{"id":72257,"date":"2026-07-28T11:12:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T03:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=72257"},"modified":"2026-07-28T11:12:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T03:12:20","slug":"political-star-power-is-supposed-to-transform-port-dicksons-fortunes-will-this-time-be-different","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=72257","title":{"rendered":"Political star power is supposed to transform Port Dickson\u2019s fortunes \u2013 will this time be different?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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PORT DICKSON \u2013 Singaporean healthcare administrator Juita Mohamed visited Port Dickson once in 2010. She never returned.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is nothing much there,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s the kind of place where you go once and you\u2019ve already seen what they\u2019re known for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her verdict sums up a persistent problem for a seaside town that has, ironically, attracted much political star power over the years.<\/p>\n

This was where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim staged his return<\/span><\/a> to Parliament in 2018, following his royal pardon. Today, the federal constituency is represented by Negeri Sembilan caretaker Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun \u2013 who has led the state government since Pakatan Harapan (PH) took power in 2018.<\/p>\n

Yet the sleepy coastal town still bears the marks of stalled development, from abandoned buildings to a tourism industry struggling to compete with Penang and Desaru, even as budget airlines make overseas holidays ever more accessible.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Aminuddin, having spent nearly two decades in the Sikamat state seat, is making a high-stakes move to contest in Linggi at the Aug 1 state election.<\/p>\n

Located within the Port Dickson parliamentary constituency, Linggi is historically an UMNO stronghold and remains under the party\u2019s control today.<\/p>\n

A key initiative under Aminuddin\u2019s administration is the RM103.1 billion (S$32.6 billion) Malaysia Vision Valley 2.0 (MVV 2.0) project, an ambitious economic growth corridor stretching from Nilai to Port Dickson that could turn around the fortunes of the town.<\/p>\n

The project seeks to transform the district into a regional hub for tourism, logistics and trade through flagship projects including a free trade zone and an AI-powered smart container port.<\/p>\n

With MVV 2.0 finally breaking ground as the PH government marks eight years into its term, the question voters in Port Dickson are asking is this: Will this time be different?<\/p>\n

A tale of two towns<\/h2>\n

Just over an hour\u2019s drive south from Kuala Lumpur, Port Dickson\u2019s 18km coastline helped establish it as one of Malaysia\u2019s earliest beach holiday destinations<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to the Malaysian Association of Hotels\u2019 Negeri Sembilan chapter chairman Haziz Hassan, hotels continue to enjoy strong occupancy during peak periods, with Singaporeans making up some 10 per cent of visitors.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn weekends and holidays, occupancy is usually above 80 per cent,\u201d he told The Straits Times.<\/p>\n

Weekday occupancy, however, falls to between 40 per cent and 50 per cent. Haziz believes Port Dickson\u2019s tourism industry still has considerable room to grow: \u201cThere is a lot of untapped potential.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several hotels have recently undergone refurbishment, while others, including Corus Paradise Resort and The Grand Beach Resort, are currently being renovated.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\"Along<\/picture><\/div>
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Along the coastline, beachfront resorts bustle with holidaymakers. Families flock to the beaches, children play and seafood restaurants fill up after sunset.<\/p>\n

ST PHOTO: HAZLIN HASSAN<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe beaches and the water are clean, and there is no traffic congestion. It\u2019s a place to relax,\u201d said Haziz.<\/p>\n

But perhaps that laidback vibe is also part of the challenge, with a walk through Port Dickson revealing two contrasting realities.<\/p>\n

Along the coastline, beachfront resorts bustle with holidaymakers. Families flock to the beaches, children play, and seafood restaurants fill up after sunset.<\/p>\n

Just a few streets inland, however, the atmosphere changes.<\/p>\n

Apart from the PD Waterfront, a commercial development with cafes, restaurants and bubble tea outlets, many older shop lots appear quiet.<\/p>\n

Ika Adnan, 34, a clothing shop employee, described parts of Port Dickson as resembling a \u201czombie beach\u201d, where there is hardly any activity and businesses appear lifeless.<\/p>\n

Residents said the youth often leave for Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and elsewhere in search of better-paying jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to work in Singapore after I finish my studies,\u201d said 17-year-old student Lisha Lini. Her sister has already crossed the Causeway for work.<\/p>\n

The lack of amenities in Port Dickson is also a source of frustration for many residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere should be a proper shopping mall so we don\u2019t have to go all the way to Seremban, which is about half an hour away,\u201d said cafe owner Rabitah Azenam, 50.<\/p>\n

Ika said the neighbourhood mall offers only limited retail choices and does not have a cinema. \u201cIf I want to watch a movie, I have to take a bus to Seremban,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

At the same time, everyday expenses have become a growing burden, said the single mother. \u201cEverything has become more expensive. My electricity bill has gone up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rabitah also said she hopes the state government will provide greater financial support for small business owners like her.<\/p>\n

Betting on MVV 2.0<\/h2>\n

These frustrations are what the state government hopes its next big gamble can finally address.<\/p>\n

The long-term development corridor aims to diversify the state\u2019s economy beyond tourism by attracting manufacturing, logistics, technology and investment.<\/p>\n

The government\u2019s ambitions took a significant step forward on July 14, when Anwar officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the Midport Smart AI Container Port, describing it as the start of a new chapter in Port Dickson\u2019s economic growth.<\/p>\n

The RM3.4 billion first phase will cover about 72.84ha and is expected to take around three years to complete.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It will be integrated with the proposed 566.5ha Port Dickson Free Zone, an industrial development forming the centrepiece of the state\u2019s broader plan to position the district as a regional logistics and trade hub.<\/p>\n

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Aminuddin said: \u201cPort Dickson has been known as a tourism destination all this while. Now with this project, Port Dickson will enter a new phase as a gateway for trade, logistics, investment and modern maritime technology.\u201d<\/p>\n

This will create about 5,000 new jobs, he said, adding: \u201cWe don\u2019t want Negeri Sembilan youth to migrate just to get better jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some residents told ST they are hopeful the plans could help Port Dickson turn its fortunes around this time.<\/p>\n

A company manager who wished to be identified only as Jeevan told ST he believes the Vision Valley and artificial intelligence port projects are good for Port Dickson because they will create more job opportunities.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully, local people will be given priority so they can benefit from the new jobs instead of having to look for work elsewhere,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Hardware store manager N.S. Chong, 56, believes patience is required for Port Dickson to repair its reputation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe AI port development will be good for the economy. We need to give it time,\u201d he said, and Aug 1 will reveal whether Negeri Sembilan voters agree with him.<\/p>\n

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