ISKANDAR PUTERI – Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has tabled a state budget with a surplus of RM2.44 million for next year.
According to Onn, the state is expected to rake in RM1.73418 billion in 2023 with only RM1.73174 billion being budgeted on spending.
“Out of this amount, RM600 million will be allocated for development while RM1.126 billion will be utilised for administrative expenses,” the Machap assemblyman said during the tabling of the budget at the Johor assembly here today.
The supply bill, themed “Maju Johor: Makmur Bersama Rakyat”, contained six key pillars namely, government administration; economic development; social safety net; basic amenities and needs; safety, cleanliness, and environmental sustainability; and Johor youth.
This is also the first budget tabled by Onn’s administration after he assumed the post of Johor menteri besar following Barisan Nasional’s landslide win in the state polls last March, clinching 40 out of 56 state seats available in the state assembly.
The 43-year-old menteri besar admitted that 2023 will be a difficult year with sluggish global economic growth expected, which will also impact the country and the state’s economic outlook.
However, Onn said that the state’s economy remains stable, especially in 2022 which he said largely benefited from the stability of the state’s political landscape.
“This, coupled with the state investors’ friendly policies and also the reopening of the Johor-Singapore border beginning April 1 has contributed to the growth of the state economy.”
Onn also said that Johor has recorded the highest investment in the country for the first half of 2022, which stands at RM60.9 billion, an increase of RM48.6 billion compared to the same period in the previous year.
Apart from investment, the state’s exports also saw an increase of 42% or RM73 billion from January to September this year compared to the same period last year.
“Meanwhile, the development sector has shown signs of recovery while the unemployment rate has also dropped from 4% recorded in the third quarter of 2021 to 2.25% this year.”
Onn also said while there were always ups and downs in the economic cycle, what is important is to provide sustainable and resilient economic planning as well as sufficient savings to face upcoming challenges.
He also announced a one-month special financial assistance or a minimum of RM1,000 to Johor and federal civil servants working in the state, which will be distributed in two separate disbursements. – The Vibes, December 1, 2022
