JOHOR BAHRU — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has revealed that while Johor contributed RM14 billion in federal revenue between 2023 and 2025, the federal government returned even more — a total of RM16 billion — to the state through development projects and operational allocations.
Anwar made the announcement during the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate declaration ceremony for the 16th Johor State Election on June 22, 2026, just days before the official nomination day set for June 27.
"Based on Ministry of Finance records, federal revenue collected from Johor for 2023 to 2025 totalled RM14 billion. How much did we give back through various projects, management and overall development? A total of RM16 billion for the state of Johor," Anwar said.
Allocations Have Grown Significantly Under the Madani Government
Beyond the headline figures, the Prime Minister highlighted a steady upward trend in federal allocations to Johor since the Madani administration took office.
Operating Expenditure (OE) allocated to Johor rose from RM7 billion in 2022 to RM8.7 billion in 2026, while Development Expenditure (DE) jumped from RM2.3 billion to RM4.8 billion over the same period.
This places Johor among Malaysia's top-funded states, ranking third nationally in combined OE and DE allocations for 2026, behind only Sabah and Sarawak.
Johor also ranks second — after Selangor — in cash assistance disbursed under the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programmes, underscoring the Madani government's commitment to Johor residents.
Context: Johor Votes on July 11, 2026
The remarks come at a politically charged moment ahead of the 16th Johor State Election, with polling day set for July 11, 2026. Early voting is scheduled for July 7, and candidate nominations open on June 27.
A total of 56 Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) seats are up for contest, making this one of the most closely watched state elections in recent Malaysian political history.
Opposition parties had previously accused the federal government of shortchanging southern states. By publicly disclosing these figures, Anwar is directly challenging that narrative and making a case for continued support of the Madani administration across Johor.
The 2026 Johor state election is shaping up to be a major test for the Madani government in a state once considered a Barisan Nasional stronghold. Anwar's RM16 billion figure is expected to become a central talking point on the campaign trail in the days ahead.
