The Speaker, Suhaizan Kaiat, said the budget was passed with a majority vote: 27 of the assembly members present raised their hands in support , while another 27 abstained.

Two assemblymen, Osman Sapian (Bersatu-Kempas) and Hahasrin Hashim (BN-Panti) were absent for health reasons while all the other 54 assemblymen including former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin (Bersatu-Gambir) were present.

When winding up the debate on the budget, menteri besar Hasni Mohammad said the state government would double its efforts in making Johor a choice state for investors in view of its strategic location and the various agencies as its economic catalysts.

He said he believed that Johor would be among the states to rise early from the economic crisis arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The state assembly sitting ended at about 5pm.

The state assembly comprises the government coalition of Umno, which has 14 seats, MIC (2), Bersatu (12) and PAS (1), while the opposition Pakatan Harapan has 27 seats.

The state government has forecast next year’s revenue at RM1.671 billion with the expenditure at RM1.958 billion. All the state’s 56 assemblymen will each receive a fixed allocation of RM200,000 per year.