Johor residents hope the state’s 2027 budget, to be tabled, next week will address current challenges proactively.
Assistant manager Mohamad Saufee Anuar, 37, said the majority of Malaysians, including Johoreans, were cautiously optimistic about the future.
“The volatile geopolitical situation, especially in the Middle East, will have a significant impact on the world economy,” he told StarMetro.
He said buffering against economic volatility would help the Federal and Johor governments ensure domestic growth.
Marketing executive Steven Lim, 33, hopes the budget will minimise the negative impact of global uncertainties on people’s well-being.
“Johoreans must remain realistic, be prepared for setbacks and emerge even stronger afterwards,” he said.
Lim said businesses, especially Johor-based micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) needed financial assistance under the budget to sail through challenging times.
Kalvinder Singh urges the state to speed up construction of more affordable houses to cater to average income earners, especially those living in Johor Baru district.
“Johor can learn from its closest neighbour, Singapore, when it comes to providing public flats under its housing and development board (HDB),” he said.
The 27-year-old, who works as a bus captain in Singapore, suggested the state demolish old public walk-up flats and replace them with multi-storey buildings in a self-contained township.
Legal secretary Dalila Raihana Salleh, 41, wants to see the setting up of more fair-price shops in Johor Baru to address the escalating price of essential goods.
“Social media platforms are seeing fierce debates over the high cost of living, especially among people moving to Johor Baru from outside the state for work,” she said.
Dalila said that between 2014 and 2025, there were “Kedai Harga Patut Muafakat Johor” outlets operated by Koperasi Iskandar Malaysia Bhd, but they had since closed.
Administrative assistant N. Nagakanie, 42, is worried about flash floods in downtown Johor Baru, where she works.
“Flash floods are unacceptable,” she said.
“If the authorities took this crisis seriously, Johor Baru wouldn’t be underwater.”
She said the state needed a comprehensive flood mitigation blueprint to overcome the longstanding problem.
She said flash floods were not a good look for Malaysia’s primary gateway from Singapore, especially taking into account Johor’s goal of becoming a progressive, inclusive and developed state by 2030.
Electrical store manager Jenny Chin, 38, says eating out has become increasingly costly for Johor Baru folk, with many families feeling the pinch.
“We want more programmes like ‘Jualan Kasih Johor’ which offers essential combo sets below market price.”
Chin proposed the state government team up with eateries to offer cooked food at promotional prices every two weeks through cross-subsidisation.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi is expected to table the 2027 budget at the Johor State Legislative Building in Kota Iskandar on Nov 19.
