JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 24 – For years, the conversation around sustainability has been about “plans” and “pledges.” Today, under the gaze of Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, the state of Johor signaled that the time for planning is over and the era of execution has begun.
The launch of the Polisi Pembangunan Hijau Johor 2030 (PPHJ 2030) is not merely an administrative milestone; it is a declaration of intent. As the world grapples with climate volatility, Johor is positioning itself not as a victim of change, but as an architect of its own resilience. This is the story of a state harmonizing royal vision, economic ambition, and academic rigor to secure its future.
Beyond Policy: A Survival Strategy
The PPHJ 2030 emerges at a critical juncture. With the rapid development of the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), the demand for energy is skyrocketing. Simultaneously, the state faces the recurring threat of monsoon floods that disrupt lives and commerce.
This policy is the state’s answer to that dual challenge: balancing aggressive economic growth with uncompromising environmental protection. It is a RM1.2 million blueprint designed to ensure that as Johor’s skyline rises, its carbon footprint falls.
The Intellectual Engine: UTM’s Role
While the vision is state-led, the roadmap was drawn by the brightest minds at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). This was not a standard consultancy; it was a mobilization of academic expertise to solve real-world problems.
Led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Effandi Yusoff from the Faculty of Management, a coalition of engineers, planners, and scientists worked alongside the Johor State Economic Planning Division (BPENJ) and Permodalan Darul Ta’zim (PDT). Their task was to translate high-level aspirations into actionable data and policy frameworks.
Four Pillars of the New Economy
The policy is built on four strategic pillars, each serving as a cornerstone for Johor’s modernization. The first pillar, Powering the Future, focuses on renewable energy. As Johor positions itself to attract global investors, clean and reliable energy becomes essential. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Wai Shin spearheaded the strategy to overhaul the state’s energy mix. The focus is aggressive: scaling up solar farms and biomass facilities to ensure energy security isn’t held hostage by fossil fuel markets.
The second pillar, Mobility Reimagined, redefines how people and good move across the rapidly growing Johor-Singapore economic corridor. Under the guidance of Tpr. Ts. Dr. Gobi Krishna Sinniah and Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Junaidi Abdul Aziz, Johor is preparing for an electric mobility shift – strengthening Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure and advancing green public transportation that will shape the commute of tomorrow.
The third pillar, Fortress Johor, places climate resilience at the heart of the state’s sustainability agenda. Led by Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Mohamad Hidayat Jamal, this approach emphasizes nature-based solutions, moving beyond traditional flood barriers to smarter disaster risk management that works with natural ecosystems. The goal is to safeguard communities from the inevitable impacts of climate change through solutions that are both adaptive and sustainable.
The final pillar, The Carbon Economy, positions Johor at the forefront of green financial innovation. Under the leadership of Prof. Ir. Dr. Haslenda Hashim, the state is developing its own carbon trading framework to unlock economic value from decarbonization efforts. This creates incentives for businesses to reduce emissions while supporting Johor’s ambition to become a leading player in the low-carbon economy.
A Unified Vision
The launch by Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah underscores that this is more than a government directive; it is a royal mandate for the people. By integrating the technical prowess of UTM with the administrative power of the state, PPHJ 2030 aims to transform Johor into a region that is competitive, resilient, and livable.
As 2030 approaches, today will be remembered as the day Johor stopped waiting for a greener future and started building it.
