JOHOR civil servants have been told to keep pace with rapid changes as the state accelerates toward major economic goals.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the state’s edge lies beyond just policies and infrastructure, hence requiring agencies and officers to adopt a critical thinking mindset to stay ahead.
“Governance today is more complex, citizens are more informed and expectations are higher than ever before.
“In such an environment, Johor civil servants cannot remain static,” he said in his keynote address at the Johor Dialogue 2026.
The dialogue was aimed at encouraging civil servants to engage more openly with new ideas and challenges, he said.
Onn Hafiz said officers needed to be proactive problem-solvers than mere administrators, particularly as Johor’s development progressed.
Transformation required changing mindset and work culture, not just new regulations or procedures, he said.
“Civil servants must constantly renew their knowledge, skills and outlook to stay ahead.”
Drawing on his own experience, he said technical training alone was no longer sufficient for today’s leaders and officers as governance increasingly involved cross-sector and cross-border engagement.
This is evident in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) where state officials were required to work closely with their counterparts in the island republic.
“With the JS-SEZ, discussions are no longer limited to federal ministries.
“State civil servants are directly involved in engagements with Singapore’s senior leadership and agencies.”
Hence, public servants must be confident, well-prepared and capable of representing the state’s interests, he said at the forum held at Menara MBJB in Johor Baru.
Onn Hafiz said Johor recorded RM91.1bil in approved investments in the first nine months of 2025 and was expected to achieve RM102bil at the close of the year.
“For 2026, Johor is targeting about RM140bil in approved investments,” he said, adding that the figures reflected growing investor confidence in the state.
He said Malaysia recorded RM285bil in approved investments nationwide, with Singapore contributing 40% of foreign direct investment in the first half of 2025, reinforcing Johor’s position as a key gateway.
Johor, he said, has emerged as a key hub for data centres, artificial intelligence, and high-tech manufacturing, prompting state agencies to adapt to growing planning, approval, and regulatory challenges.
However, he cautioned that strong investment numbers must be matched by capable institutions and a skilled workforce to ensure sustainable growth.
“Our economy must remain resilient.
“This places a premium on governance quality and human capital.”
Since 2022, he said the state focused on upskilling and reskilling its workforce – working with local and international higher learning institutions to better prepare officers and workers for future industries.
Urging Johoreans working outside the state to come home, he stressed that Johor’s future depended on its people.
“When our people advance, Johor advances with them.”
