Putrajaya also has hand in driving Johor's development, not just state govt

Sunday 04 Oct 2026

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JOHOR BAHRU (May 17): The economic and infrastructure development in Johor over the last three to four years is a culmination of efforts by the federal government, and not solely the achievement of the state administration.

In delivering his speech at the Pakatan Harapan Convention 2026 at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre, DAP secretary general Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the coalition’s delegates must challenge the narrative that Johor’s development was driven purely by the Barisan Nasional (BN) state government led by Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

“Some parties are saying that the performance of Johor is only due to the efforts of one party — this is not true. The main factor to the development of Johor is due to a slew of federal projects that have improved the connectivity within the state of Johor, as well as between Johor and Singapore,” said Loke.

Highlighting the Johor-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) project as an example of an infrastructure project that was started by the BN state government back in 2018, Loke pointed out that it was under the Madani government that the project was successfully being implemented, after it almost became a failed project.

He said after the Madani government took over in late 2022, issues plaguing the project — from funding to issues regarding contractors — were solved.

“The prime minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) gave his full support for this project until it is completed and becomes a catalyst to the development of Johor.

Other projects expedited and completed under the Madani government include the Gemas–JB Electrified Double Tracking (EDT) project, as well as a cargo train line between Kempas Baru and Pasir Gudang, which allows containers to be transported via rail between the Johor Port and Port of Tanjung Pelepas.

The Gemas–JB EDT project started back in April 2018. However, the RM9.5 billion project — the final segment of the electrified double-tracked rail between Padang Besar and Johor Bahru — faced years of delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic and land acquisition issues.

JB ART to cost over RM10 billion

Meanwhile, Loke said claims that the Madani government does not have any plan to manage expected traffic congestion in Johor Bahru following the completion of the JB-Singapore RTS are inaccurate.

He said the Cabinet has approved the construction of the autonomous rapid transit (ART) system in Johor Bahru, which will cost more than RM10 billion.

While the project will take time to be implemented, Loke said the Madani government, through the Ministry of Transport, will roll out more buses in the city in order to disperse traffic coming to and going from the Bukit Chagar station.

“The development of Johor is very closely related to having a seamless transportation system. The JB-Singapore RTS is a project of the Ministry of Transport, whose minister is from PH. It is funded by the Ministry of Finance, whose minister is from PH.

“It will also have a seamless customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ) process, which is made possible by the efforts of the Home Ministry, whose minister is also from PH,” said Loke, highlighting the contributions of the coalition under the Madani government to the development of Johor.

Loke also said that the federal government is developing the Port of Tanjung Pelepas as one of the largest transshipment ports in the region, while Senai Airport will be upgraded into a hub airport in the southern region, the third largest in the peninsular.

“We must inform and convince the people that the development that the state is currently enjoying does not come from just one party. It is a collaborative effort between the federal and state governments, led by a prime minister who is very serious in developing the entire country,” he stressed.

Edited ByLee Weng Khuen

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