Johor tables surplus budget for 2024

Onn Hafiz tabling a surplus Johor Budget 2024, with projected revenue of RM1.804bil.

JOHOR has tabled a surplus state budget for 2024, with projected revenue of RM1.804bil.

Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the budget would have a RM4.21mil surplus and projected expenditure of RM1.799bil.

“Themed ‘Memacu Pembangunan Menyejahterakan Rakyat’ (Driving Development, Prospering the People), next year’s budget has six cores comprising governance, economic development, social safety net, facilities and basic needs, cleanliness and environmental sustainability, as well as youths.

“The budget will be implemented through 29 strategies and 99 initiatives covering economic development, strengthening the civil workforce, food security, and community development.

“We have also set 2026 as Visit Johor Year, with RM67.6mil allocated for maintenance and upgrading of existing infrastructure to attract more tourists,” said Onn Hafiz when tabling Johor Budget 2024 at the state assembly in Kota Iskandar.

He said the state government hoped the agreement for Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) could be inked following the signing of a memorandum of understanding, which is set to take place on Jan 11 next year.

“The state government will work towards ensuring that the agreement can be signed at least six months from that date.

“This is so that implementation can be done as early as 2025,” said Onn Hafiz.

During the 10th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat on Oct 30, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his counterpart Lee Hsien Loong agreed to jointly develop SEZ.

Onn Hafiz said Johor also wanted the High-Speed Rail (HSR) project between Malaysia and Singapore to be revived soon to further stamp the state’s economic position in the region.

“I hope the Federal Government will give its attention and consider this request,” he added.

Malaysia and Singapore inked bilateral agreements for the 350km-long HSR project on Dec 13, 2016.

However, the project, previously estimated at RM110bil, was put on the backburner in September 2018 with both sides agreeing to shelve it until Dec 31, 2020.

On Jan 1, 2021, both countries jointly announced termination of the project as no agreement was reached on changes proposed by Malaysia and the agreement had expired.

Onn Hafiz ended the budget presentation by announcing a two-month bonus for the state’s civil servants.

“Johor civil servants and federal civil servants under the state’s payroll are entitled to the bonus, called Special Financial Aid 2023,” he said, adding that the gesture was in appreciation and recognition of their efforts.

Onn Hafiz also hoped the bonus would motivate the civil service to continue providing good service to the people.