Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Johor contributed about RM14 billion annually in revenue to the federal government from 2023 to 2025, while receiving an average of RM16 billion per year in federal allocations through development projects, operating expenditure, and related programmes over the same period [1, 2, 3, 4].
Anwar made the remarks on June 23 at the Pakatan Harapan candidate announcement ceremony for the upcoming Johor state election held in Tangkak and Bukit Gambir, where he urged Johor state executive councillors to question previous Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional administrations on claims that the state did not get its fair share of federal revenue [1, 5].
"How much have we given back through various projects, administration and development in total? RM16 billion for Johor," Anwar said [1]. He dismissed criticism that his government was failing Johor, asking rhetorically, "He claims the prime minister does not know how to manage the country and takes money from Johor without giving it back. Where did you study economics?" [5]
Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail cited figures from the Implementation Coordination Unit showing Johor received RM14.6 billion in development allocations under the current Anwar administration, up from RM10.2 billion previously [6]. Saifuddin said, "This shows the claim that Johor has been ignored is baseless. If anyone says Johor is not receiving the allocations it deserves, we will respond with facts." [6]
Operating expenditure allocated to Johor increased from about RM6-7 billion annually under previous administrations to RM8.7 billion annually since 2023 under the current Madani government. Development expenditure also rose sharply from RM2.3 billion in 2022 to RM4.8 billion in 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4]. In 2026, Johor ranks as the third-largest recipient of operating and development expenditure after Sabah and Sarawak [1, 2, 3, 4].
Johor is the second-largest recipient of assistance under the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah programmes, behind Selangor [1, 2, 3, 4].
The Johor Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah criticized the federal government over delays in delivering revenue and development funds to Johor [5]. Meanwhile, Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim called for the federal government to return a more reasonable portion of revenue collected from Johor for effective state development [5].
On June 24, Anwar chaired the 149th Meeting of Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers, focusing on national economic policies, water security, and food supply amid global uncertainty [7]. He also praised the civil service for their efficiency during a meet-and-greet event in Alor Gajah, linking this to Malaysia's rise from 23rd to 15th place in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Index [8, 9]. Anwar said, "Our achievements over the past three and a half years are not because of Anwar as prime minister, but because of the system and the colleagues within the government team," and credited the civil service for the improvement [8, 9].
