ISKANDAR PUTERI, Feb 4 — Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has outlined six key focus areas in the state government’s strategy for the ‘New Decade of Johor’ development programme.

He said the initiative would look at improvements to infrastructure; economy; governance; development of thinking, talent and skills; ensuring a sustainable environment and preserving culture and religion; and the well-being and safety of the people in the next decade.

He said Johor should have 21st century infrastructure as it could not leave behind outdated 19th century facilities for the future generation, and cited the KL-JB-Singapore High Speed Rail project as one of those which would be ready in the next 10 years.

“Johor’s economy will soon be based on a data-driven digital ecosystem, we will explore and excel in the digital and creative economy without neglecting the traditional economic sectors,” said Mohamed Khaled when referring to the second focus while delivering his 2018 Message to various parties including civil servants and non-governmental organisations here today.

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He said the current governance system was also outdated, and had to be overhauled to be more in line with the needs of the future.

Referring to the fourth focus area, the mentri besar said the state government would ensure that youths receive proper education, and each family must have at least one graduate or someone who is highly skilled.

“The New Decade of Johor will ensure that culture and religion will never be overlooked, and in the context of the development of values and morals and environment sustainability, it has always been a benchmark for every development project,” he said of the fifth focus.

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On the final focus area, Mohamed Khaled said the government would ensure that in the next 10 years, Johor would have a strong family institution, less social ills, declining crime index and the narrowest quality of life gap between rural and urban areas in the country. — Bernama