Don’t be ‘calculative’ over federal aid to Johor, says Umno Youth

 Its secretary-general Hafiz Ariffin says RM14.6 billion in federal funding cited by PH leaders include projects that have been announced but yet to be implemented.

Umno and BN Youth secretary-general Hafiz Ariffin said federal contributions should not be used as a political tool. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Umno Youth has urged Pakatan Harapan leaders not to be “too calculative” over federal allocations to Johor, amid ongoing political exchanges following Barisan Nasional’s decision to contest the state election on its own.

The wing’s secretary-general Hafiz Ariffin said the RM14.6 billion in federal funding cited by PH leaders included projects that had been announced but yet to be implemented, such as Hospital Sultanah Aminah 2 (HSA 2) and the Elevated Autonomous Rapid Transit (E-ART) system.

He said announcing a project is not the same as having funds that have been channelled and spent on the ground.

“Nobody is denying the federal (government’s) contributions, but don’t use federal development and expenditure in Johor as a political tool to build a perception that Johor is ‘overclaiming’ and not being thankful.

“Why bring up these calculations now? (Are you) trying to use political cooperation as a measure of development?” he said in a video posted on Facebook.

“If that is the case, I think people will make their own calculations in Johor when the time comes.”

He was responding to DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook, who had said at the PH Convention in Johor that the state’s recent development was largely driven by federal initiatives rather than solely by the state government.

The tit-for-tat exchange between BN and PH leaders began after Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced that the state BN would contest all 56 state seats in the upcoming polls.

DAP Youth has since said Parliament should be dissolved if Umno proceeds with its plan to contest independently in Johor.

Hafiz, who is also BN Youth secretary-general, said the RM14.6 billion figure also included operational spending such as civil service salaries, as well as the running of schools and hospitals.

“These are all federal government expenses in Johor, so don’t try to portray them as cash transfers to the state,” he added.

Hafiz also noted that Johor is a major contributor to the national revenue, citing the Inland Revenue Board’s data which showed that the state accounted for nearly RM20 billion of Malaysia’s RM203.9 billion in direct tax collection in 2025. - FMT