JOHOR BARU: Johor must invest heavily in human capital and institutional strength to remain competitive in a rapidly changing, borderless world, says Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
He added that the Johor Dialogue 2026 forum marked a shift in the state’s mindset, signalling a willingness to think differently, question assumptions and grow through intellectual exchange.
“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 speech during the forum held at Menara MBJB here on Monday (Feb 9).
Onn Hafiz added that transformation required courage, not just in policy-making but also in culture and mentality, adding that civil servants must constantly renew their knowledge, skills and outlook to stay ahead of the curve.
Drawing from his own experience, he said his background in accounting had prepared him well for technical work, but leading Johor required engagement across borders, sectors and disciplines.
“With the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), I meet regularly with Singapore’s Prime Minister and senior ministers, not as a federal minister, but as the Mentri Besar, bearing the responsibility to advance our state’s interests,” he said.
He added that Johor must elevate itself intellectually, strategically and institutionally to stand confidently as an equal partner on the global stage, while remaining rooted in its identity as Bangsa Johor.
Onn Hafiz said the state was facing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform its economy and institutions, noting that global challenges such as climate change, geopolitical tensions, transnational crime and the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence were not confined by national borders.
Highlighting Johor’s economic performance, he said the state secured RM91.1bil in approved investments in the first nine months of 2025 and was on track to reach RM102bil for the full year, the highest ever recorded by any state.
“For 2026, we are targeting about RM140bil in approved investments,” he said.
Johor’s strong performance comes as Malaysia recorded RM285bil in approved investments nationwide, with Singapore accounting for 40% of foreign direct investment in the first half of 2025, reinforcing Johor’s role as its natural gateway.
Onn Hafiz said Johor had emerged as a regional hub for data centres, artificial intelligence and high-technology manufacturing, driven by momentum from the JS-SEZ, whose blueprint is expected to be announced on March 30.
However, he cautioned that investment inflows alone did not guarantee long-term prosperity.
“Our economy must remain sustainable and resilient. This places a premium on institutional quality, governance capability and, crucially, human capital,” he said.
He said Johor must prioritise upskilling and reskilling so its workforce could move from being operators to value creators, designers of AI-enabled systems and drivers of innovation.
Onn Hafiz added that since 2022, the Johor government has placed talent development at the centre of its agenda, working with international and local higher learning institutions including partners in Singapore and China.
Calling on the Johor diaspora to return home, Onn Hafiz said the state’s true wealth lay not in resources alone, but in the strength, resilience and innovative spirit of its people.
“When our people advance, Johor advances with them,” he said.
