PALOH, May 1 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) would review the Gemas-Johor Bahru electric double-tracking railway (PLBE) to determine if it will benefit the local community, said the pact’s Paloh candidate Sheikh Omar Ali.

He said a PH administration in Johor would also examine how the infrastructure project will affect the state’s residents in its vicinity in order to improve connectivity.

The DAP member added that he concluded from early observations that the project only focused on construction without considering how to integrate with the locals.

"Therefore we would ensure the company responsible for the rail’s construction has direct connection with the companies under the state government so the administration has a form of authority to oversee the construction process,” he said during a press conference held at Paloh train station today.

Balancing the project’s larger coal with local interests would improve public transport use and commuter traffic passing through here and neighbouring towns such as Chamek and Segamat.

He said the local community’s feedback was vital to ensure the project’s continued effectiveness.

"This is also important because the train station, which has been operating for almost 30 years, has a historical significance to the locals and we cannot develop an area without the locals benefiting from it.

"For example there are a lot of seniors living in the vicinity of the development and we want the locals to live a comfortable life,” he said.

He agreed the project would boost the local economy by making Paloh an attractive destination, but insisted the development must take into account local sustainability.

"For example the agro-tourism industry can be further developed as many of the locals here are involved in agriculture and increased traffic would be able to generate a steady flow of economic growth,” he said.