JOHOR BAHRU, 8 July 2026 — Pakatan Harapan candidate for DUN N40 Tiram, Nor Zulaila Abd Ghani (better known as Lily), has urged the government and community not to wait for another environmental disaster before strengthening protections for rivers in the rapidly developing constituency.
In a media statement issued today, Nor Zulaila warned that Tiram’s industrial growth must not come at the expense of environmental safety and public health, citing the 2019 Sungai Kim Kim toxic pollution incident in nearby Pasir Gudang as a painful reminder.
“Tragedi Sungai Kim Kim pada tahun 2019 masih segar dalam ingatan rakyat Johor,” she said, referring to the chemical dumping that affected thousands of residents, forced the closure of more than 110 schools, and caused widespread anxiety among parents.
She stressed that Malaysia does not lack laws on environmental protection, but consistent and firm enforcement is often lacking.
Nor Zulaila, an environmental science graduate with more than 12 years of experience in public service and community work, said development and environmental protection should not be seen as opposing forces.
“Tiram merupakan kawasan yang sedang pesat membangun dan mempunyai potensi besar untuk menarik lebih banyak pelaburan. Namun, pembangunan hanya bermakna jika ia turut menjamin kesihatan, keselamatan dan kualiti hidup rakyat,” she stated.
She proposed the establishment of Sahabat Sungai Tiram, a community-based initiative that would bring together residents, youth, schools, NGOs, and industry players to monitor river conditions, organise regular gotong-royong clean-ups, conduct public education programmes, and provide a fast channel to report pollution incidents.
She also called for the expansion of outdoor learning programmes so that schoolchildren can directly learn about local biodiversity, water quality, and conservation efforts.
“When children love nature from a young age, they will grow up to be a more responsible generation,” she said.
Nor Zulaila emphasised the need for stricter enforcement against river polluters.
“Undang-undang yang baik tidak membawa makna jika tidak dikuatkuasakan secara konsisten. Industri yang mematuhi peraturan perlu diberi sokongan, manakala mereka yang mencemarkan alam sekitar mesti dikenakan tindakan tegas tanpa kompromi,” she added.
She expressed hope that Tiram can become a model constituency where development is carried out in a sustainable and responsible manner.
“Kita tidak perlu memilih antara pembangunan dan alam sekitar. Kerajaan yang cekap ialah kerajaan yang mampu memastikan kedua-duanya bergerak seiring melalui penguatkuasaan yang tegas, perancangan yang bertanggungjawab dan penglibatan aktif masyarakat,” she concluded.
Nor Zulaila, 38, was announced as Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for Tiram in June 2026. She previously served as a Kajang Municipal Councillor and has extensive experience in community development and public administration.
Her statement comes ahead of the Johor state election, with voters set to head to the polls on 11 July 2026.
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