The Johor state government announced 42 additional initiatives worth RM209 million to be returned to all citizens following the positive economic achievements so far.
Johor Menteri Besar, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced that overall, the initiative will benefit 1.9 million recipients throughout the state to ease the burden of the cost of living.
He said the initiative includes 25 measures to reduce the burden of the people's cost of living and 17 additional initiatives in improving infrastructure, economic empowerment and social well-being.
The state government will ensure that this overflow of revenue is always channeled to the people of Johor throughout the state, not only in the JS-SEZ area.
Food assistance initiative
According to Onn Hafiz, among the 25 initiatives to reduce the cost of living is the Johor Friday Infaq Program which provides food assistance to the community every Friday.
In addition, the Johor Love Sale initiative will be expanded to 252 locations, while the Food Basket distribution will be implemented in 56 State Legislative Assembly (DUN) constituencies.
The government also provides One-Off Cash Assistance to various groups including Johor Students; Form 6 and Foundation students, e-hailing and p-hailing drivers, taxi drivers, Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) veterans, police retirees, farmers, fishermen, senior citizens, breeders, orphans, Social Welfare Department (JKM) recipients, Community Rehabilitation Center (PDK) trainees for the Disabled (OKU), People's Housing Project (PPR) participants as well as general public cleaning and solid waste (SWM) workers who are Malaysian citizens.
Investment and economic growth
Onn Hafiz also stated that in this quarter, Johor recorded approved investments of RM56 billion, making it the highest state in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country.
Johor recorded a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 6.4% for the first time, exceeding the national average and making the state with the highest economic growth in Malaysia last year.
The state's revenue performance in the last 10 years (2015-2021) shows revenue between RM1.5 and RM1.7 billion. In 2025, Johor is expected to record a state revenue of RM2.5 billion, which is the highest record in the state's history.
Infrastructure improvement initiatives
A total of 17 additional initiatives focus on improving infrastructure to resolve 158 issues raised through the State Assembly Action Meeting (MTD) with an allocation of RM12.61 million.
These projects include the installation of the Visit Johor Year 2026 landmark, special small projects by 6 local government units, the repair of signboards and gantry columns in Johor Bahru and the repair of the walls of the Pekan Rabu Kluang Complex.
The government is also upgrading 17 bus stops, developing clinics and drug supply centers, adding hospital equipment and providing 104 hospital bed units.
Other initiatives include the support of 117 Southern Volunteers at hospitals, the Form 6 Nationality Programme, Johor Business Summit 2025, Johor Student Tour, maintenance of the PUJB PADU system, DUN management and Northeast Monsoon assistance in 56 DUNs.
In total, more than RM20 million was channeled to 200,000 Johor residents, including RM4.6 million for FELDA settlers (14 initiatives), RM3.87 million for Orang Asli (9 initiatives), as well as RM5 million each for single mothers and cancer patients.
The statement was made when Onn Hafiz attended the Second Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Johor State Assembly at the Temenggong Ibrahim Building, Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP), Kota Iskandar yesterday.
