JOHOR BARU: Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has responded to the prime minister's statement describing Johor as a wealthy state plagued by significant leakages, asserting that the federal government is in fact the reason the state's revenue is not being returned fairly.
"Yes, there are indeed many leakages. It is the federal government that is draining Johor," the regent said during a session with the people of Johor.
Tunku Ismail said this statement was not merely based on theory, but on his own experience dealing with development projects in Johor delayed or obstructed by Putrajaya.
His Royal Highness said Johor contributes more than RM40 billion annually to the federal government, yet only about RM2 billion to RM3 billion is returned to meet the needs of the state's nearly five million residents.
"When we contribute more than RM40 billion a year in state revenue, and only RM2 billion to RM3 billion is returned to us to take care of Johor's 4.9 million people, how does that make sense? It is simply not logical," he said.
Therefore, Tunku Ismail said at least 25 to 30 percent of the revenue collected from Johor should be returned to the state, enabling more development projects and public welfare initiatives to be carried out for the people.
He said basic matters such as repairing a school roof in Segamat, fixing damaged roads in Batu Pahat, and upgrading hospital facilities should not take an excessively long time simply because they have to wait for approval from the federal government.
Tunku Ismail also raised concerns about delays in healthcare projects, including the Pasir Gudang Hospital, shortages of doctors and medical staff, and the approval for Sultanah Aminah II Hospital, which has yet to be finalised.
He said Pasir Gudang Hospital had once faced the risk of being cancelled before he consistently pushed for four years to ensure that the facility was completed and opened to the public.
However, he added, the hospital is currently operating with a shortage of doctors and staff, thereby affecting the quality of services provided to the local community.
"Who are the ones suffering? Is it the people who are suffering, or those at the top? It is the people who are suffering," he said.
Tunku Ismail also described the delays in several important projects as among the factors hindering the development of Johor, despite the state playing a major role in contributing to the national economy.
He said the demand for the return of revenue is not intended to create hostility or cause problems for the federal government, but a more reasonable sum would allow Johor to stand stronger and meet the needs of its people.
He added that this would, at the same time, reduce the burden on the federal government.
"We do not want to be hostile, confront anyone, or create problems for the government administering the country, but, they must take care of us as partners.
"It is time for the federal government to take seriously the lives of the people of Johor, their welfare, and the development of the state," he said, - NST
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