JOHOR BAHRU — Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Permas state constituency, Sharon Teo Siew Hui, has strongly dismissed claims labeling her a “parachute candidate” for the ongoing Johor State Election.
The 36-year-old politician clarified that her political journey has been deeply rooted in grassroots activism and years of local community engagement under the direct guidance of her late mentor, Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.
Grounded in Rahmah Political Values
Teo, who serves as the chief of Johor Amanah Wanita Muda (WARDA) and previously acted as the assistant secretary for the state chapter, highlighted that her years working as a special officer to Salahuddin—affectionately remembered as “Bapa Rahmah Malaysia”—heavily shaped her dedication to inclusive, responsive public service.
She formally joined Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) in 2018 after transitioning from a voluntary supporter to a full-time aide. Accompanying the late minister during prior state and general elections gave her firsthand insight into managing constituent grievances, recalling how Salahuddin would track and cross-check public complaints late into the night.
Rejecting the assertion that she is an outsider to the constituency, Teo noted that the Permas area is highly familiar terrain. She spent years alongside Salahuddin on campaign trails and welfare distributions within the district, rendering her well-acquainted with localized challenges.
First Hundred Days Blueprint
Feedback collected from voters during the initial days of the campaign trail highlighted urgent infrastructure issues, including deteriorating back lanes behind commercial properties, pervasive potholes, traffic congestion, and a pressing need to modernize public amenities.
To address these systemic grievances, Teo announced a targeted, data-driven approach for her first 100 days in office if given the mandate by the electorate:
- The PermasKu Portal – Establishing a dedicated one-stop public complaints center tasked with logging, tracking, and resolving municipal issues until full resolution.
- Infrastructure Audit – Implementing a comprehensive baseline assessment of public roads and commercial back lanes to systematically prioritize municipal repair funds.
- Youth Engagement – Deploying localized social media outreach campaigns and structured e-sports initiatives to connect with school leavers and first-time voters.
A Competitive Electoral Arena
The battle for the Permas seat has shaped up to be a highly competitive four-cornered contest. Teo is challenging the Barisan Nasional (BN) incumbent, Baharudin Mohamed Taib, who is fighting to retain the seat he secured in the 2022 polls.
The line-up is completed by Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) T. Vela and Dr Zamil Najwah, who is representing the youth-led alternative third force, Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama). Despite the crowded field, Teo expressed confidence that her commitment to accessible, service-oriented politics will resonate cleanly with the multi-ethnic voting demographic of the constituency.
