PH banks on Negeri Sembilan development record as campaign heats up

PAKATAN Harapan (PH) candidates are increasingly centring their campaign on Negeri Sembilan’s economic and governance record, arguing that the state’s investment growth and welfare initiatives justify giving the coalition another term in office.

Sri Tanjung incumbent Datuk Dr Rajasekaran Gunnasekaran said the state had recorded its strongest investment performance under Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, pointing to major projects such as the AI-powered Midport in Pasir Panjang and Google’s RM1 billion data centre in Port Dickson.

He said the investments reflected investor confidence in the state government and would create more employment opportunities, particularly for young people.

“Under Tok Min’s leadership, Negeri Sembilan has secured record investments. These projects will generate jobs and strengthen the state’s economy, which is why we hope voters will continue supporting a stable administration,” he said.

Rajasekaran added that the benefits of ongoing developments would not be confined to Port Dickson, but would also spill over into other parts of the state through new economic opportunities.

Meanwhile, PH’s Seri Menanti candidate Mohd Kamarul Arifin Mohd Wafa said feedback from voters suggested that many were judging the government based on its performance rather than campaign promises alone.

He said residents frequently brought up federal aid programmes such as Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA), saying the assistance had helped ease the pressure of rising living costs.

“Many people told us they appreciated the assistance they received. At the same time, they also shared local issues they hope will be addressed, including housing repairs, drainage and basic infrastructure,” he said.

Mohd Kamarul said the state’s administrative record had also become a talking point among voters, with many acknowledging improvements in investment, revenue collection and state finances under Aminuddin’s administration.

According to state government data, Negeri Sembilan’s revenue increased from RM413 million in 2017 to RM610 million in 2025, while state reserves grew from RM725.96 million to RM1.04 billion over the same period.

Investment approvals also surged from RM1.14 billion in 2017 to RM54.3 billion in 2025, while the unemployment rate fell from 3.8% in 2020 to 3.1% last year.

The two PH candidates are among those defending their respective seats in the Aug 1 Negeri Sembilan election, as the coalition seeks to retain the state government by campaigning on a mix of economic growth, investment and welfare delivery rather than relying solely on election pledges. – July 20, 2026