Posts filed under 'Iskandar Malaysia'
In a historic move, Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to series of measures to further improve upon bilateral relations. In the spirit of enhancing ties towards a win-win situation, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak issued a joint statement on 24th May 2010 on an exciting list of initiatives which will bode well into the future for both Singaporeans and Malaysians.
Measure #1: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) station will be relocated from Tanjong Pagar to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint (WTCP) by 1 July 2011.
Why this will work out:
i. The land KTMB is currently sitting on at Tanjong Pagar is at a prime district, just kilometers away from Singapore’s Central Business District (CBD). Relocation of KTMB will release the land around it for residential or office space development, and the proceeds will be shared by both Singapore and Malaysia. Value of the land is unlocked.
ii. Relocating KTMB to Singapore reduces maintenance cost for maintenance of railway track from Tanjong Pagar to Singapore and more importantly, area around the track (some 20km of them!) can also be developed.
iii. Less fatalities for Singaporeans who like to jay-walk across the track.
Measure #2: Introduction of 8 new bus routes, effectively doubling the number of bus services plying Singapore and Johor Bahru. Cross-border scheduled bus services will be doubled with the introduction of 8 new additional routes (4 from each side) between Pasar Bakti and Larkin in Johor and the two Integrated Resorts, Boon Lay, Yishun, Newton and Changi Airport in Singapore
Why this will work out:
i. Increased trade and tourism. For example: Singapore’s Integrated Resort will be able to draw more visitors while this means easier access to Iskandar Malaysia region to Singaporeans.
ii. You might finally be able to get a seat on SBS 170 or TIBS 950.
iii. Travel to Johor Bahru will no longer just be an exclusive past-time for Woodlanders.
Bad causeway jam - soon a thing of the past?
Measure #3: Cross border taxi services will be liberalised with taxis being allowed to pick up and drop off passengers from any location on the domestic leg of that journey, instead of only at the designated taxi terminals
Why this will work out:
i. You can finally drop off at Yishun or Tampines (instead of Queens Street Read on…
May 25th, 2010
Marlborough is coming to Johor Bahru, and we are not talking about Marlboro the cigarette (which has already infested Johor Bahru anyway).
Marlborough College, the prestigious British Boarding school has inked an agreement to setup a boarding School in Nusajaya, part of the Iskandar Malaysia expansion plans. Enrolment is targeted to start in year 2012, when the college will accept students ranging from 5 to 18 years of age. This will offer an obvious choice for expats working in Johor Bahru who are committed to giving their children the best possible education - at a price.
Projected cost of fees will be between RM$35,000 to RM50,000 per annum. At this rate, it is the equivalent cost of the university fee Singaporeans pay for NUS and NTU. There are already Read on…
October 31st, 2009
When the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) was officially opened in Mar 2000, there was little concern in Singapore about the weight PTP being a serious competitor to the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA). After all, there was the common thought that PTP (and Malaysia in general) cannot match the efficiency and reputation of Singapore. In addition, PSA had been the incumbent port of call for most shipping companies.
Alarm bells start to ring when Maersk Sealand announced that they are shifting their operations from Singapore to PTP in the same year. In 2002, Evergreen Marine Corporation followed suit by announcing that they too, are shifting their operations to PTP. Feeling that PTP was breathing down their neck, PSA management starts to restrategize and effect cost cutting measures. The seedling of thought, that Malaysia can one day overtake Singapore on the world map, has been sowed.
If PTP was the “Lion”, enter Iskandar Malaysia, the “Dragon” that packs a potential punch to make a dent in Singapore’s progress. After all, Iskandar Malaysia will be 3 times the size of Singapore when the project is fully complete. With the world being so globalised, there is no lack of talent with a sizable expat pool expected in Iskandar Malaysia. There is no lack of natural resources as well.. land, people, plantations and even oil. Of course, there is Senai Airport that will be scaled up to match Changi Airport. In sea fare, oh! There is PTP. Top up all this with a US$12billion worth of investments received so far from the private sector, Iskandar Malaysia can pose a serious threat to Singapore.
Replicating Singapore’s success might not be so hard. Make it an easy choice for MNCs to make Iskandar Malaysia their regional headquarters. Lower the tax rates, improve the general security in the region, offer lower cost housing and make savvy improvements in infrastructure, learn from Singapore and their policies.. there are levers the Malaysian Authorities know they can pull to deal with any potential doubts in would-be investors. And it seems to work already. Even Singapore has already indicated an explicit interest to be part of Iskandar Malaysia. Read on…
March 15th, 2009
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