PAKATAN Harapan (PH) launched their manifesto, themed "Johor For All", which focuses on increasing income, access to housing, human capital development and efforts to ensure the benefits of economic growth can be felt more comprehensively.
According to PH, Johor is now in a strategic position to emerge as one of the most developed states in Malaysia, following the influx of large investments, the development of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), the RTS project and the development of the digital and technology sectors in the future.
However, the coalition stressed that economic progress cannot be measured through investment figures alone, but needs to be translated into better job opportunities, higher incomes, home ownership and balanced development throughout the state.
PH said many Johoreans were still facing cost-of-living pressures, rising house prices and wage rates that had not kept pace with the increase in the cost of living, with the median salary in the state estimated at around RM2,982 per month.
Among the main offers announced are a health protection scheme of up to RM100,000 per year for the B40, M40 and disabled people (OKU), in addition to the proposal to revive the Johor Health Card, which is targeted to benefit approximately 500,000 people.
In the housing sector, PH is offering first home deposit assistance of up to RM8,000, a rent-to-own scheme and the construction of 80,000 affordable houses within five years, with priority given to young families and the second generation of FELDA.
However, the housing agenda is also one of the main focuses of the current state government administration.
Under the BN administration, Johor previously set a target of building 30,000 affordable houses for the period 2022 to 2026 before increasing the target to 100,000 Johor Affordable Houses by 2030.
More than 20,000 affordable housing units were also reported to have been completed between 2022 and 2025.
The state government has also introduced several initiatives, including the RM5,000 First Home Purchase Assistance, RM2,000 House Entry Assistance and house rental assistance for eligible groups.
Apart from housing, PH has also emphasised youth development through the RM500 million Johor Youth Fund, which includes TVET training, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, digital skills, entrepreneurship and the first job guarantee programme.
PH has also proposed the provision of gigabit internet in all schools by 2030, the development of AI and robotics laboratories in each district and closer cooperation between educational institutions and industry.
To stimulate economic growth, PH has outlined a RM1 billion fund for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs, in addition to strengthening the agro-food, creative economy, high technology, oil and gas, tourism and modern agriculture sectors.
As a key economic target, PH aims to create 250,000 new high-paying and dignified jobs and increase Johor's median salary by at least 30 per cent.
The target was announced as Johor recorded investments of RM110 billion in 2025, which, according to the state government, is expected to create more than 24,000 new job opportunities.
The Onn Hafiz administration previously also stressed that the investments brought into the state must be translated into better job opportunities and increased income for the people.
The manifesto also contains several additional initiatives, including the establishment of 250 Taska MADANI and workplace nurseries, a RM50 per month Johor public transport pass for students, senior citizens and the disabled, the Balik Johor Programme to attract professionals working in Singapore or abroad, and a RM1,000 grant for every baby born in the state. – July 3, 2026
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