JOHOR BARU: Johor recorded the highest GDP growth among all states last year, expanding to 8% from 6.5% in 2024, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
Citing the latest Statistics Department of Malaysia (DOSM) report, Dr Wee said the figures showed Johor’s economy was moving in the right direction.
“Coupled with job creation and the Johor Economic Transforma-tion Plan, which aims to develop each district according to its strengths and potential, the state is heading in the right direction,” he said at a dinner with residents from the Greater Johor Baru area on Thursday night.
According to DOSM, Johor’s GDP expanded to RM170.9bil last year from RM158.3bil in 2024, driven largely by the services sector, which grew 9.9% compared with 6% previously.
Growth was supported by stronger performance in the utilities, transportation and storage, information and communications technology, wholesale and retail trade, food and beverage, and accommodation subsectors.
Johor was also among four states that outperformed the national GDP growth rate of 5.2%.
During the event, Dr Wee introduced five MCA candidates contesting in the Greater Johor Baru area: Tan Hiang Kee (Skudai), Bong Seng Heng (Stulang), Teow Chia Ling (Puteri Wangsa), Chan San San (Johor Jaya) and Tai Chee Chee (Senai).
“They have experience in local government and professional careers. We hope the people will support them so we can build a stronger team to support the Mentri Besar in delivering bigger plans for Johor,” he said.
Also present was Onn Hafiz, who urged voters to back Barisan Nasional candidates on July 11.
“After I announced that Barisan would contest all 56 seats, I became public enemy number one for some quarters.
“But the people know that I am a leader for all, and that the state government has been colour-blind in helping the rakyat, whether in welfare or education,” he said.
Separately, the five MCA candidates unveiled a joint manifesto focused on issues that transcend constituency boundaries, including traffic congestion, flash floods, youth employment and the outflow of talent to Singapore.
In a joint statement, they said major projects such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, the Johor-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link and the Forest City Special Financial Zone would reshape the region, making coordinated planning essential.
They highlighted Senai’s role as a logistics and aviation hub, Skudai’s strengths in education and healthcare, Stulang’s position as a coastal commercial gateway, and Puteri Wangsa and Johor Jaya as major commercial and consumer centres.
Among their pledges are improving connectivity, creating higher-value jobs, expanding Technical and Vocational Education and Training opportunities, supporting young entrepreneurs, implementing a regional drainage masterplan to mitigate flash floods, strengthening environmental safeguards for new developments, and improving access to public healthcare.
