The Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, has called for at least 25 per cent of income tax revenue generated in Johor to be returned to the state.
In his address, the Regent reiterated the need for a fairer distribution of tax revenue, stressing that Johor should not be overly reliant on the Federal Government to support its development and public welfare.
He noted that Johor remains one of the country’s major contributors to national revenue, yet the returns received by the state are not commensurate with its development needs and the well-being of its people.
“As such, I urge the Federal Government to consider returning at least 25 per cent of the tax revenue generated from Johor. This will enable the state to manage the needs of its people more efficiently without having to rely entirely on lengthy approval processes,” he said.
He made the remarks while officiating the First Meeting of the Fifth Term of the 15th Johor State Legislative Assembly at Bangunan Sultan Ismail on Thursday.
The Regent also expressed hope that Johor would be given greater room to stand independently, in line with its significant role in driving the national economy.
This is not the first time the issue has been raised. Last year, he similarly called on the Federal Government to consider returning between 20 and 30 per cent of tax revenue collected from Johor.
Highlighting the state’s economic achievements, he said Johor successfully attracted RM272 billion in investments, including a record RM110 billion in 2025 — the highest ever recorded by any state in Malaysia.
The investments have created over 80,000 job opportunities for Johoreans and Malaysians, while the state’s revenue also rose to RM2.68 billion in 2025, reflecting strong economic fundamentals and effective governance in managing resources.
