Over 500,000 Johoreans Benefit From BKJ Initiative

By Mohamad Syazwan Mustafa 

JOHOR BAHRU, March 9 (Bernama) -- The Johor State Government is intensifying social support initiatives to help residents cope with rising costs of living while ensuring public welfare remains protected.

Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said a key initiative is Bantuan Kasih Johor (BKJ), which has so far benefited more than 500,000 people across the state.

BKJ is an ongoing programme aimed at easing living costs, particularly for vulnerable and lower-income groups.

Under the State Budget 2026, a total of 24 initiatives have been outlined under BKJ with an allocation of nearly RM216.87 million, expected to benefit about 585,054 people from various segments of society.

Onn Hafiz said the assistance is being implemented aggressively at the grassroots level to ensure as many Johoreans as possible receive support and to help reduce their financial burden.

“People are struggling with the high cost of living. That is why BKJ is implemented aggressively to ease the burden faced by the public, and we will continue working to expand the assistance,” he said in an interview with Bernama, led by editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj at Saujana, the Johor Menteri Besar’s Official Residence here.

Onn Hafiz said that BKJ is only part of hundreds of state initiatives to support residents, which include Jualan Kasih Johor, which ensures essential food items, especially fresh produce, are sold at affordable prices.

Meanwhile, the Menteri Besar said the state government is also strengthening its affordable housing agenda through the Rumah Mampu Milik Johor (RMMJ) initiative, with nearly 20,000 homes completed to help those in need own a house.

First-time homebuyers are also offered RM5,000 in assistance, along with an additional RM2,000 subsidy to help cover related costs such as deposits and household equipment, he said.

Onn Hafiz said the state government is equally supporting the health and education sectors. New clinics are being built near Hospital Sultan Ismail and in Gelang Patah to improve access to healthcare services.

“Pantry facilities are also being introduced in hospitals and clinics to enhance the welfare of healthcare workers so they can deliver better services,” he said.

In education, Onn Hafiz said the state government allocates about RM5,000 annually to each school in Johor to upgrade teachers’ rooms.

“So we really are taking the whole-of-nation approach. We deemed this a shared responsibility because we want to ensure excellent services for the Johoreans,” he said.

He added that the government is also addressing grassroots concerns such as damaged roads, clogged drains, malfunctioning streetlights and other infrastructure issues as efficiently as possible.

Recently, the state government also announced a special Aidilfitri aid equivalent to one month’s salary for 18,455 permanent and contract state civil servants.

-- BERNAMA