ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor government today tabled a RM1.14 million surplus State Budget, the eighth year since 2011.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the state was expected to record a revenue of RM1.504 billion next year, against a projected expenditure of RM1.503 billion under the 2018 State Budget.
He also revealed 10-year development plan which he described as the "New Decade of Johor" that would boost Johor's economic standing and further improve the people's standard of living.
"The next 10 years will be a new era for Johor as it sees a shift to become a progressive state.
"This is being manifested through greater state development initiatives and by embracing new technology and digital advancements as well as rejuvenating the present traditional industrial sectors so that they will remain a relevant source of economic growth," Khaled said in his speech which lasted almost three hours at the state assembly in Kota Iskandar here.
He said among the initiatives set for the decade-ong Johor development were a continued commitment to provide affordable housing for Johoreans.
He said an additional 40,000 homes will be built to the existing 60,000 units of houses under the Johor Affordable Housing (RMMJ) project which are all set for completion by 2020.
"The additional 40,000 units will be completed by 2023 which makes the total units of houses developed under the RMMJ to come to a total of 100,000 units," he said.
Khaled said that a transit housing scheme for newlywed couples between the age of 18 and 30 will also be introduced next year.
He said the scheme will provide temporary first home options for young couples in which they will have a chance to rent transit homes for as low as RM250 a month.
Khaled said the 2018 State Budget will also look into the crucial water management and raw water sources issues with a RM8 million allocated to the Johor Water Regulatory Body (Bakaj) to initiate nine projects related to raw water sources restoration.
"The initiatives include a RM2 million upgrade works at Sungai Johor and another RM1.2 million for the installation of a barrage at the Sungai Johor area near Kota Tinggi. Another RM2.4 million will be use for water source development project in each district," he said.
Khaled also announced good news for Johor civil servants in 2018. He said each Johor civil servant will get either a bonus of half of their monthly salary, or RM1,500, whichever is higher. The bonus will be paid in January.
"We will also introduce a special aid of RM500 for civil servants who are retiring next year," he said.