NOW JOHOR SEEKS RETURN OF 30% OF TAXES COLLECTED

PETALING JAYA: The Johor government has requested that Putrajaya return at least 30% of taxes collected from the state, says menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

In a Facebook post, Onn Hafiz said this request is important to ensure that Johoreans could enjoy the revenue generated in the state and for Johor to be developed further.

This request was made during an audience granted by the regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, to Treasury secretary-general Johan Mahmood Merican, economy ministry secretary-general Nor Azmie Diron, and Shahrol Anuwar, the director of the finance ministry’s federal budget office.

“We also discussed high-impact projects in Johor, namely proposals to develop an elevated autonomous rapid transit system in Iskandar Malaysia and to build a fourth East Coast Expressway (LPT4) connecting Mersing-Kota Tinggi-Johor Bahru,” Onn Hafiz said.

On Sunday, Tunku Ismail called for changes in the federal system, saying that Johor should be treated as a partner by Putrajaya.

He also expressed hope that “at least 20% to 30%” of Johor’s revenue will go back to the southern state in the future.

The regent said that all of Johor’s annual tax revenue of about RM49 billion went to the federal government while Putrajaya allocates only RM1.4 billion to the state.

The Johor government’s request also comes after Penang’s plan to send an official letter to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim regarding its proposal for the return of 20% of taxes collected from the state.

Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said Anwar had previously responded “positively” to the request when it was informally conveyed to him during a meeting.

2024-06-11T10:56:41Z dg43tfdfdgfd