Asman Shah (front row, centre) with the 24 councillors and the Pasir Gudang City Council’s top management after the full board meeting.
AFTER outgoing mayor Datuk Asman Shah Abd Rahman chaired his last Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) full board meeting, local councillors shared about their experiences working with him.
MBPG Kota Bestari councillor S. Mahendran said Asman Shah’s leadership had brought a positive impact to the community in Pasir Gudang.
“Having had the privilege of working closely with him, I have witnessed first-hand the transformative impact he has had on the community.
“Whether it is through ‘Yok Tinjau’ or his tireless commitment to urban development, his legacy will undoubtedly leave a lasting mark,” said Mahendran.
The RM12mil “Yok Tinjau” initiative incorporated ideas from councillors and the community about the type of development needed in their areas.
Each councillor was allowed to submit ideas for up to four projects not exceeding RM500,000 per zone.
“He has not only been a leader but also a collaborator, always open to new ideas and encouraging innovation,” Mahendran added.
Rinting 1 councillor Lim Ming Ter said, “He approved two bridge projects in Kampung Sungai Rinting and Sungai Masai because community well-being has always been at the heart of what he does.”
“He always encouraged us to be more active in finding solutions for the people,” said Lim.
In his winding-up speech, Masai councillor Madyasir Ahmad Basir said Asman Shah had laid a solid foundation for the local council to move forward to advance the city’s development.
“He will always be remembered as the first mayor of Pasir Gudang city.
“His ‘Yok Tinjau’ agenda was something revolutionary, encouraging councillors to propose the development that we wanted for our zones.
“Although there have been a few misunderstandings between the councillors and the mayor, such as the garage issues, parking summonses and the assessment tax, we managed to iron out all of them though close cooperation and communication,” said Madyasir.
Asman Shah, who has been promoted as the Johor deputy state secretary (development), said maintaining Pasir Gudang’s cleanliness had been central to his work as mayor.
“Over the past three years, as mayor, I have had many aspirations for the progress and development of Pasir Gudang.
“However, I have never once overlooked the importance of cleanliness,” he said after the meeting at Menara Aqabah.
He said environmental care was not just a civic duty but a moral responsibility.
He added that various programmes had been launched to promote sustainability in the city, urging the community to be active participants.
Among these initiatives were the 3-to-5R programme, dengue-free campaigns and the establishment of sustainability centres.
“These efforts by MBPG must be maintained and continued for the greater good,” said Asman Shah.
During his speech, he also recognised the importance of “World Clean-Up Day”, a United Nations initiative aimed at raising global awareness about public cleanliness.
“This initiative aligns with the aspirations of the Malaysia Madani government, which is rooted in sustainability and community well-being.
“At the MBPG level, the World Clean-Up Day programme was carried out on Sept 21 and 22, involving all local Resident Zone Committees (JKPZ).”
The programme focused on the collection and segregation of waste for recycling, with the city managing to gather, separate, and recycle nearly 10.8 tonnes of wastes.
“I was informed that nearly 3,000 participants from various zones took part in this activity,” Asman Shah said, praising their efforts.
