Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia has graced the launch of the Johor Green Development Policy (PPHJ) 2030, a strategic policy framework formulated by the Johor State Government to strengthen the green development agenda across the state.
The development of PPHJ 2030 was led by the Johor Economic Planning Division (BPENJ) in collaboration with Permodalan Darul Ta’zim Sdn. Bhd. (PDT), a wholly owned company of the Johor state government, and Institut Sultan Iskandar, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (ISIUTM).
In a joint statement, it is said that this policy, developed through cooperation with various state government departments and agencies, local authorities and industry players, covers four key sectors, including renewable energy, green transportation, climate change (flood mitigation) and the carbon market.
Menteri Besar of Johor, Dato’ Onn Hafiz Ghazi, said that PPHJ 2030 will serve as a guide for government agencies, local authorities, industry players and investors in planning and implementing green initiatives, particularly in the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), which emphasises sustainable development, environmental conservation and renewable energy innovation.
“The implementation of PPHJ 2030 will bring significant benefits to the people of Johor through the creation of new jobs in the green industry, reduced flood risks via more effective mitigation strategies and improved environmental quality through reduced carbon emissions.
“PPHJ 2030 will also drive more sustainable economic growth, expand the adoption of green technology and enhance public awareness on the importance of sustainability,” he said.
He further stated that by 2030, the Johor State Government aims for all initiatives under PPHJ 2030 to be fully implemented, thereby significantly reducing the state’s carbon footprint and strengthening Johor’s position as an international hub for green technology investment.
Meanwhile, President and Group Chief Executive of PDT, Dato’ Ramlee A Rahman, said that in line with the role of the state government, PDT as the implementing agency is responsible for developing realistic strategies and implementation initiatives, serving as a bridge between the state government, investors and industry players, as well as preparing phased policies based on key sectors for the consideration and approval of the state government.
“The Johor State Government plays an important role in ensuring the effectiveness of PPHJ 2030 through several main measures, including the provision of policy frameworks and guidelines, coordination of agency roles, regular monitoring and evaluation, as well as proposing resources and incentives to encourage green investments.
“The development of this policy also incorporates various inputs and feedback from state government agencies, the federal government and industry players through a series of comprehensive engagement sessions to ensure that the PPHJ 2030 content is holistic and impactful,” he said.
He added that to ensure effective implementation, the state government will monitor the status of strategies, initiatives and programmes outlined under PPHJ 2030 with regular reporting through the Johor Green Development Council (MPHNJ) platform.
In addition to the launch of PPHJ 2030, today’s historic ceremony also witnessed important initiatives in the green development agenda, including the official introduction of the Raja Zarith Sofiah Learning Centre and the Johor Sustainability Centre (JSC) at Tunku Mahkota Ismail Youth Centre, Johor Bahru, serving as the centres for coordinating state-level green initiatives.
Executive Chairman of Johor Sustainability Centre (JSC), YB Dato’ Ir. Hasni Mohammad, said the three initiatives introduced including PPHJ 2030, the Raja Zarith Sofiah Learning Centre and JSC, form a strong foundation for Johor’s green development policy direction.
“These initiatives also reflect the Johor state government’s strong commitment to building a more sustainable, resilient and climate-responsible future,” he said.
The Raja Zarith Sofiah Learning Centre is an initiative to strengthen the Johor Bahagia Community Programme, inspired by Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia.
“The building developed using low-carbon technology is the result of Saitama City’s expertise, which has an excellent track record with its highest ‘S-Rank’ rating under Japan’s Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (CASBEE).
“I hope that the Raja Zarith Sofiah Learning Centre will serve as a pilot project and be expanded to all public housing areas in Johor and eventually nationwide,” he said.
According to Hasni, a meeting was recently held between the Johor State Government and Prof. David Cohen from Stanford University, United States on 18 November to refine the development strategies for the Johor Green Development Council agenda.
He explained that this step demonstrates how Johor is integrating global academic expertise with international experience to strengthen the state’s climate resilience.
Hasni added that the Johor Sustainability Centre (JSC) will serve as the primary catalyst in transforming each strategy into concrete action to strengthen Johor’s green development agenda, in line with the National Climate Change Bill (RUU PIN) expected to be tabled in parliament in early 2026.
He emphasised that JSC will continue to encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing among government agencies, industry players and communities to share information and access technical guidance.
“Johor’s engagement at the international level, including participation in COP28 in Dubai and COP29 in Baku, demonstrates the state’s commitment to learning from and sharing experiences with the global community. This not only strengthens the state’s green development strategies but also ensures that initiatives such as PPHJ 2030, the Raja Zarith Sofiah Learning Centre and JSC remain aligned with global standards and best practices,” he added.
At the same event, Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia also witnessed the signing of two strategic partnerships in support of Johor’s green development agenda.
First, the Exchange of Cooperation Letter for the Exploration of Investment Opportunities in the Southern Johor Renewable Energy Corridor (SJREC) between PDT, the International Finance Corporation (World Bank) and Ditrolic Energy Holdings Sdn. Bhd., which will strengthen the potential for renewable energy development in southern Johor.
Second, the Exchange of a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) for the Exploration of Business Opportunities in the Electric Vehicle Industry in Johor between PDT and Yinson Mobility Sdn. Bhd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yinson GreenTech, in line with the state’s commitment to expand the low-carbon mobility ecosystem.
 2030, a strategic policy framework formulated by the Johor State Government to strengthen the green development agenda across the state. ){kind=link}