Johor gets more federal funds than Selangor, says economist

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GEORGE TOWN: Johor received a higher budget allocation for 2022 than Selangor, says an economist, who rejected the notion that Johor had been sidelined in terms of federal funds.

Barjoyai Bardai of Universiti Tun Abdul Razak told FMT that Johor topped the list of budget allocations to states. It received an allocation of RM865 million, more than Selangor, which received RM852 million.

“So, Johor has not been sidelined in the budget allocation,” he said, adding that the states that received the lowest allocations were Perlis at RM138 million and Kelantan at RM331 million.

Another economist, Yeah Kim Leng of Sunway University, said the federal government allocates funds to the states based on their per capita income.

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Reps complain of unfair federal funds for Selangor, Penang

PETALING JAYA: Elected representatives in Selangor and Penang have spoken up about unfair federal budget allocations for their states, which are among the highest contributors of revenue.

Penang assemblyman Gooi Hsiao Leung said many states also shared the Johor sultan’s recent expression of discontent toward federal funding allocations.

“Every state should have its fair share of financial support to develop according to its own aspirations, without being held ransom by the federal government, regardless of which party is in power,” he said.

Gooi, who represents Bukit Tengah, said a report by the Penang Institute showed that Penang contributed RM5.7 billion in tax revenues to the federal government in 2013 but only received RM162.7 million in federal transfers.

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