Onn Hafiz: Johor's 8pc growth no reason for complacency
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor must turn its strong economic growth and investment inflows into high-paying jobs for locals and greater opportunities for small businesses, said Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
Johor's state Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi emphasized that the state's impressive economic growth and investment inflows should not lead to complacency. The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) must foster high-paying jobs for locals and enhance opportunities for small businesses, he stated. The state's economy expanded by eight percent last year, the highest in the country, but fostering extraordinary results requires extraordinary thinking and working methods according to Onn Hafiz.
The Menteri Besar made these remarks during the Towards a Futuristic Nation: Leadership, Innovation and Transformation forum held in conjunction with the International Young Future Leaders Summit (iFUTURE) 2026, attended by over 1,200 student leaders from Malaysia and 53 other countries. Onn Hafiz highlighted that leadership demands integrity, fairness, and sincerity, urging leaders to set examples and ensure policies benefit the public.
He urged young people not to be mere spectators of change but to seize opportunities created by the state's rapid development, and to equip themselves with knowledge and skills to lead in the future. Onn Hafiz stressed that advancing Johor's youth is a key priority under the Maju Johor 2030 agenda.
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