His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim (second from left) signing the instrument of office as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in a ceremony filled with pomp and tradition at Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur.
JOHOR started 2024 with more than 7,000 people in several districts being evacuated from their homes due to massive flooding.
Continuous rain and downpours in early January saw floods in Johor Baru, Kulai, Kota Tinggi, Kluang, Segamat and Pontian.
Kota Tinggi was the worst hit, with over 4,000 people housed at temporary relief centres at floods’ peak and the town area only accessible by boat.
On Jan 11, both Malaysia and Singapore leaders witnessed the completion of the connecting span for Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Lee Hsien Loong, who was then Singapore prime minister.
Anwar and Lee also witnessed another historic occasion with the signing of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) memorandum of understanding.
Stretching from Kulai and part of Pontian to Pengerang, the JS-SEZ is expected to boost trade and improve business ecosystems of both the Iskandar Malaysia region and Singapore.
There is also hope that JS-SEZ will flourish like Shenzhen, a city in China with a successful special economic zone.
Among the sectors the zone will focus on are electronics, financial services, business‑related services and healthcare.
Kota Tinggi, one of the districts badly hit by floods in early 2024.
Majestic day
On Jan 31, Johor marked another moment in history with the swearing-in of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Malaysia is one of 43 nations that practises a constitutional monarchy system, but the rotational system of electing a king from among nine Malay rulers is the only one of its kind in the world.
The ceremony at the Balairung Seri (Throne Room) of Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur was held during the 264th (Special) Meeting of the Conference of Rulers presided over by Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu.
Sultan Ibrahim also signed the proclamation assuming the office of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Sultan Nazrin, the office of the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
On Feb 13, Johor government sprung a surprise when it announced a reshuffling of its state executive committee line-up, with Johor Lama assemblyman Norlizah Noh being dropped.
She was replaced by Tanjung Surat assemblyman Aznan Tamin, who was appointed state education and information committee chairman.
There was also a reshuffle of portfolios among the state exco lineup with Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi holding the land revenue, administration, finance, planning, economic development and tourism portfolios.
Five members had their portfolios changed – Tenggaroh assemblyman K. Raven Kumar (unity, heritage and culture), Larkin assemblyman Mohd Hairi Md Shah (youth, sports, entrepreneur development and cooperatives), Yong Peng assemblyman Ling Tian Soon (health and environment), Paloh assemblyman Lee Ting Han (investment, trade, consumer affairs and human resources) and Bukit Pasir assemblyman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh (public works, transport, infrastructure and communications).
Police action
On May 17, Malaysians woke up to news of an attack at Ulu Tiram police station.
Two constables, Ahmad Azza Fahmi Azhar, 22, and Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Said, 24, were killed while Sergeant Mohd Hasif Roslan sustained injuries.
The attacker was shot dead at the scene while five of his family members have since been charged in court on a total of nine offences linked to terrorism.
On June 28, Johor and Singapore celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Causeway, which has played a pivotal role in connecting both countries.
The celebrations were held at the foundation stone between Johor Baru and Singapore which was laid a century ago.
Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim together with Onn Hafiz and Singapore Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, graced the celebration ceremony.
An elephant greeting visitors at the reopened Johor Zoo.
On July 20, a six-year-old girl was reported missing after being abducted during a Bon Odori event in Iskandar Puteri.
She was found on July 23 at a budget hotel in Batang Kali, Selangor, some 370km away from where she was last seen.
Five suspects were arrested by the police, including a 31-year-old man who was found in the same room.
Leang Win Son, who is unemployed, was charged with 15 counts related to kidnapping in two separate courts – Johor Baru Sessions Courts and Kulai Magistrate’s Court.
On Aug 31, Malaysia’s oldest zoo, Johor Zoo, reopened its gates to welcome visitors for the first time since its three-year closure for upgrading works totalling more than RM9mil.
Tunku Ismail launching Forest City Special Financial Zone incentives flanked by Onn Hafiz (on his right) and Amir Hamzah. — Photos: Filepics
On Sept 19, the Federal Government announced that Forest City in Iskandar Puteri, earmarked as a special financial zone (SFZ), will be the first location in Malaysia to offer a 0% tax rate for family offices.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the offer was part of a package of incentives to make Forest City a magnet for international businesses.
Other incentives include concessionary corporate tax rates between zero and 5% and a special individual income tax rate of 15% for knowledge workers and Malaysians who choose to work at Forest City SFZ.
State affairs
Following the death of Mahkota assemblyman Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2, from internal bleeding, a by-election was held on Sept 28.
Barisan Nasional candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah won with a 20,648-vote majority, beating Perikatan Nasional’s Mohamad Haizan Jaafar in a straight fight.
On Oct 7, Tunku Ismail decreed that starting Jan 1, 2025, the state’s weekend would revert to Saturday and Sunday.
He said the decision was made after getting the consent and blessing from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim and views from Johor Islamic Religious Department.
This would conclude an 11-year period in which Friday and Saturday were designated as the official rest days.
Johor stood out as the only state in Malaysia where most companies in the private sector, including commercial banks, observed the Saturday-Sunday weekend, while the government sector followed the Friday-Saturday schedule during that period.
On Nov 21, Onn Hafiz tabled a RM1.999bil Johor budget for 2025 at the state assembly sitting.
He said Johor would record a revenue exceeding RM2bil this year, the highest in the state’s history.
“For next year, Johor has also tabled a surplus budget with a projected revenue of RM2.005bil. That amount is 11% or RM201mil more than this year’s.
“The state budget will have a RM5.12mil surplus and a forecast expenditure of RM1.999bil,” said Onn Hafiz, who is Machap assemblyman.
Khabib to open gyms in Iskandar Puteri.
On Dec 3, Onn Hafiz announced that retired mixed martial artist Khabib “the Eagle” Nurmagomedov would open a gym in Johor.
He made the announcement after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Johor Sports Council and Khabib in the United Arab Emirates.
Khabib Gym in Johor will be built in two locations in Iskandar Puteri, and will replicate standards set by the former UFC Lightweight champion.
