How Will Johor Transform Over the Next Decade?

Beyond the Ballot Box · Jul 7, 2026 · 46m

We're just a few days away from the Johor state election on the 11th of July. As Johor positions itself to become one of Malaysia's most important economic engines, with the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone aiming to attract major investments and high-value industries, questions are also being asked about who stands to benefit from that growth.

Will these investments translate into better wages, better jobs and higher living standards for ordinary Johoreans, or will the gains be unevenly shared? So, on the road to the elections, we discuss Johor's political-economic trajectory, and what…