Johor To Set Up State Economic Action Council

PUTRAJAYA, March 1 (Bernama) -- The Johor Economic Action Council will be set up to spur the state's economic growth, Johor Chief Minister Osman Sapian said. He said the council would be chaired by Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Member of Parliament for Pagoh, while the committee members would be announced soon. He said Johor was identified as one of the most advanced states with strong and stable economy. “On average, Johor contributes 9.5 per cent to the national gross domestic product," he said at the retreat of the Johor government with federal government leaders, officiated by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, here Thursday. Osman said the country has benefitted from Johor’s economic spillovers. Generally, the federal government takes a per capita grant approach when assisting states, he said, adding that, “But Johor, especially southern Johor, is a unique case as it is the area where Malaysians from other states reside but work in Singapore. “The federal government should take into account of southern Johor’s interest and give due focus, as well as take the federal approach in addressing related issues, especially when planning infrastructure such as hospitals, schools and public transport." To many people, he said Johor is a developed state but its central and northern areas are still rural or semi-urban areas that are largely dependent on the agriculture and plantation sectors. Hence, he said the state government, which has listed 160 state-owned projects involving 19 ministries, has sought an allocation of RM5.2 billion. "Our hope is that the federal government's leadership will see what we are doing in Johor and help provide funds for infrastructure development. “This will indirectly spurs the economic development of Johor, nicknamed ‘Southern Tigers’, to become an economic force in the Southeast Asian region, as well as for the benefit Malaysia as a whole," he said. -- BERNAMA