-hailing services more readily available and making walkways safer, I believe it will encourage more people to take public transport, or walk or use escooters for short trips.”

For local government services, Zayd wanted to digitalise all council services to make facility booking simple and seamless, encourage wide usage of social media platforms to improve response time for complaints and issues raised by residents as well as improve current walk-in options at local council offices to cater to all levels of digital literacy.

“I also want to lobby for local council elections. It is important to ensure councillors are elected by the people of Subang Jaya, rather than a political proxy of the assemblyman’s choosing,” he said.

“If you bring about local council elections and councillors are elected into office, the assemblyman’s job is purely on state-level policies while councillors will focus on their duties at the local council level.

“This will reduce political patronage and allow councillors to stand on their own two feet.”

As for local communities, Zayd hoped to improve current green spaces and sports facilities to benefit people across different age groups, preserve green lungs within Subang Jaya as well as introduce programmes to strengthen local communities.

Zayd, 27, previously worked as a policy analyst at two different think tanks based in Bandar Sunway.

He has two degrees, one in international relations and international business from University of New South Wales, Australia, and another in law from University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, the latter through an external programme with a Kuala Lumpur-based college.

Zayd is locked in a three-cornered fight in Subang Jaya. He is contesting against incumbent assemblyman Michelle Ng Mei Sze (PH-DAP) and S. Gana (PN-Bersatu).