JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- The Johor government expects more allocation from the federal government in the upcoming 2020 Budget as the state will be hosting several major events next year.

Besides helping to drive economic growth in the state, Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal said a bigger allocation could help ensure smooth running of big events such as the Visit Johor Year and Malaysian Games (Sukma).

"The organisation of Visit Johor Year 2020 and Sukma will involve substantial costs and it is hoped that the federal government will assist us and give us a bigger allocation,” he told reporters after officiating the Islamic Finance Rendezvous Series 2019 organised by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) at Grand Paragon, here today.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng will table the 2020 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 11.

Dr Sahruddin said the bigger allocation will ensure continuous development in the state for the prosperity of every level of society, particularly the low-income group.

He hoped the federal government could consider the request as Johor is a major contributor to the national gross domestic product (GDP), accounting for RM136.5 billion, or 9.6 per cent, of the GDP.

As Johor aspires to become a halal hub, he called on industry players to focus on the goal as it could help boost GDP growth and exports.

“Even  though, we have achieved the target (of becoming a halal hub), we want to add more industry players that focus on halal (products and services) to increase our GDP or exports,” he said.

The Islamic Finance Rendezvous Series 2019 themed "Think Halal, Think Islamic Finance” aims to assist the business community in the halal industry on the products and services offerings of Islamic financial institutions.

BNM deputy governor Datuk Shaik Abdul Rasheed Abdul Ghaffour was present.

-- BERNAMA