Bernama reported him as saying the amount collected exceeded the state government’s RM1.9 billion target.

“We will strive to further increase the state’s revenue and return (the benefits) back to the people,” he said at a press conference in Iskandar Puteri today.

Onn Hafiz said the state government is confident it can achieve revenue of between RM2.3 billion and RM2.5 billion by the end of this year.

“I have discussed and presented (Johor’s revenue figures) to the Regent of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim and the state government wants the surplus revenue to be returned to its people for their benefit.

“It is pointless for us to have a lot of income if the benefits are not returned and the people need to enjoy the economic spillover,” he said.

Onn Hafiz also said he accompanied Tunku Ismail on a working visit to Doha, Qatar, recently.

He said the visit, among others, saw Qatar Airways express its intention to establish a presence and build maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities at Senai International Airport.

Onn Hafiz said this would boost the logistics sector in the state, if successfully realised, in addition to the federal government’s allocation of RM2 billion to upgrade the Senai airport.