Backing Regent’s decree, Onn Hafiz calls for return of 25pc Johor tax revenue

ISKANDAR PUTERI, May 7 — The Johor Regent, Tunku Mahkota Ismail’s decree for the return of the state’s tax revenue must be upheld and honoured by all parties so as not to burden the people, said Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

The Johor menteri besar said he was confident that the return of 25 per cent of the state’s tax revenue could be realised with the cooperation of all parties at the federal and state levels.

“I am confident that Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong, who is also the Perling elected representative in the state legislative assembly, will assist to achieve this,” he said in his closing speech at the Johor state legislative assembly at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar here today.

The return of 25 per cent of tax revenue by the federal government to Johor has been reiterated by Tunku Ismail to ensure that development and welfare funds for the state are not delayed.

Onn Hafiz, who is the Machap assemblyman, said the state government was prepared to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring that development projects could be expedited for the benefit of the people.

He said there were cases where the state government was still waiting for development allocations despite the projects having been announced a year or two ago.

“For example, a rail transit system project to address traffic congestion after the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is completed in 2027.

“The issue has raised concerns, including involving traffic dispersal aspects, especially in urban areas and the main gateway to the country,” he said, adding that the people wanted a more permanent solution despite the state government putting in place short-term plans to improve traffic flow.

In addition, Onn Hafiz raised two other projects that needed immediate attention, namely the training hospital in Kota Tinggi and the Sultanah Aminah Hospital 2 (HSA 2) project, both of which have been announced but have yet to begin.

Last Thursday, when officiating the Johor state legislative assembly, Tunku Ismail decreed that 25 per cent of Johor’s income tax revenue should be returned to the state.

Tunku Ismail reiterated the call for the return of revenue so Johor would not have to fully rely on the federal government for development projects.